Welcome to Carolina: Dustin Tokarski makes Hurricanes debut in win over Blue Jackets

The Carolina Hurricanes’ parade of goalies continued Sunday.

Meet Dustin Tokarski, who became the fifth goaltender the Canes have had on the roster this season, joining Frederik Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov, Spencer Martin and Yaniv Perets.

In his first start with the Hurricanes, Tokarski was the winner with 27 saves as the Canes took a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Lenovo Center.

Canes center Sebastian Aho found a way to end his five-on-five scoring problem — get a shorthanded goal — and Jordan Staal’s line supplied a pair of even-strength scores with some hustling, gritty work around the net.

Staal’s linemates, Will Carrier and Jordan Martinook, each picked up a goal for the Canes, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after two. Staal carried the puck behind the net and centered to Carrier in front for a backhander, and Staal’s shot from the top of the slot was deflected in front by Martinook in the second period.

“The Staal line, every shift, was on it,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

It was 4-1 — twice

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored off the rush in the third period to push the lead to 4-1 as the Canes (19-10-1) bounced back from being shut out Friday by the Ottawa Senators.

That eased the tension for Tokarski, who was recalled Dec. 4 from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Tokarski had an economy of movement in net and made some crisp stops, and also got a nice break in the final seconds of the second period when the Jackets’ Sean Monahan missed an open net on the power play.

Martinook’s score was an answer of sorts by the home team, coming about 90 seconds after Dmitri Voronkov had beaten Tokarski with a shot from the low slot.

Martinook’s goal brought on a spate of coach’s challenges by the Jackets’ Dean Evason. The first was for goaltender interference as Carrier crowded goalie Elvis Merzlikins in the crease. The ruling: good goal. The Canes’ Jack Roslovic then scored on the resulting power play for an apparent 4-1 lead, but Evanson challenged for a hand pass not called on the opening faceoff.

Again, play was stopped for several minutes as Canes fans chanted “Goal! Goal!” for the second time. But Carolina did not get a favorable ruling as center Tyson Jost was ruled to have made a hand pass after the draw.

Early penalty kill work

The game had a disjointed start for the Canes, who were called for two high-sticking penalties in the first six a half minutes — the second a four-minute double minor against Kotkaniemi, who got the stick up on defenseman Jack Johnson.

But Seth Jarvis, who teams well with Aho on the penalty kill, got his stick on the puck at the blue line to deny a Columbus entry and was with Aho on a two-on-one. Aho’s goal was his eighth of the season, his first in nine games and his first “shorty” this season.

It was the 18th shorthanded score for Aho since the 2016-17 season, an NHL best — Brad Marchand of Boston and Blake Coleman of Calgary each have had 17, according to the league.

Tokarski also did his part to finish off the kills, Brind’Amour noted.

“I thought he subtly made a few really big saves, especially early when we had the six minutes to kill the penalties in the first period,” Brind’Amour said. “It was a couple of really quality chances, and that allowed us to keep playing and not get off our game.”

Tokarski’s journey

The Tokarski start was not a move based on an injury or after a hastily made recall from the American Hockey League. Kochetkov, after five straight starts and with a lot more to come, was given a game off.

Tokarski, 35, has been with five other teams in the NHL and is in his 10th season. The game Sunday was the 81st career game for the 2008 Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick.

“I’ve just been going day to day for the last 30 days and I’m going to keep doing that,” Tokarski said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and grateful for the belief.”

It has been quite a journey this season for Tokarski, who has spent much of his career in the AHL. He began it without a contract, then joined the Wolves of the AHL on a professional tryout.

“It’s been pretty wild, but it’s been awesome and it’s been fun.” Tokarski said of the year.

Andersen’s knee injury and later a concussion to Kochetkov resulted in callups for Martin and Perets. Tokarski had a 4-1-0 record with Wolves with a 1.61 goals-against average, and on Dec. 2 was signed by the Canes to one-year, two-way contract.

The start Sunday was Tokarski’s first game in the NHL since a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 18, 2023 while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was his first win since beating Vancouver with the Pens on Jan. 10, 2023.

Tokarski said he never thought that the time might have come to end his career.

“I tried to keep that out of the mind, just because I feel if I start thinking that way it might come your way,” he said.

Special honor for Brind’Amour

The Canes’ Brind’Amour received a special honor after the game as Gov. Roy Cooper announced the coach would be included in The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society — the highest honor bestowed by a North Carolina governor to those who have made significant contributions to the state and their community.

”I’m really, really honored,” Brind’Amour said. “I’ve been a part of great group of people all along. I’m humbled and grateful.”