RALEIGH, N.C. _ It's hard to say what Carolina Hurricanes fans were most excited about Tuesday, the thought of a Canes win over the Vancouver Canucks or what might happen after it.
The Canes did a mad dash for a leap into the glass at PNC Arena after beating the New York Rangers on Sunday, and said some other things were planned for wins on home ice. Many around the NHL noticed. Canes fans loved it and wanted more.
First things first: the Hurricanes did win the game, 5-3. That had the crowd roaring. That's a 3-0-1 start for the season.
The aftermath: Micheal Ferland leading the teams in high claps and then another dash, more glass-bashing.
Canes fans had a lot to like much of the game. Jordan Staal scored in the first minute, Sebastian Aho was throwing a fist-pump after scoring his second of the season and Andrei Svechnikov his second NHL goal.
Warren Foegele, the rookie forward in constant motion, scored his third of the season and defenseman Brett Pesce scored his first. Goalie Curtis McElhinney, in his second start, earned his second victory.
In an interesting sequence in the second period, Svechnikov found himself battling Canucks rookie forward Elias Pettersson for the puck after a shot by Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
Petterson, the fifth overall pick of the 2017 NHL draft, came into the game with five points in his first two games, but Svechnikov simply overpowered him. Svechnikov got the goal, his second in as many games. Pettersson was sent sprawling. The Canes led 4-2.
Not a big part of the scoring, Slavin had his best game of the season. His stick was active and his instincts good, making plays large and small.
Sven Baertschi had two goals and assist for the Canucks (1-2-0).
The Canes' Jordan Martinook called Sunday's game a "track meet" and Canes goalie Petr Mrazek often was left in tough positions in allowing the five goals. McElhinney got the nod from Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour, making his second start since being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canes, despite scoring in the first minute of the game, were a bit sluggish early.
Staal used his long reach to control the puck in the Vancouver zone, turning near the blue line and winging a shot toward the net. With Martinook in front of goalie Jacob Markstom, Staal picked up his third goal of the season just 43 seconds into the game.
The Canucks were the more aggressive team after the Canes' quick strike, tying the score on Baertschi's first goal. But Canes defenseman Brett Pesce recreated the Staal goal _ a long shot with Markstrom again screened _ and Aho scored off a Micheal Ferland pass for a 3-1 lead.
The Canucks, on a 14-day road trip, used power-play goals from Bo Horvat and Baertschi _ Pettersson with an assist _ in the second to stay in the game. Those goals were sandwiched around Svechnikov's even-strength score. Brind'Amour made one lineup change among the skaters, inserting defenseman Haydn Fleury for Trevor van Rimesdyk _ Fleury's first game of the season.
