For the second game in a row, a defenseman won the game for the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, this time by rookie Alexander Nikishin, who notched his 10th goal of the season just 41 seconds into the extra period.
The Canes started off their road trip with a tight, 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
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Brandon Bussi was the happiest to congratulate Nikishin as he got back into the win column, bringing his record to 26-6-1 for the season.
The Leafs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period but Jordan Staal tipped in a shot to tie the score during a powerplay early in the second.
Later in the second period, Eric Robinson was awarded a rare penalty shot and the fourth liner made no mistake.
His score gave the Hurricanes a short-lived, 2-1 lead because just a minute later, John Tavares muscled past Jaccob Slavin to the front of the net and he was able to slip the puck under Bussi to tie the score.
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A couple of minutes after this the Canes took the lead again, this time on K’Andre Miller’s first career shorthanded goal.
Miller made a nice steal near center ice and took the puck in alone then lit the lamp on a slick move which faked out goalie, Joseph Woll.
The Canes held the lead until 13:50 into the third period when William Nylander skated through two Carolina players to beat Bussi and make it 3-3.
The game eventually went to overtime where the Canes got the game-winner.
The Canes outshot the Leafs, 36-26. The Leafs also blocked 21 shots.
Next up, they travel to Pittsburgh where they will battle the Penguins once again, this time on Sunday afternoon.
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https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS021094.HTM
https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES021094.HTM
Post game interviews – https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0itv09p4gu1f8r0cz80pu/AOm46TnDGQ2c61PuRPZzLGY?rlkey=nygvvedlveqgzc30rk3kedvun&e=1&st=3rbmtqf8&dl=0
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