Walker, Blake Each Has 2 Points, Hurricanes Edge Wild
RALEIGH, N.C. — Jackson Blake and Sean Walker each recorded a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes earned a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Lenovo Center on Thursday night. Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers also found the net, while Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots to secure Carolina’s second straight win and their third in the last four games.
“Blake is probably the one who needs the most credit for tonight,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “The one goal was all him, and the other was just a great pass.”
Matt Boldy scored twice for Minnesota, which entered the game on a two-win streak but fell to 5-7-3. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves in the loss.
“They’re a high-pressure team. There were times I thought we handled it well, and there were times when there was another good team on the ice, too,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “We got some looks in different segments of the game.”
Game Summary
- Boldy opened the scoring at 5:34 of the first period, tapping in a loose puck after a deflection by Mark Jankowski on Kirill Kaprizov’s rush attempt.
- Carolina responded with three goals in a wild 52-second stretch during a 4-on-4 sequence, turning the game in their favor.
- The Hurricanes maintained control through the final frame despite a late push from Minnesota.
Key Players
- Jackson Blake — 1 goal, 1 assist
- Sean Walker — 1 goal, 1 assist
- Nikolaj Ehlers — scoring in consecutive games
- Matt Boldy — 2 goals in his 300th NHL game
- Frederik Andersen — 21 saves
Author’s Summary: Carolina edged Minnesota 4-3 behind a strong two-point performance from both Blake and Walker, showcasing depth scoring and decisive momentum in a swift midgame surge.