South Raleigh News

Justin Robidas registered his first NHL goal for the Carolina Hurricanes during their 5-1 defeat against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. The goal was a slight reprieve for the Hurricanes, who struggled throughout the game.

In the first period, former Hurricanes players Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm scored two swift goals in the last 1:11, giving Boston a strong lead. David Pastrnak further strengthened the Bruins' position by scoring three consecutive goals, sealing Carolina's fate.

Boston's Jeremy Swayman held his ground, successfully defending 39 shots before Robidas managed a goal in the final minute. Carolina's Frederik Andersen faced a tough night, conceding five goals out of 26 shots, marking his first loss since March 1.

Carolina witnessed Robidas score points in his initial two games, a record shared by 15 other franchise players. Logan Stankoven contributed with seven shots on goal, matching his personal best, and secured 19:31 of playing time. Seth Jarvis reached a milestone of 300 NHL games, amassing 207 points in his career so far.

Despite several offensive attempts by the Hurricanes, as noted by their head coach Rod Brind'Amour, the team could not capitalize on the chances they created. Brind'Amour stated, "We put up a lot of offense, but when you're behind like that, it's just tough, and their goalie played really well."

Sebastian Aho commented on their lack of form, mentioning, "First 10, 15 minutes were okay, and then we kind of fell apart." He emphasized the importance of returning to the team's standard gameplay by saying, "We just have to play how we know and how we want, and that'll give us the best chance to win."

Robidas, reflecting on his performance, said, "Unfortunate that (my first goal) came in a loss like that, but for sure it's something that I'll remember."

The Hurricanes headed home after the game and planned to practice on Monday before facing the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.