Brendan Smith broke a tie with 2:57 remaining as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the visiting St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Saturday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Smith's first goal of the season came in his fourth game with Carolina, which signed the defenseman as a free agent in the offseason. He had been without a point this season.
Hurricanes goalie Alex Lyon, appearing in his first game of the season, picked up the victory. He was tested by 10 third-period shots from the Blues.
Brady Skjei and Sebastian Aho scored earlier for the Hurricanes, who had lost two of their previous three games -- their only setbacks of the season. Andrei Svechnikov and Tony DeAngelo each recorded two assists for Carolina.
Pavel Buchnevich and Vladimir Tarasenko scored goals for the Blues. St. Louis was trying to become the second visitor in as many nights to wipe out a third-period lead held by the Hurricanes and pull out a victory. Philadelphia did it Friday night.
Blues goalie Joel Hofer was in his second NHL game after making his winning debut Nov. 4 at San Jose.
DeAngelo and Jordan Martinook assisted on the winning goal.
Skjei scored his first goal of the season 75 seconds into the game. That matched the time for the quickest that the Hurricanes have scored at the beginning of a game this season.
Aho converted on a second-period power play.
The Blues matched that when Buchnevich scored on a rebound with one second left in a power play.
Former Hurricanes co-captain and all-star Justin Faulk received an extended ovation when he was given recognition during a first-period break in the action. It was his first game in Raleigh since he was traded in September 2019. He was co-captain with Jordan Staal in 2017-18.
Carolina won't have another home game for more than two weeks.
--Field Level Media
St. Louis | Carolina | |
Robert Thomas 2 | Points | Sebastian Aho 2 |
Pavel Buchnevich 1 | Goals | Sebastian Aho 1 |
Robert Thomas 2 | Assists | Tony DeAngelo 2 |
Pavel Buchnevich 1 | Power Play Goals | Sebastian Aho 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Joel Hofer .875 | Save Percentage | Alex Lyon .931 |
Joel Hofer 21 | Saves | Alex Lyon 27 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
St. Louis | 29 | 2 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 4 | 27 |
Carolina | 24 | 3 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 8 | 24 |