The Carolina Hurricanes secured a comprehensive 5-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday to complete a two-game sweep of the NHL Global Series in Helsinki, Finland. Captain Jordan Staal returned to the lineup from injury as the reigning Stanley Cup champions maintained their strong early-season momentum in the Finnish capital.
Andrei Svechnikov and Mark Jankowski led the scoring with two goals apiece, while goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 12 shots to claim his 12th win in 13 games. The victory improved Carolina's record to 16-3-2 and extended their current winning streak to four matches following a 4-1 triumph on Thursday.
Jackson Blake also found the back of the net for the Hurricanes, while Nikolaj Ehlers contributed three assists and Shayne Gostisbehere added two helpers. Matty Beniers provided the sole response for the Kraken, who dropped to a 9-8-1 record after struggling to contain Carolina's relentless offensive pressure.
The contest saw Carolina build upon their early dominance when Blake beat goaltender Joey Daccord with a precise snap shot following a backhand pass from Sebastian Aho. Jankowski also made his presence felt throughout the matchup as the Hurricanes controlled the tempo at both ends of the ice.
Svechnikov cemented the victory during the middle period by scoring two identical power-play goals from the right circle. He capitalized on precise feeds to one-time sharp snap shots past the Seattle defence, bringing his total to 11 goals for the campaign and extending his personal point streak to four games.
The flurry of goals forced the Kraken bench to make a goaltender change with 9:55 remaining in the second period, pulling Daccord after he conceded four goals from 14 shots. Philipp Grubauer entered the game in relief and stopped 22 shots for the remainder of the contest.
The result preserves Carolina's historic international record, making them the first NHL franchise to win each of their first four regular-season fixtures played outside North America. Their previous international outings also took place in Helsinki back in 2010 when they swept a two-game series against the Minnesota Wild.
Staal's return offered a significant boost to the defending champions after the veteran forward missed 14 games due to a calf strain sustained on October 11. His presence added stability to the forward lines as the team adapted to the unique demands of the overseas trip.
For Seattle, the defeat concludes a difficult assignment in Scandinavia where they struggled to find their rhythm against a clinical opponent. The Kraken will now look to regroup as they prepare to travel back to North America for their upcoming regular-season fixtures.
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