RALEIGH, N.C. — Adam Erne and Filip Zadina scored two quick third-period goals while Jonathan Bernier finished with 37 saves to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 on Monday night.
Sam Gagner added a clinching empty-net score late for the Red Wings, who continue to frustrate the Hurricanes. Carolina came in tied for the Central Division lead yet have lost four of seven against the division’s last-place team.
Detroit also spoiled a milestone night for Carolina captain Jordan Staal, who was honored before the puck dropped for playing his 1,000th regular-season NHL game.
Erne scored the game’s first goal by scoring off a behind-the-net feed from Michael Rasmussen less than a minute into the third. That was the start of a game-turning sequence that saw the Hurricanes take two quick penalties to give the Red Wings a chance to strike again.
The Hurricanes unsuccessfully challenged the goal seeking a missed offside call on Erne. That led to an delay of game penalty, followed by another when Brady Skjei’s clear attempt sailed over the glass — potentially glancing off the stick of Detroit’s Evgeny Svechnikov — to give Detroit a two-man advantage.
The Hurricanes survived the 5-on-3, but Rasmussen slipped the puck to Zadina on the right side to beat James Reimer for the 2-0 lead at 2:34 of the third.
That lead held up, with Nino Niederreiter getting Carolina on the board to make it 2-1 at 13:54 of the third. But the Hurricanes couldn’t beat Bernier again, then Gagner finished it off with his empty-net score in the final minute to seal it.
Reimer finished with 27 saves for the Hurricanes.
STAAL HONORED
In a bit of perfect timing, Jordan Staal’s brother, Marc, was on the opposite bench for his milestone night that began with a pregame ceremony.
The Hurricanes took the ice all wearing Staal’s No. 11 jersey before the ceremony that included taped video messages from former teammates such as Sidney Crosby, Cam Ward, Justin Williams and brothers Jared, Eric and Marc Staal.
DEADLINE DAY
The NHL’s trade deadline passed a few hours before the puck dropped in this one, with both teams completing deals Monday.
The Hurricanes traded defenseman Haydn Fleury to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and a sixth-round draft pick in 2022. That gave Carolina a physical boost to the blue line with the 6-foot-5, 218-pound Hakanpaa.
As for the Red Wings, they dealt forward Anthony Mantha to Washington for wingers Richard Panik and Jakub Vrana as well a first-round draft pick this year and a second-rounder next year.
Detroit has completed four trades since Friday.
UP NEXT
Detroit: The Red Wings return home Thursday for the first of two straight games against Chicago.
Carolina: The Hurricanes open a two-game home set with Nashville on Thursday, followed by the second game Saturday to close an eight-game homestead.
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