‘He’s such a force’: Hurricanes energized as Andrei Svechnikov finally scores first goal
Andrei Svechnikov kept saying he wasn’t worried, wasn’t edgy, wasn’t getting frustrated.
Few believed him.
“Anyone who has gone through not scoring is going to be frustrated,” Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said before Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. “He knows what he has to do for him to be successful and for us to be successful. He’s got to get the puck in the net.”
As the games passed, the forward had not scored his first goal of the season. He was fully rehabbed from knee surgery in March, was back in the lineup for 11 games this season, had gotten some good offensive looks, and more than 20 shots, but not done what so many expect him to do.
He did find the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Nov. 18 game at PNC Arena. But Svechnikov’s apparent goal was nullified after review when Martin Necas was ruled offside entering the zone.
Still, Svechnikov stayed positive.
“It’s coming,” he said more than once.
But when?
Sunday, as it turns out. At just the right time.
The Canes had wiped out a 2-0 deficit against the Blue Jackets with third-period goals from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Brady Skjei. The place was loud and the decibel count about to get considerably louder.
The Canes’ Seth Jarvis won a puck battle in the neutral zone and clipped Svechnikov in the head with the puck. But Svechnikov shook it off and quickly was off with Sebastian Aho on a rush into the Columbus end.
Aho’s pass was perfect and Svechnikov ripped a shot high to the glove side on goalie Elvis Merzlikins with 1:55 left in regulation. Canes fans thundered and the walls shook as Svechnikov leaped into the glass.
This one counted. It was the game-winner in a 3-2 victory and made Svechnikov, who assisted on the Skjei goal, the game’s first star — needless to say, a popular choice.
“It’s definitely going to give me some confidence,” he said. “I still know how I can play. I know it’s not there yet but I know it will happen soon and I will be there.”
And hearing the crowd’s reaction?
“I love it,” he said. “Over these nine months it has been special. I have felt so much love.”
The Hurricanes badly missed the guy they call “Svech” in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Imagine what a Svechnikov goal or two and a few jarring hits could have done for Carolina in the Eastern Conference final against Florida, when the Canes were swept in four tight games.
“He’s such a force,” Skjei said Sunday. “He’s a star in this league and a star for us. He’s huge on this team and everybody knows it.”
Svechnikov was an NHL All-Star last season, winning the fastest skater competition on the All-Star weekend. Before the ACL injury March 11 against Vegas, he had scored 23 goals and had 55 points in 64 games.
A line change in the third period Sunday by Brind’Amour was effective. Brind’Amour put Svechnikov on Aho’s line with Jarvis, sliding Teuvo Teravainen to Kotkaniemi’s line opposite Necas.
“Sometimes you have to change the lines to give new energy,” Svechnikov said.
The Canes needed an extra jolt after the dismal 8-2 loss Friday to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who scored eight times on 14 shots and had five goals in the third to leave the Canes smarting.
Then, Columbus took that 2-0 lead.
“We played our game tonight and (stuck) to the plan,” Svechnikov said.
The Canes (12-8-0) played with discipline and without a penalty for the first time this season.
“Hey, don’t remind me, OK?” Svechnikov joked.
The forward had been whistled for penalties in the past seven games, mostly stick infractions that could have been avoided. He promised Friday he would be better and he was, skating away from a few physical collisions Sunday rather than engaging and possibly seeing more time in the penalty box.
Before the game, Brind’Amour had talked about Svechnikov seeking that first goal, saying many of the same things e has said all season.
“He’s working hard. He’s kept that positive attitude,” Brind’Amour said.
And now, “Svech” has a goal.
