Hurricanes’ Unger Sorum, Stankoven, Hall, & Brind’Amour Speak After Thrilling 6-5 Comeback Win

Preseason hockey delivered excitement on Thursday night as the Carolina Hurricanes erased a four-goal deficit to defeat the Nashville Predators 6-5. This marked a thrilling return to Greensboro, NC, for the team, their first game there since 1999. Following the match, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and several players shared their thoughts with The Hockey Writers.

Felix Unger Sorum

With the score tied 5-5 and less than two minutes remaining, the game appeared headed for overtime, much like the Hurricanes' previous shootout win against the Florida Panthers. However, forward Felix Unger Sorum secured the victory with a goal from a prime scoring area with just 2.6 seconds left. This completed an unanswered five-goal run for the Hurricanes, turning a 5-1 deficit into a dramatic preseason win.

On the team's mindset during the comeback, Unger Sorum commented, “I felt like the mood was good. I didn’t feel like there was any panic at all, and that’s why we won it.”

Taylor Hall

Making his first appearance since the Stanley Cup Final, Taylor Hall contributed significantly with three assists, earning third star honors. Skating alongside Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake, the trio known as the “Junkyard Dawgs” combined for seven points.

Discussing his line's chemistry, Hall stated, “I don’t think it was perfect, but it was fun to get playing, and it was a good atmosphere. The crowd was into it all game. For our line, we work hard. That’s kind of our recipe. If we manage the puck well, then we usually have chances just from our work ethic and our skills. That kind of paid off in the end.”

The “Junkyard Dawg” line proved formidable throughout the previous season, consistently impacting games and posing a challenge for opposing teams. Hall recorded 19 points in 19 playoff games, trailing only Blake's 20 points. Continued success for this trio could lead to career-best seasons.

Logan Stankoven

Stankoven also made a significant impact, tallying two goals and an assist for a three-point night. He scored the game-tying goal late in the game. Following his playoff performance of 11 goals and 16 points, he appears ready for the regular season.

Earning second star honors, Stankoven showed no signs of slowing down, seemingly in mid-season form. With the expectation of reuniting with Hall and Blake, anticipation is high for the trio in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Acknowledging the past season's success, Stankoven emphasized the need to build upon it: “Very excited. I think it’s not going to come to us. I think everything is earned, and just because we had success in the playoffs doesn’t mean it’ll translate right away. I think we have that chemistry. We have a recipe now, and it’s about finding it and being more consistent throughout the regular season.”

Rod Brind’Amour

Despite a difficult start, Coach Brind’Amour expressed satisfaction with the team's resilience and fight. He acknowledged the excitement surrounding the Hall-Stankoven-Blake line and their evident chemistry, predicting their continued prominence in 2026-27.

When asked about the trio picking up where they left off, Brind’Amour noted, “I think pretty much every shift they were just snapping it around. There’s definitely a lot of, we saw that last year, chemistry with those guys. They just seem to match really well, and I’m glad that it started this way.”

Beyond the top line, competition for roster spots remains a key storyline. With Seth Jarvis's potential move from the top line and Alexander Nikishin's unsigned status, two defensive positions are open.

Juuso Välimäki's power-play goal in the third period narrowed the deficit. He is among five players—including Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Mike Reilly, Joel Nystrom, and Charles Alexis Legault—competing for defensive openings.

Regarding the defense, Brind’Amour stated, “That’s another spot we got competition moving forward. Everyone knows what’s going on there. There’s a few guys that we got to, you know, I certainly don’t think that the competition’s over by any stretch. So, we got one more game. But, yeah, that’s going to have to be a big discussion there.”

The upcoming days will involve significant discussions regarding the remaining roster spots, particularly on the blue line, as the Hurricanes prepare for their season opener. The team's final preseason game is in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m. Eastern. Brind’Amour indicated that more regular NHL players might participate in this final tune-up before the 2026-27 season commences on Tuesday, Sept. 29. For now, Hurricanes fans can celebrate a thrilling comeback win, with the "Cardiac Canes" striking again.