Mar 2, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) and Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley (44) fight during the third period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime Sunday evening at Lenovo Center.
Sebastian Aho netted the overtime winner, his fifth of the season and 16th of his career, Jaccob Slavin had a goal and an assist and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 15 shots in the win.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Aho, Slavin and Kochetkov spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game: It was a hell of an effort all the way around, especially when we weren't scoring. But we weren't giving up much. A couple odd-man rushes, a couple breakaways out of nothing, again, but [Kochetkov]... really, give him a lot of credit. I thought we had a fairly good defensive game. That's what was going on. They really hunkered in there, blocked a lot of shots. Give them a lot of credit. And then we finally broke through in overtime.
On what makes Sebastian Aho so good in overtime: Well, there's a lot. There's a lot of room out there and he can be creative and he's just competitive as heck. So I think those combinations help and suit him in that type of environment.
On swapping Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis: I thought Svech had a good period. Certainly impactful. He had a lot of shots blocked, but he was trying to put pucks to the net and he was heavy. Played a heavy game and that's what a power forward is and that's what he does very well. I thought he did that in the third.
On Svechnikov's fight: Loved that he stuck up for his teammate and hated [the fight] because you just never know on those. But I give him credit.
On Taylor Hall: He had a really good game, actually. You look at his puck touches tonight and everything was solid. And he helped to generate a goal. Tonight might have been his best game, I think.
On if he feels the team is still passing up too many good looks: I think we do have a tendency of that when we're not scoring. Like you feel like you have to get the perfect shot sometimes. That'll come every five, six games you'll get that one, but you just have to stick with it and when you get the opportunity, you have to put it there to create the other ones. Sometimes, when you're squeezing the stick or you haven't scored a lot of goals, you try a little too hard sometimes. I think sometimes that's kind of what we do.
On not getting a 5v3 at the end of regulation: It is what it is. What can you say about it? For me, to go on a 5v3, it really should be egregious, not a one-handed little tap. That's what that was. And then I see two guys get absolutely cross-checked into wherever and that's okay? If that's the standard then call it, or not. I'm good with not. I don't think you should go on a 5v3 unless it's absolutely egregious. That's my take, but if you call one little nick-knack, and then there were a couple that were pretty obvious, that's where the frustration is and that's why the players get frustrated.
On the evolution of 3v3 overtime: I think it's super exciting. I think it's the best thing the league's done. People start trying to criticize it and it's like, how many games go to a shootout now? It's strategy, it's skill, it's like, okay, you're wearing a team out, now can you pounce? I think it's gotten better and better. It was pretty exciting, I think.
On if he's looking for a goalie to take the reins: I'm not even thinking about that. I think we have two and we know how this is going to play out. We have so many games and I don't think you're going to see any one guy get overworked here.
On if he always liked 3v3 overtime, even when it was first implemented: I've always liked it. I like that they give a little extra time to end the game. Someone should win. But I don't think you should add another five like they're talking about. Enough's enough. Let's get it over with and I'm good with the shootout. Someone should win. People want to walk out with someone having gotten the victory.
Sebastian Aho
On the game: Obviously, that [game] was a test of patience. There was just so much going on. A lot of penalties both ways so 5v5 was almost impossible to find a rhythm, but obviously we were also playing a lot of minutes on the power play and kill. A weird game. You'd like to see us put the game away at the end there with a four minute power play, but you have to give them credit. They blocked a lot of shots and obviously they're not going to blow a 5v3 penalty there, even though there was a couple of iffy plays. I'm not complaining at all, but like, you know how it goes. They were selling out, so kudos to them, but you'd love to see us score there. But nonetheless, it was a huge win.
On if overtime is more about wearing your opponent down: I mean, that's part of it, right? But at the same time, you have a little bit of an opening, you see open ice, like it's hard to catch. There's so much open ice at 3v3 and nobody can help you. That was a good play by Slavo. I got a step on my guy and he realized it and found me in a good spot to shoot.
On staying composed despite lack of power play success: That's what we did. It wasn't like after they killed their penalties, that they took over and started dominating, right? Obviously you'd like to see us put the game away a bit earlier with all those opportunities, but it's how it sometimes goes. It doesn't really matter at this time of year how we win.
Jaccob Slavin
On if crashing into the net doesn't hurt as bad when you score: It didn't hurt too bad actually, so we're good there. I'm just happy it went in.
On the goal: I just got my feet moving up the ice and then I saw [Blake] streaking up the far-side, so I figured I'd get it into the skilled guy's hands. He obviously made a great play back to me. I just tried to go to the net, because that's what we tell our forwards to do, so I tried to do that and he found me.
On Taylor Hall's hit springing that play: Absolutely. Even after the period, I came up to him and was like, 'Good hit.' That's what we need in our game. We need some more physicality, so finishing checks, even little ones like that, make a big difference in the game.
Pyotr Kochetkov
On staying ready despite not seeing a shot on net until the end of the first period: You know, I find work in the first period. I just try to play the puck more for a little bit and move. Second period, I have hard job. It's just my job. I try to do save every time.
On if he likes having a light workload: No. l think all goalies say that that is garbage.
On if he decided to make the poke check on Morgan Frost due to where his eyes were looking: No idea. I just do. For me, it's instinct too in the moment. I see pass, I think... I don't know. I can't say, 'This is a good moment for poke check.' It would not be true if I say it because I just play. I no think. I just go.
On it being an important win for the team: We've been up and down now, of course [we] need wins. Blue Jackets [have] played good, a little bit pressure too. It's now time, after break, that you need win for playoffs, for Stanley Cup. I hope so that we find our game step-by-step.
On having a good rotation going with Frederik Andersen: I just goalie. Coach say who play next game. I no think too much who plays, Freddie or me. I just think about team. If we win, I happy, I smile. I no think who play.
On Andrei Svechnikov's fight: Surprised me. Surprised. I always think about we a little bit quiet team. I think we very need sometimes a fight. We play more team physical. It good. KK against Buffalo, today Svech. I think it's most important for us. But big respect, big respect.
On Dustin Wolf: I know this guy. We played against in AHL. I think he's the next superstar. I remembered how he played a couple years ago in AHL. Now, I think he's [having] a very good season too. I very [much] like what he do. For me, I think he's a top-10 goalie in the league this season.
On his mindset for the final push of the season: I try to think just about the next game because now it's only 20 games. I think now about 20 games. Tomorrow, I wake up and think about Detroit. That is my plan. Every night, it's a good battle. This is the NHL. All teams have a chance for the playoffs and I think it's been a great season for fans and hard season for players, coaches because not all teams can go in playoffs.
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