Cedric Paquette said Monday morning that the Carolina Hurricanes, his new team, had the skill and talent that reminded him of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Come game time, the Canes impressed their newly acquired center even more, racing past the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3 at PNC Arena.
Brock McGinn had two goals and two assists, Teuvo Teravainen a goal and three assists and Sebastian Aho added a goal and assist as the Canes’ top line dominated. Jordan Staal also scored twice, the second on a power play, and Nino Niederreiter had a power-play goals as Carolina improved to 10-3-0 in just its fourth home game of the season.
Paquette had an impact, too. Acquired Saturday from the Ottawa Senators, the former Lightning forward put a couple of big hits on Columbus defenseman Seth Jones that had the Canes bench jumping.
Goalie James Reimer had to scramble at times, diving on loose pucks in the crease, but overcame a rough start to earn a win. The Blue Jackets (7-6-4) got a goal from Cam Atkinson 26 seconds into the game, led 2-0 after a Boone Jenner goal and 3-1 in the first after Kevin Stenlund scored.
Aho scored in the first and Teravainen had a goal taken away when the Canes were ruled offside on a coach’s challenge. But Staal scored late in the first to give the Canes boost.
McGinn and Tervainen scored 27 seconds apart early in the second period and the Canes led the rest of the way as Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo was lifted after the second.
McGinn and Niederreiter, both having resurgent seasons offensively, have seven goals and share the team lead.
Teuvo Teravainen, who had a goal disallowed in the first period, had a goal and two assists in the second period as the Canes have pulled in front 5-3.
Brock McGinn had a goal and assist, and Nino NIederreiter scored on a late power play for the Canes.
McGinn scored his sixth of the season for a 3-3 tie after Teravainen won a puck battle along the boards, then fed McGinn in front at 1:29. Teravainen then scored 26 seconds later as McGinn had the assist, his second of the game.
Niederreiter picked up his team-leading seventh goal of the season as the Canes used some crisp passing and converted the power play. Martin Necas first connected with Teravainen, who had the setup pass to Niederreiter.
Teravainen scored at 7:47 of the first but Columbus won a coach’s challenge.. After a long review, the Canes’ Warren Foegele was ruled to have been offside on the zone entry.
Cedric Paquette, in his first game with the Canes, had the biggest hit of the game in the second, putting a big check on defnseman Seth Jones in the neutral zone.
