The Canes have gone 4-1-0 so far in the first five games of their road trip. It got a bit dicey for the Carolina Hurricanes, but they managed to pull out the win last night as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in overtime. Sebastian Aho scored the game-winner, while William Carrier, Jack Roslovic and Martin Necas also scored. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 24 out of 27 in the win. After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Aho, Necsa and Roslovic spoke with the media in Vancouver. Here's what they had to say: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rod Brind'Amour On the game: I thought we came out really well. Maybe could have had a little more out of the way we played in the first half of the game and then I could just see the fatigue start to set in. Just mentally, everything. We were on our heels a little bit in the second half of the game and they got going on their game but we hung in there and obviously a big play in overtime. On the significance of the road trip: It was good teams. For me, it's a good measuring stick. When we played Calgary, they hadn't lost, these guys only lost once. I mean, to play the way we're playing right now, I give the guys a lot of credit. Not the best circumstances with the road trip being as long as it was, but I thought every game we played fairly well and deserved what we got. On Kevin Lankinen: There goalie made some real nice, almost highlight reel saves. It wasn't like there was an abundance of them, but on the 5-on-3 there was one, shorthanded there was one. Man, he definitely had a heck of a game. On Pyotr Kochetkov: He's gotta learn. You can't give freebies and that's basically what he did there. He just misread it. [Jalen Chatfield] was going to catch the guy so it wasn't the time to do that, but part of what makes him good too is that he is real aggressive. So you don't want to take that away from him. He's just got to learn a little bit. On the mood on the bench after that tying goal: Our guys understand it. We love the guy. It's how he plays. He does a lot of big saves. He recovered right after that and made a big pad save on DeBrusk. He's still a young kid learning the position. but we love the competitiveness. On Sebastian Aho tying Ron Francis for most game-winning goals in franchise history: It's big. He's going to have all the records when it's all said and done and he should. He'll be the best player when his career is all said and done, I think, quite easily and that's saying a lot. He comes and plays and does it the way we ask him every night and tonight he came up big for us. On how the new guys are fitting in: Very, very well and they've been very impactful. Tonight, under the radar. I don't know who got on the score sheet, but [Sean] Walker was just really good and Chatfield was good, he's not a new guy, but [Shayne Gostisbehere] made a good play in overtime to get us the goal, Will Carrier scored, Jack Roslovic scored. When you lose as many guys as we lost, it's so important that the guys that you bring in fit, which they do, but that they also contribute and that's what you saw. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sebastian Aho On the game: Great way to finish obviously. Played really great hockey against a really good hockey team. Now we can build on this and know how to play winning hockey on the road. They made a nice push there. They have some special players here that made nice plays, but we just kept moving forward and I'm glad we were able to win this game. On his goal: Typical OT. A lot of open ice. [Jordan Staal] did a great job winning the first draw and then I don't think we lost the puck after that. Then skill takes over when there's a little bit more open ice and [Martin Necas] and Ghost made nice plays there and set up the goal. On Kevin Lankinen: Oh, he was great. He made a couple of key saves, especially I felt when we were up a goal and we had that shorthanded chance. And [Seth Jarvis] got a lot on that shot so that was a really good save and I felt like it was a key moment for them to get back into the game. You score there it's almost game over so it was a nice save. On having a successful road trip: It feels good, but honestly, in two days we're right back at it. What's done is done and now we fly home and try to repeat it. Just have to be mentally sharp for Thursday when we play our next game. Just have to keep grinding. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Necas On the road trip: We had some tough games on this roadie. Obviously it was a long one. To me, playing the Canadian teams always feels good. They have good fans here, good atmosphere and everybody is watching. It was a good road trip. Too bad we lost that one there in St. Louis, but out of six games, we'll take five for sure. On his line: We're just trying to play smart. If nothing is there, get it in deep. If there is, carry the puck in and make some plays. I've played with [Jesperi Kotkaniemi] before and [Eric Robinson] is a new guy on our team and he's really fast and good on the forecheck. So far it's been clicking. On Sebastian Aho: It's fun to be out there with him. I'm sure he's going to get way, way more too. So fun to watch this guy and happy to have him on the team with us. On what he enjoys about overtime: It's always nice when Jordo wins the faceoff and then goes and changes so we can start with the puck. There's lots of space out there and you can just wait for the right moment and that's what we did so far. On finishing the road trip on a high note: We knew that they were going to come. They played a good third, but luckily we got it done in the OT and now it's time to head back. On how the new guys have been fitting in: I think it's been great. We've always had a great core here and a great feeling in the locker room. All the guys that came in fit in perfectly. Love to be out here with the guys. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Roslovic On how the new players have fit in: These guys have seen the identity of this and getting brought into this culture, all the new guys, it was important and we seem to be doing well. On the new guys producing: Just the ability to have the advantage of the road trip, do some bonding and be able to feel comfortable as quick as possible and I think guys are showing it on the ice. On the team's bonding: It's been fun. Obviously the shenanigans we had with the plane one night and just a mixture of everything. iI's fun to be around and fun to be around the rink and the guys have been great.
