RALEIGH, NC — Martin Necas had a goal and two assists and Carolina Hurricanes needed time to get into the groove before beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday night.
Seth Jarvis, Brady Skjei and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won four straight opening games. The start of the season brought the usual energy.
“I couldn’t even take a nap today,” Necas said. “I was excited to come here.”
Patrick Laine had the Columbus goal and gave the Blue Jackets a brief second-half lead. He left later in the period with an upper body injury.
Frederik Andersen made 31 saves for the Hurricanes.
Columbus turned to Daniil Tarasov as a surprise starter on opening night because top goaltender Elvis Merzilikins was ill. Tarasov, playing in his fifth NHL game, made 39 saves.
“We were fine through two (periods). We really were,” said Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen. “Then they took over. We did not get an answer.”
The Hurricanes would love to produce another stellar opening stretch. They won their first nine games last season.
“In the third half, we looked a little bit more like we wanted to make it,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “The good news for me is that we got the win, but we still have a lot to do.”
Necas started his point-producing streak by assisting Skjei’s 1:30 lead to play in the second half. The Hurricanes were in transition but Skjei was spotted inside the blueline and Necas returned a pass to set up the shot.
“It’s always nice (to be so open),” Skjei said. “Just trying to hit the net.”
Necas then scored at 6:29 in the third period after a rebound. Less than three minutes later, he recorded the first assist on Svechnikov’s goal.
“We kind of got into the flow and played our game,” Necas said.
Laine scored the first goal 11 seconds into the second half after a turnover from Carolina. He has 10 goals in 20 career games against Carolina.
Laine’s injury dampened the hype for a new season after he had one point per game (56 in 56 games) last season.
Larsen said navigating injuries is part of getting through a season.
“We’ll keep going and see where it goes,” he said.
WELCOME ALL
Some players debuted with their respective teams.
Six-time All-Star Johnny Gaudreau was in the Columbus lineup. He was also groomed with Laine in the preseason.
“They built something,” Larsen said of the Linemates.
Gaudreau said playing for a new team after a career exclusively with the Calgary Flames brought with it a range of emotions.
“I wanted to get off to the right start and win,” he said.
Meanwhile, defenseman Brent Burns played in his 680th straight game — but first for Carolina — to earn sole possession for the 10th-longest streak in NHL history.
“He will do anything for us,” said Brind’Amour. “He’s going to score a lot of big goals and make a lot of great plays, defend and I know he’ll stick up for his team-mates when he feels he needs to do it.”
Paul Stastny, another veteran in his first game for the Hurricanes, assisted in the team’s fourth goal. He is beginning his 17th NHL season. He has 16 points in season-opening games of his career.
LET HIM HEAR
Brind’Amour, beginning his fifth season as coach, received a huge ovation during the pre-game introduction. Captain of the franchise’s 2006 Stanley Cup championship team, he has coached the team to back-to-back division championships.
“I did not expect that. It means a lot to me, what can I say,” said Brind’Amour. “When you get an ovation like that, it’s something special. We have a great cause here and I appreciate the people.”
NEXT
Blue Jackets: Friday Night vs. Tampa Bay Visit.
Hurricanes: Friday night in San Jose to begin a five-game road trip.
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