Mar 9, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) scores a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)It was a day for debuts in Raleigh, as both of the Carolina Hurricanes' trade deadline acquisitions got on the score sheet in the team's 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Mark Jankowski got the party started with the game's first two goals, but it was Logan Stankoven who ended up potting the game-winning goal.
"That's great for them," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Anytime you come somewhere new — we've talked about it enough already this year, those adjustments — but just to be able to contribute in that fashion, I think is really just a great way to start for them. Obviously it helps us with the win too, but now they can just relax and go about their business."
On the Canes' fifth power play opportunity of the game, Stankoven found himself in just the right place at the net-front and redirected a Shayne Gostisbehere shot in past Connor Hellebuyck.
"It felt great," Stankoven said on scoring in his debut. "It's always nice to come in and contribute right away. ... At this level, it's so hard to beat goalies cleanly off of a shot, so I think for a lot of goals, you just have to go to the net and look for rebounds and create plays. When I saw that shot coming, you just want to get a shaft on it. It's so hard for goalies to track a puck when it gets deflected."
Stankoven's line struggled a bit at 5v5, getting outchanced 8-1, but there's going to be a learning curve for the new guy.
A new team means new systems and the Canes especially play a unique style.
"I felt personally, that I can give a lot more," Stankoven said. "It definitely wasn't my best tonight and I know it's going to take a bit of time to get used to my linemates and the systems and what not. ... There's a lot of things that get thrown at you and you try to adapt as much as you can without thinking too much. It was a bit hard at times to try and not think too much. I'm trying to fit in and play hard with the guys. Just going to keep building, watching video with the coaches and keep learning."
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