Lindholm scores two points in Canucks debut as visitors beat Hurricanes 3-2 – Winnipeg Free Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Playing for a new team in a familiar building was perfect for Vancouver's Elias Lindholm on Tuesday night.

Lindholm scored two power-play goals in his Canucks debut and JT Miller provided the game-winning goal in a 3-2 NHL victory over the Carolina Panthers.

“It's crazy how it all turned out,” Lindholm said. “It's very special. Obviously, I'm happy to be here and help the team.”

Veteran center Lindholm, who started his career with the Hurricanes, had a goal in each of the first two periods as the Canucks returned from the NHL All-Star break to extend their point streak to 12 games.

Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser each had two assists. Thatcher Demko made 22 saves, including 12 in the third period.

Jordan Martinuk and Sebastian Aho scored for Carolina, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Petr Kochetkov, playing for the Hurricanes for the first time since January 11, stopped 16 shots.

Miller scored his 22nd goal of the season four minutes into the third period for the only tie of the game.

“The shots weren't going our way,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “It was a disappointing game. They were good. They did what they wanted to do, and then I thought we did what we wanted to do in the third. We just couldn't capitalize.”

Vancouver acquired Lindholm from the Calgary Flames last week. He played five seasons with the Hurricanes, who drafted him in 2013.

Aside from the goals, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet praised other aspects of Lindholm, including his blocked shot late in the game.

“When you go through the tape, you see hockey IQ playing,” Tocchet said.

Lindholm's only previous two-goal game this season came against the Canucks in early December.

He said he's worried about his role in Vancouver's penalty kill, but he's looked sharp in front of the net on power plays.

“I had a lot of new information and a lot of things going through my head,” Lindholm said.

Lindholm and Hughes connected together in the first game. The first goal came with 2:37 left in the period. He deflected Hughes' blast.

“He's there and he's a really skilled player,” Hughes said. “He has great hockey sense.”

Lindholm's second goal came on a header from Hughes' delivery. That gave Lindholm 11 goals this season.

Martinuk's short hand hit early in the first period. By midway through the game, the Hurricanes had only seven shots on goal despite averaging more than 33 shots per game.

“It's hard to do that against Carolina,” Tocche said of limiting scoring opportunities.

Just 62 seconds after Lindholm's second goal, Aho scored his team's 18th on Carolina's second power play.

Hughes leads NHL defensemen with 64 points.

NEXT

Canucks: Visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Storms: The Colorado Avalanche will hit Thursday.

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