The Carolina Hurricanes don’t plan on letting up as they’ve surged through the past month of the season.
“I think when you get used to playing like (we did during the past playoffs), you kind of hold yourself to a standard,” forward Logan Stankoven said.
The Hurricanes have points in 13 of their first 15 games (11-2-2) heading into a meeting with the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
Carolina, owner of the best record in the NHL, has won three in a row, including the first two contests in the three-game homestand. The Hurricanes held on to beat Columbus 3-2 on Thursday night.
“Whatever way the game kind of guys, I think we’re suited for and that’s a good thing,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Veteran forward Jordan Martinook of the Hurricanes said it’s good to experience winning in a variety of ways so early in the season.
“This team is battle-tested, and I think knows how to win for the most part, when we’re doing it right,” Martinook said. “It’s where you’re giving yourselves a chance every night.”
The Jets have lost eight consecutive games, going 0-6-2 during that stretch. Friday night’s 5-2 setback at Florida was the latest result.
“We’ve got to get over the hump, find a way,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “Keep that work ethic, keep that compete going and then find a way to get the two points.”
The Jets have viewed recent results as lost opportunities.
“We’re trying to get out of this slump, and obviously these points are really important, count the same right now as they will in April,” center Morgan Barron said. “This isn’t the direction we want our season to go.”
Winger Kyle Connor has a team-high 11 goals for Winnipeg, including one in each of the past two games.
Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov has won nine consecutive games, marking a franchise record for the start to a season. He could draw another assignment, though backup Brandon Bussi has gone more than a week without game action.
Kochetkov has demanded most of the attention, playing at a level that the Hurricanes have been anticipating.
“We’ve seen that he’s capable of something like this,” Brind’Amour said. “The talent is certainly there. You’ve noticed it for many years. Just the health has always seemed to be the issue, and hopefully he can stay healthy. … I think his game is maturing.”
The Hurricanes have balanced offensive production, with Stankoven’s nine goals, Sebastian Aho’s eight goals and Mark Jankowski’s seven goals leading the way. Jackson Blake has 15 points (second on the team), including 12 assists.
Seth Jarvis has multi-assists in two of the last three games as he has been steady since joining the lineup a little more than a week ago following offseason surgery. He’s adjusting to a line with Martinook and Jankowski.
“Just trying to contribute any way I can,” Jarvis said. “Just as a line, (we need to) just keep building each other up and playing to each other’s strengths.”
Brind’Amour said he likes how Jarvis seems to be getting up to speed.