Hurricanes’ power play stays alive in win over the Flames. Here’s what else we learned

The Carolina Hurricanes powered their way out of a five-game winless streak Saturday.

Martin Necas and Brett Pesce each scored on the power play as the Canes fought past the Calgary Flames 3-2 at PNC Arena.

After going six games without a power-play goal, the Canes scored twice Friday against the Boston Bruins — albeit in a 3-2 overtime road loss — and then picked up another two at home Saturday with the man advantage.

Pesce’s goal, at 8:46 of the third, came on a pass from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and proved to be the game-winner as the Canes (11-6-5) closed it out.

“It was huge. We played really good,” Necas said. “This can help get us going a little bit and get the confidence going, especially on the PP (power play). We have to keep it up.”

The Canes’ Seth Jarvis scored an even-strength goal in the first for the Hurricanes, who were 0-1-4 in their last four games, losing four times in OT.

“Things haven’t been easy, but we’ve been sticking with it and I thought we got what we deserved tonight,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

Both goalies, the Canes’ Antti Raanta and the Flames’ Dan Vladar, had some big stops in the fast-paced game as the Flames (9-9-3) ended a six-game road trip. Raanta had 18 saves while Vladar faced 33 shots.

“When you go through tough times it’s more like a battle,” Raanta said. “You have to battle through adversity and the bad bounces. We felt like we’ve been playing OK and had chances to win but not get the bounces. It’s just a relief to get two points.”

Quick takeaways from the game

▪ The Canes had gone through a stretch of 239:14 without an even-strength goal before Jarvis scored. Nice play by defenseman Brent Burns, who skated into the left circle and found an open Jarvis by the crease

▪ Andrei Svechnikov is a good passer but has a tendency to also make some sloppy ones. He assisted on the Necas power-play goal in the second but later had a turnover as the Flames’ Tyler Toffoli scored on a breakaway for 2-2 tie.

▪ Yes, the guy they called “Svech” again tried the move some now call simply the “Svech” — the lacrosse move Svechnikov has twice converted the often-imitated move in his NHL career. He’s still looking for a third.

▪ There were questions about Raanta’s availability before the game. Raanta said he took a puck off the knee at the morning skate before the Arizona game Wednesday and the swelling persisted, resulting in Pyotr Kochetkov starting four straight games. Said Raanta: “The way ‘Koochie’ has been playing, you trust him as much as anyone.”

▪ Where’s Freddie? That’s a question often asked as goalie Frederik Andersen continues to miss games. Andersen now has missed the past 10 games, his return uncertain.

▪ It has been a tough go for veteran Paul Stastny much of this season, his first with the Canes. Stastny, who had 21 goals last season, has five assists in 21 games for Carolina and might have played his most complete game Saturday. The fourth line, centered by Stastny, spent time in the offensive zone and created some extra work for Vladar. Stastny assisted on Pesce’s power-play goal.

▪ The Hurricanes announced Saturday that former goalie Cam Ward had been elected to the team’s new Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class. Brind’Amour, Ron Francis and Glen Wesley earned automatic induction but Ward was the first to be elected for induction. No-brainer of a decision. Played 13 seasons, won 318 games and was so vital in Canes’ run to the 2006 Stanley Cup title.