Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves and set the Carolina Hurricanes franchise record for goaltender victories to begin a season by winning for the ninth time this season in Thursday night’s 3-2 triumph against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Raleigh, N.C.
Kochetkov has emerged as the team’s top goalie, manning the net for the third game in a row.
Jordan Martinook, Logan Stankoven and Mark Jankowski scored for Carolina, which has won three games in a row. Seth Jarvis provided two assists, helping the Hurricanes add to the best record in the NHL.
Denton Mateychuck and Kent Johnson scored for the Blue Jackets after they fell into a 3-0 hole. Columbus goalie Jet Greaves stopped 24 shots.
The Blue Jackets remained without a victory in regulation since their season opener.
Kochetkov broke the franchise record that he shared with former teammate Frederik Andersen, who won eight straight to begin a season five years ago.
Martinook scored with 4:09 left in the first period to open the scoring.
The Hurricanes held a 16-8 edge in first-period shots. They were held to five shots on goal in the second period.
But Stankoven’s goal came 7:47 into the second period for a 2-0 lead.
Jankowski returned to his goal-scoring form in his second game back in the lineup after missing more than a week with an injury. His seventh tally of the season came 16 seconds into the third period. He has scored in seven of his last eight games.
Mateychuk posted his goal 6:56 into the third period while the teams were skating 4-on-4.
Until Mateychuk’s goal, Kochetkov was bidding for his second shutout in a three-game stretch and the 14th of his 134-game career. Instead, he settled for a piece of history.
Still, the outcome was in doubt when Johnson scored on a power play and the Blue Jackets were within 3-2 with 10:10 to play. Columbus posted 11 third-period shots.