Gleb Trikozov Hat Trick Leads Hurricanes Prospect to Comeback Victory over Panthers

It isn't necessarily about how you start, but how you finish and the Carolina Hurricanes prospects have really taken that saying to heart.

The Canes scored six third-period goals en route to a 7-3 win over the Florida Panthers Saturday afternoon in their second game of the 2024 Prospect Showcase.

Gleb Trikozov led the way for Carolina, scoring three goals within 6:08 of game time to propel his team into the lead and from there the team just kept pouring it on.

It was a slow start for the Hurricanes who found themselves in an early 2-0 hole, but it was an especially start for defenseman Anttoni Honka who was responsible for both of those goals.

The 2019 third-round pick got walked on the first one — leading to an in-alone chance — and then he turned the puck over on the second — leading to a 2-on-0 for the Panthers.

But after those tough moments, Honka and the team really settled in from the second period on.

As the game progressed, not only did the defense improve, but so too did the offense.

Defenseman Ronan Seeley, who is wearing the 'C' for the showcase, got his team on the board in the second period as he cruised into the slot and buried a beautiful Scott Morrow feed.

And once the third period hit, the goals just started flooding in with Trikozov potting Carolina's next three.

The Russian forward, who was playing his first games in North America since signing his ELC, really showed off his offensive skillset and just exactly why a lot of people are high on him.

The 2022 second-round pick was "Johnny on the spot" for his first and second, putting home rebounds off of a Jackson Blake and then Scott Morrow chance and then he found the soft spot on the power play and buried a feed from camp invitee Connor Lockhart.

The Hurricanes followed up that power play goal with yet another one as Scott Morrow ripped a one-timer from the left circle on a tee-up from Felix Unger Sorum.

However, the Canes weren't done even as the clock wound down as Bradly Nadeau swept a loose puck laying behind the Florida goaltender into the goal and then defenseman Bryce Montgomery, who was in for Domenick Fensore, got a wrister to go after going 1v3 against the Panthers.

On top of the power play success, it was also a good day for the Canes' penalty kill as the team went 5-for-5 on the kill including killing three in the first period.

It was also a strong showing for Yaniv Perets who turned aside 28 of the 31 shots he faced.

Trikozov and Morrow both finished the game with three points and Unger Sorum, Blake and Noel Gunler each had two assists per team reporter Walt Ruff.

The Hurricanes will be off tomorrow before finishing their showcase slate on Monday with a 2 p.m. showdown with the Nashville Predators.

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