Hurricanes use strong first period to beat Jets

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – Phillip Di Giuseppe, Andrej Nestrasil, Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk scored in the first period, and the Carolina Hurricanes held on against the Winnipeg Jets.

The sophomore has been producing lately, picking up five points in his last five games, a span in which he’s also recorded 15 shots on goal. “We have to bring our team game back to that level…I thought structurally we did some things early, and then we got away from it and allowed them to build some momentum and get back in the game”.

Michael Hutchinson, who hadn’t played since January 3, took the crease in relief of Hellebuyck.

Winnipeg heads out for a two-game road trip starting in Colorado Saturday.

Goaltender Cam Ward’s energetic play, making 33 saves in his first start since January 15 while coming off a concussion injury, along with a three-point finish from Staal were significant contributing factors to the win.

Jets coach Paul Maurice said his players responded in the right way after finding themselves down 4-0. “We don’t have any time to really dwell on it and feel bad for ourselves”.

Alexander Burmistrov got the Jets on the board in the second period to make it a 4-1 game.

First Period_1, Carolina, Di Giuseppe 4 (Rask), 1:43. Nestrasil celebrated his 100th National Hockey League career game with those two goals. Hutchinson came on in relief after the Staal goal 89 seconds later, to thunderous applause from the restless MTS Centre crowd, but any hopes the move would create a spark were dashed when Faulk’s weak shot dribbled through the new goalie’s legs and into the net at 10:04.

Next up for Carolina is a visit with the Canadiens on Super Bowl Sunday.

Ladd, who hit the post late in the second period, banged home a rebound with Hurricanes winger Jeff Skinner off for hooking at 9:07 of the third.

“Obviously we know how important a start is and it was an uphill battle all night tonight”, he said.

Patric Hornqvist, Sidney Crosby and Matt Cullen scored for the Penguins, who had a four-game winning streak end and lost in regulation for just the fourth time in 18 games (10-4-4).