The Carolina Hurricanes, led by red-hot goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, have a six-game point streak (5-0-1) as they begin a four-game road trip against the host Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
The Hurricanes, atop the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference with 26 points, are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games and coming off a 7-0 thrashing of the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
Kochetkov made 26 saves in posting his second shutout of the season and extending his franchise-record 10-game winning streak to start the season. He is the third goaltender in league history to win at least his first 10 games of a campaign, joining Jack Campbell (11 in 2020-21) and Carey Price (10 in 2016-17).
Kochetkov, who has a 1.49 goals-against average and .929 save percentage, was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Month for October. He was 9-0-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .919 save percentage for the month.
“We’re super comfortable and confident with him (Kochetkov) back there,” said defenseman Sean Walker, who scored twice on Sunday. “We know how talented and skilled he is. He makes it easy on the defense on a nightly basis, the way he can handle the puck and break it out. He’s playing at an awesome level.”
Logan Stankoven had a goal and two assists and Sebastian Aho a goal and an assist. Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere dished out two assists each.
Stankoven’s 10 goals lead the team and Aho’s 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) top the Hurricanes.
Ehlers and Jackson Blake are on six-game point streaks, with nine and eight points respectively in that stretch.
In an exchange of forwards, the Predators acquired Shane Wright from the Seattle Kraken on Sunday for Matthew Wood.
Wright, 22, had three goals and an assist in 14 games for the Kraken.
“We are excited to add Shane to our mix of forwards,” Nashville general manager Chris MacFarland said. “We feel he will bring a strong, two-way game to our team and will add to the pace of our lineup. We believe Shane will continue to grow as a player, and we look forward to working with him.”
Nashville rallied for a 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, after losing their previous two (0-1-1).
Steven Stamkos scored the only goal of a four-round shootout after his power-play goal 7:27 into the third period tied the game 4-4, against his long-time former team. It was his first goal against his longtime former team and former teammate, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Nashville leads the league with five overtime losses.
“It’s been tough this year with the shootouts and overtime and not getting that extra point,” said Stamkos, 36. “Obviously we’ve been in a ton of games where we’re getting points. When you start getting the odd one, it starts to accumulate. That was a big win for our group.”
Reid Schaefer, a scratch the previous four games, also scored while Filip Forsberg and defenseman Nick Perbix each had two assists on Saturday.
Stamkos’ power-play goal tied Phil Esposito for sixth all-time at 246 man-advantage goals, one behind fifth-place Luc Robitaille. It was also Stamkos’ team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Stamkos leads the team with eight goals and Forsberg in points with 17 (five goals, 12 assists).