Halfway through the third period in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes were teetering on going down 2-0 and dropping both games at home to open the Stanley Cup against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Down 2-0 midway through the third, the Canes hadn’t looked like the dominant team they’d been for the entirety of the regular season and playoffs. There were even talks of a potential Knights sweep at the second intermission.
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That’s when Logan Stankoven happened.
After an offensive zone faceoff, Stankoven’s relentless forecheck resulted in him stripping the puck from Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Stankoven circled back behind the net and fired a backhander that bounced past Carter Hart to make it a one goal game.
The goal not only helped the Canes back into the game, but it also got the crowd going. Carolina used that momentum and tied the game just over two minutes later when Mark Jankowski went bar down for his first goal of the playoffs.
After both Carolina and Vegas each added another to send the game to overtime, Seth Jarvis scored the power play winner to tie the series 1-1 heading into Game 3.
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From talking about there being a potential sweep and the Canes looking as lifeless as they had all year, to tying up the series 1-1 and all the momentum being on Carolina’s side in a matter of half a period, all started by Stankoven’s hustle.
Stankoven now has 10 goals in the postseason to lead the Canes, adding three assists for a total of 13 points in 15 games. Carolina’s second line of Hall-Stankoven-Blake, which has really been their first line during the postseason, was the only group not to be split up by Rod Brind’Amour last night — speaking to their effectiveness. That group, led by Stankoven in the middle, has accounted for 20 goals and 44 points in the playoffs so far.
With the Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis line continuing to struggle, the second line has been able to maintain Carolina’s offensive production.
In addition to scoring the goal that jump started the Canes’ comeback, Stankoven finished the game with two shots and had a 63.6 faceoff percentage, second to only Jordan Staal’s 70 percent.
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There were questions revolving around how Stankoven’s game would translate to the postseason due to his listed 5-foot-8 stature. But if this playoff run has shown anything, it’s that those worries were for nothing.
Prior to the season and for some of the regular season, there was debate surrounding whether or not Carolina had a good enough 2C to compete for a Stanley Cup. Well, that question has been answered with Stankoven filling the role exceptionally well. Maybe the real question should’ve been if the Canes have a good enough 1C in Sebastian Aho to win the Stanley Cup. Aho has totaled just eight points in 15 games during these playoffs so far.
While last night’s win was needed and momentum swinging, the Canes still need to steal one of the next two on the road to take back home ice advantage.
Game 3 is set for tomorrow at 8 PM, where the Hurricanes look to take a 2-1 series lead and inch closer to bringing home the Stanley Cup.
