By: Bill Minchin/Sports Talk Philly writer
Sebastian Aho had the game of his life. The Hurricanes youngster netted his first career hat trick, Jeff Skinner added his 18th of the season and Cam Ward stopped 15 shots to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 on Tuesday night in Carolina.
Carolina jumped on the Flyers early in the first period. They were faster, stronger and hungrier. It paid off for the Hurricanes at 7:11.
Travis Konecny turned the puck over deep in his own zone to Jordan Staal. Staal then made a quick pass to Sebastian Aho. Aho made a nice move in tight to beat Steve Mason and put Carolina up 1-0.
It was another turnover, this time by Claude Giroux at his own blueline, that would lead to the second Carolina goal. Giroux tried to make a drop pass to Jakub Voracek that was picked off. Aho finished off a two on one down low for his second of the game to make it 2-0 at 16:37.
Carolina out shot the Flyers 8-4 in the period and took the 2-0 to the locker room after 20 minutes of play.
The Flyers futility continued in the second. Once again the Hurricanes dictated play and expanded their lead.
Jeff Skinner extended the lead at 16:28 with his 18th of the season. Skinner originally skated in on Mason but was denied. He then went into the corner with Brandon Manning sticking him in the face with no call. Skinner then skated in front and beat Mason to make it 3-0.
Aho netted his third of the night just a minute and a half later on the power play to make it 4-0. It was the first hat trick of Aho's career.
Philadelphia managed just two shots in the period in part because they took four penalties during the middle twenty minutes of the game.
Carolina would make it 5-0 with their second power play goal of the night. Justin Faulk netted his 10th of the season at 5:10 of the third period. It was a five on three goal.
Brayden Schenn netted his 100th career goal on the Flyers first shot of the third period with nine and half minutes left in the game. Schenn hammered home a pass from Jakub Voracek. Shayne Gostisbehere picked up the other assist.
It was too little too late as Carolina would hold on to for the 5-1 win.
