Logan Stankoven made an immediate impact in his first playoff game with the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring twice to help the team defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1. The 22-year-old forward played alongside captain Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook on the top defensive line, a combination that proved effective.
Stankoven’s performance was part of a strong showing from the Hurricanes in their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. The trade-deadline deal that brought him to Carolina allowed the team to pivot away from its January addition of Mikko Rantanen.
“He’s got skill and can put the puck in the net,” Staal said of his new linemate. “He finds holes, has good speed, and can shoot the puck.” Stankoven played a key role in the Hurricanes’ top-to-bottom start to the playoffs, using his speed and agility to create scoring chances.
Stankoven’s first goal came on a beautiful backhand pass from Martinook, who forced Devils center Nico Hischier into a turnover behind the net. The forward then slipped the puck to Stankoven, who scored easily past goalie Jacob Markstrom. He added another goal on a power play, using a clean lane created by Taylor Hall’s cross-ice pass to blast a rising shot past Markstrom.
“It takes time to adjust, but I think I’ve been doing well,” Stankoven said. “The guys have done a good job of communicating with me and helping me out.” Coach Rod Brind’Amour praised the line combination, saying it was a “safety net” for players who know they can count on each other to play well.
The Hurricanes will look to build on this strong start as they continue through the playoffs. With Stankoven’s addition, they have a new player who can create scoring chances and contribute to their success.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/44773174/logan-stankoven-scores-twice-playoff-debut-carolina-hurricanes-beat-devils