‘Relentless’: An inside look at Hurricanes’ emergent top line in NHL playoffs
Logan Stankoven was in high demand after Carolina Hurricanes practice at Lenovo Center this week.
And why not? Stankoven, the offensive star of the series, scored a goal in each of the Canes’ four wins over the Ottawa Senators in the teams’ first-round sweep in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Forward William Carrier, who sits next to Stankoven in the locker room, fled in mock horror when he saw media converging. A few seats over, Jackson Blake stood alone, smiling, taking it all in.
Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour moved Stankoven to center this season, later changing up the line to have Blake at right wing and Taylor Hall on the left side. Together, the line had seven goals and nine assists against the Senators — one half of the Canes’ point production in the series.
“Once we get the puck Rod’s given us the ability to kind of freewheel and do our thing and use our creativity,” Stankoven said.
Asked what one word best describes Stankoven, Blake quickly said, “Relentless.”
Why relentless?
“He’s a bulldog out there,” Blake said. “He’s always working hard.”
Earlier in the season, Blake and others would use the word “snakebitten” in talking about Stankoven. He was generating offensive chances but often finding iron and not the net as shots bounced off posts and crossbars, or goalies robbed him.
“It’s super difficult,” Hall said of the move to center. “I think with him kind of exploding in the last bit of the regular season and now in the playoffs, it might be as simple as he’s gotten more comfortable playing the center-ice position.
“At center, almost every shift you’re starting out with a battle and worry about that, whereas with us wingers, we just get to play a little bit more. There’s more thinking at the center-ice position and I think you’re seeing a player getting better and better at it.”
Stankoven was more productive after the break for the Winter Olympics, then scored seven goals in his last eight games in the regular season to finish with 21. He carried that over into the playoffs, scoring the first goal in each of the first three games against Ottawa to give Carolina the lead and then a go-ahead goal in Game 4.
“It’s what you dream of as a kid,” Stankoven said. “Other than winning the Stanley Cup it’s what you want, to help the team win and score goals and be a difference-maker on the ice.”
Hall had a pair of goals and five assists, and Blake a goal and three assists in the series, including the winning goal in Game 3 in Ottawa as the Canes won, 2-1.
“I think this year we didn’t always get rewarded as much as we probably should have,” Blake said. “Now I think our line is clicking a little bit.
“We all know what’s at stake now, and we need to be at our best all the time. It’s been fun and hopefully we can keep it going.”
.jpg "GettyImages-2251788615 (1).jpg")
The Hurricanes’ ‘old guy’ gets it done
Hall is the “old guy” on the line at 34 — Stankoven is 23 and Blake 22 — and the former league MVP has been the perfect complement with his speed, strength and savvy. There’s a lot of been-there, done-that to his game and Blake and Stankoven can feed off it.
“The ‘old guy’ has been awesome,” Blake said, smiling again. “He’s making a lot of plays and scoring big goals for us. Me and ‘Stanks’ being younger guys, having a veteran presence on the line is really big.”
Stankoven got his first playoff experience with the Dallas Stars two years ago, playing 19 games. Traded to the Canes last season by the Stars in the deal that sent disgruntled forward Mikko Rantanen to Dallas, he had five goals and three assists in 15 games as Carolina reached the Eastern Conference Final.
Blake finds his footing
Blake was a rookie last season. The playoffs were a first for him and, he held his own in the Canes’ 15 games, averaging almost 17 minutes a game in ice time.
Coming off a 22-goal second season, Blake had 18:43 of ice time each game against the Sens.
“I’m more confident this year,” Blake said. “I feel more comfortable. I mean, last year I didn’t know what to expect. I do this year.”
Blake said he was a bit jittery last year. The pregame butterflies fluttered in full force.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “I was nervous. And I’m sure I’ll be nervous for the rest of whatever it is.
“Last year, I actually thought in the first round I played pretty well, and I felt pretty good about it. But I get nervous before the game all the time. I just think it’s natural. It’s just the aspect of the game and what’s at stake and knowing you have to be at your best in every game of the playoffs.”
Hall, the Canes’ leading scorer with seven points in the Ottawa series, said the line continues to read off each other better in the offensive zone.
“It’s been a good progression all year,” Hall said. “They love hockey, those two kids. They want to get better. They take it seriously, and I think you’ve seen that throughout the year. They’ve gotten better and better at everything they’ve done.”
Hurricanes injury update: Nikishin at practice
The Hurricanes continue to practice Wednesday and guess about a second-round opponent. Later Wednesday, the Philadelphia Flyers edged the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime to close out their series in Game 6.
The Canes, top-seeded in the Eastern Conference, will host the first two games of the second-round series at Lenovo Center.
Defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who suffered a concussion Saturday against Ottawa, was at practice Wednesday in a yellow, no-contact jersey — a promising sign for the Canes.
“I think he’s feeling good,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s going in the right direction.”
Forward Nikolaj Ehlers, sidelined with a lower-body injury that kept him out of Game 4, again missed practice Wednesday.
“He’s getting better every day and I anticipate him coming out (to practice) shortly.”
