Scoring four points in his 17th game of the season, center Martin Necas became the fastest player in franchise history to reach the 30-point mark. Earning a point on each Canes goal, Necas is playing other-worldly and on a pace for 145 points this season.
“When things are going your way, you’re kind of in the zone,” Necas said. “That’s what I’m feeling, and I’m trying to get there and stay here as long as long as I can.”
The Canes (13-4-0) haven’t dropped a game at home since the season opener, totaling a record of 7-1-0 through their first eight games at Lenovo Center. Their goal differential of +27 and points percentage of 0.765 lead the Eastern Conference.
The Necas show didn’t begin until late in the first period as the majority of the first 20 minutes saw the St. Louis Blues (8-10-1) take advantage of Carolina’s slow start. Their flat start let the Blues dictate the pace early, including giving up a goal and six unanswered shots on net.
It wasn’t until Blues left wing Jake Neighbors opened the scoring that sparked the Hurricanes’ run. While the Canes were still figuring out their game, goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov was limiting the damage.
Kochetkov was perfect after Neighbors’ goal, stopping 29 of 30 shots on goal for the night. Missing the previous game due to injury, the Russian used his day off to recoup and made many high-danger saves look effortless.
“The day off really helped me,” Kochetkov said. “[I don’t] always [want] an extra day off. Sometimes I want to skate [and] feel the puck. Sometimes I need to just stay in my home and sleep. That helped me today.”
The first shot on goal for Carolina came just under seven minutes into the game when right wing Andrei Svechnikov’s snapshot was covered up by St. Louis goaltender Joel Hofer. Although Svechnikov was denied there, he found the net on his third shot on goal of the period.
Right wing Jackson Blake drew a holding penalty, sending him and the Hurricanes’ first power play unit to the man advantage. Taking a little over 30 seconds, Necas slid a pass to Svechnikov — who was poaching at the back post — and tapped it past Hofer.
Recording the primary assist on the goal, Necas extended his career-long point streak to 13 games, matching Colorado’s Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon for the longest point streak by a player this season.
Once he got his first point, the Necas train was full steam ahead.
Just on the other side of the break, left wing Eric Robinson scored his fifth goal of the season 17 seconds into the second period with Necas recording an assist. At the right place and time, Robinson was the first to the rebound from defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s shot from the point and was rewarded.
And here’s to you, Mr. Robinson. The forward has 12 points in 17 games, already surpassing his total from last season where he scored 10 in 47 games. Robinson’s goal and two assists marked the third three-point game of his career as he proves to be one of many productive new additions to the team.
“Confidence is everything,” Robinson said. “Your line scoring, we’ve had a good stretch here. It’s a snowball effect. You keep feeling better.”
Although not known for his flashy hands, Robinson dangled through defenseman Ryan Suter’s legs and made an attempt to find center Jesperi Kotkaniemi driving through the slot. With the puck taking a deflection off a skate, Necas quickly located the loose puck and instantly put a shot on net.
Beating Hofer to the glove side, Necas reached double-digit goals in less than half the games it took him last season. When he saw the puck in the net, Kotkaniemi couldn’t wipe the smile off his face — in awe just like everyone else.
Playing the Blues to the very end, Necas recorded his fourth point almost 17 minutes into the third. On a faceoff play, Robinson tip-passed the puck to Necas who wired a wrist shot into the top-right corner. The Czech has now moved solely into third place for the league’s leading point scorer.
“He’s certainly driving the ship for us, there’s no doubt about it,” said head coach Rod Brind’Amour. “It’s very, very good to see.”
The Hurricanes hit the road again, this time staying on the East Coast, when they take on the Flyers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
