The Carolina Hurricanes rode a three-goal first period to a 4-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.

Brett Pesce recorded the fastest goal by a defenseman in franchise history just 14 seconds into the game.

Phil Di Giuseppe and Sebastian Aho also scored in the opening period, and Justin Williams posted a third-period goal.

Hurricanes goalie Scott Darling made 21 saves.

Michael Del Zotto scored 3:30 into the second period for Vancouver's goal.

Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak, winning for the third time on its current homestand. It has played six of eight straight games at home.

Vancouver goalie Jacob Markstrom, who had his only career shutout in December against Carolina, was credited with 29 saves.

The Hurricanes kept the pressure on by posting 14 third-period shots, sending the Canucks to their fourth consecutive loss.

Pesce gave the Hurricanes a much-desired fast start after the team was too often stalling in that area in recent games. It came after a turnover in the neutral zone, with Jordan Staal and Aho picking up assists.

The franchise record for a defenseman's quick strike had been held by current teammate Justin Faulk and retired Aaron Ward.

Di Giuseppe delivered his first goal of the season after Elias Lindholm did much of the leg work on the sequence. Di Giuseppe was playing in his 22nd game of the season.

So Pesce, who picked up his only other goal earlier in this homestand, and Di Giuseppe had the game's first two goals, yet they've now combined for only three all season.

Aho made it 3-0 on a breakaway with his 20th goal of the season. Pesce assisted on Aho's goal for part of his two-point night.

Aho registered his fourth goal in six games since the All-Star break.

Carolina's victory came on a day of roster changes. The Hurricanes assigned forwards Josh Jooris and Marcus Kruger to the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers after they passed through waivers. Those moves came following coach Bill Peters' insistence last weekend that changes could be coming.

--Field Level Media