Cory Lavalette
@corylav.bsky.social
Senior editor for North State Journal but still on the Hurricanes beat | PHWA Carolina chapter head; weekly for The Athletic.
“We’re finding ways to lose games.”
The Hurricanes squandered another multigoal lead, losing 5-3 to the visiting Avalanche.
nsjonline.com/article/2026...
The Hurricanes squandered another multigoal lead, losing 5-3 to the visiting Avalanche.
nsjonline.com/article/2026...
Hurricanes blow another lead, lost 5-3 to Avalanche | The North State Journal
RALEIGH — For 40 minutes, the Hurricanes got the better of the NHL’s best team.
The last 20 minutes, however, were the worst of the Hurricanes.
Carolina blew a multigoal lead for the fifth time in e...
nsjonline.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:12 AM
“We’re finding ways to lose games.”
The Hurricanes squandered another multigoal lead, losing 5-3 to the visiting Avalanche.
nsjonline.com/article/2026...
The Hurricanes squandered another multigoal lead, losing 5-3 to the visiting Avalanche.
nsjonline.com/article/2026...
As I mentioned during the game, Gleason was pretty animated toward Nikishin after Nelson's second goal. Brind'Amour hinted at that as well, saying they "just need to pick him up." Said "young guys" in heightened roles have "been getting us too."
January 4, 2026 at 3:28 AM
As I mentioned during the game, Gleason was pretty animated toward Nikishin after Nelson's second goal. Brind'Amour hinted at that as well, saying they "just need to pick him up." Said "young guys" in heightened roles have "been getting us too."
Brind'Amour said the call on Svechnikov showed a lack of "feel" for the game. Didn't take issue with the Ehlers call but said the penalty on Miller was "phantom."
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Brind'Amour said the call on Svechnikov showed a lack of "feel" for the game. Didn't take issue with the Ehlers call but said the penalty on Miller was "phantom."
Brind'Amour: “We just keep beating ourselves, in essence, is what's happening. I mean, yeah, they made the plays, but we're giving them opportunities that you just can't do. And, you keep talking about it, but they gotta in the room. It has to come from there. And right now it's not happening.”
January 4, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Brind'Amour: “We just keep beating ourselves, in essence, is what's happening. I mean, yeah, they made the plays, but we're giving them opportunities that you just can't do. And, you keep talking about it, but they gotta in the room. It has to come from there. And right now it's not happening.”
Brind'Amour: "We take two penalties that are nonimpactful; they're not even near, close to our end of the rink, and when we know they've got all the world-class players out there just licking their chops right now. Our penalty kill is not going so good, just a little off. That's the game."
January 4, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Brind'Amour: "We take two penalties that are nonimpactful; they're not even near, close to our end of the rink, and when we know they've got all the world-class players out there just licking their chops right now. Our penalty kill is not going so good, just a little off. That's the game."
Staal: "We said our piece after the game, and tomorrow better be more like our game and for the 60 minutes."
January 4, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Staal: "We said our piece after the game, and tomorrow better be more like our game and for the 60 minutes."
Staal: "There were some postives, if you want to look at that way. But you want results too, and especially in the funk we're in, we've got to pull a 60-minute game in and just do it all the way through."
January 4, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Staal: "There were some postives, if you want to look at that way. But you want results too, and especially in the funk we're in, we've got to pull a 60-minute game in and just do it all the way through."
Staal on the penalty disparity: "We would have liked more power plays. You always want more power plays. I thought there was a couple cheesy ones. I guess the (Miller) one was probably the only one that was really cheesy.
January 4, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Staal on the penalty disparity: "We would have liked more power plays. You always want more power plays. I thought there was a couple cheesy ones. I guess the (Miller) one was probably the only one that was really cheesy.
Staal: "We're finding ways to lose games."
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Staal: "We're finding ways to lose games."
Ehlers on blowing several leads of late: "Last game, it was me throwing the puck right to a guy in the slot. Today, (it) was maybe a few mistakes and it was in the back of our net. So we've got stuff we need to clean up. Luckily, we got 41 games to do that."
January 4, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Ehlers on blowing several leads of late: "Last game, it was me throwing the puck right to a guy in the slot. Today, (it) was maybe a few mistakes and it was in the back of our net. So we've got stuff we need to clean up. Luckily, we got 41 games to do that."
Ehlers on his penalty in the thrird: "Honestly, I thought I did. I was trying to go in and lift a stick, but from what I was told and from what the guys on the bench saw, I didn't touch him. So obviously, it is frustrating. At the same time that happened really quick.
January 4, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Ehlers on his penalty in the thrird: "Honestly, I thought I did. I was trying to go in and lift a stick, but from what I was told and from what the guys on the bench saw, I didn't touch him. So obviously, it is frustrating. At the same time that happened really quick.
Hurricanes lose 5-3
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Hurricanes lose 5-3
Refs award MacKinnon an empty netter after he and Gostisbehere battled for the puck.
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Refs award MacKinnon an empty netter after he and Gostisbehere battled for the puck.
2:47 left. Keep an eye on Andersen
January 4, 2026 at 2:38 AM
2:47 left. Keep an eye on Andersen
Nikishin back on the ice
January 4, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Nikishin back on the ice
Gleason was animated with Nikishin after the second nelson goal, and Ghost just took his shift with Nystrom
January 4, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Gleason was animated with Nikishin after the second nelson goal, and Ghost just took his shift with Nystrom
Nelson again, this time off a feed from MacKinnon.
Avs have turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead in 7 1/2 minutes
Avs have turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead in 7 1/2 minutes
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Nelson again, this time off a feed from MacKinnon.
Avs have turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead in 7 1/2 minutes
Avs have turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead in 7 1/2 minutes
That's just a bad, bad call.
January 4, 2026 at 2:17 AM
That's just a bad, bad call.
Toews loses an edge and crashes into the boards, and they call it a trip on Ehlers. The officiating has ... not been great.
January 4, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Toews loses an edge and crashes into the boards, and they call it a trip on Ehlers. The officiating has ... not been great.
Tie game. Bad pass by Nystrom is stolen in the neutral zone and Drury beats Andersen cleanly.
January 4, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Tie game. Bad pass by Nystrom is stolen in the neutral zone and Drury beats Andersen cleanly.
Point shot rattles in and it's 3-2. Nelson with a tip in front.
January 4, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Point shot rattles in and it's 3-2. Nelson with a tip in front.
The penalty parade continues — Svechnikov for tripping
January 4, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The penalty parade continues — Svechnikov for tripping
C siren to close out the night.
Now we see if the Hurricanes can close out the Avs.
Now we see if the Hurricanes can close out the Avs.
January 4, 2026 at 2:04 AM
C siren to close out the night.
Now we see if the Hurricanes can close out the Avs.
Now we see if the Hurricanes can close out the Avs.
The Avs are 2-2-5 this season when trailing after two periods. The Hurricanes are 15-1-1 when leading after two.
January 4, 2026 at 1:49 AM
The Avs are 2-2-5 this season when trailing after two periods. The Hurricanes are 15-1-1 when leading after two.
3-1 Hurricanes after two
January 4, 2026 at 1:47 AM
3-1 Hurricanes after two