Hurricanes rally to beat Canucks 4-3 in overtime behind Aho and Svechnikov

The Carolina Hurricanes delivered a thrilling comeback on Friday night, with Sebastian Aho’s overtime heroics sealing a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at PNC Arena. The win came despite injuries to key forwards Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, showcasing Carolina’s resilience and depth that has defined their strong start to the season. Andrei Svechnikov’s two-goal, one-assist performance set the stage for Aho’s clutch finish as the Hurricanes extended their impressive run to five wins in their last six games.

Playing shorthanded with only 10 forwards after injuries forced Jarvis and Kotkaniemi out of the lineup, the Hurricanes demonstrated championship mettle. The victory improved Carolina’s record to 12-5-0, while Vancouver dropped to 8-9-2 and extended their winless streak to three games. The game featured momentum swings, special teams excellence, and standout play from two of Carolina’s most talented forwards.

Andrei Svechnikov wasted no time making his presence felt after Vancouver’s Max Sasson opened the scoring 2:45 into the game. The Russian winger scored twice in a blistering 52-second span, including a power-play goal, to shift momentum in Carolina’s favor. Svechnikov finished with three points on the night, adding an assist on Taylor Hall’s third-period equalizer. His performance underscored his development into a key two-way contributor for the Hurricanes.

Sebastian Aho delivered the game-winning overtime goal with 31 seconds left in the extra frame after winning a crucial face-off and working into shooting position. He also notched an assist earlier in the game and logged extended minutes, particularly valuable given the depleted forward group. Aho won 58% of his face-offs on the night, contributing to sustained offensive zone pressure.

In a back-and-forth affair, Carolina briefly led 2-1 after Svechnikov’s two goals, but Vancouver answered with a short-handed goal by Elias Pettersson and a go-ahead tally by Conor Garland. Taylor Hall tied the game in the third period, providing momentum heading into the final minutes. Shayne Gostisbehere supplied three assists from the blue line, helping drive Carolina’s offense.

Key injuries affected the Hurricanes as the game progressed. Jarvis departed early with an injury and did not return, while Kotkaniemi left after the second period with a lower-body injury, leaving Carolina with 10 healthy forwards for the final period and overtime. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov faced concern as he made 14 saves while allowing 4-3 overall.

Gostisbehere’s three-assist masterclass and the Hurricanes’ depth shone throughout, illustrating why Carolina is viewed as a championship contender as the season unfolds.