Newcomers Jankowski and Stankoven lead Hurricanes to 4-2 win over Jets

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Mark Jankowski scored two goals and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 on Sunday.

Logan Stankoven and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes, who won their fourth straight game. Frederik Andersen stopped 20 shots.

Alex Iafallo and Adam Lowry scored for the Jets, and Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves.

Carolina was playing for the first time since Friday's trade deadline that saw them send get Stankoven from Dallas in a deal that sent star forward Mikko Rantanen to Dallas just six weeks after the Hurricanes acquired him from Colorado. In a separate deal, Carolina acquired Jankowski from Nashville.

Jankowski beat Hellebuyck from the right circle with 1:55 left in the first period to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead. Jankowski struck again, 5:21 into the second for a 2-0 lead. It was Jankowski’s first multi-goal game since Feb. 13, 2020.

Stankoven added a power-play goal 2:34 into the third.

Jets: After scoring six goals in a road win over New Jersey on Friday, the Jets couldn't get on the board until Iafallo beat Andersen from an odd angle with 3:46 left in the third period. Lowry's goal, also unassisted, came in the last minute. Winnipeg’s NHL-best power play went 0 for 3.

Hurricanes: The power play continues to vex the Hurricanes, who went 1 for 6 on Sunday and are 3 for 28 in their past eight games.

Winnipeg thought it had a goal, and cut Carolina’s lead to 2-1 with 6:14 left in the second period, when Cole Perfetti tipped in a shot of Dylan Samberg. After a lengthy review, it was overturned since Perfetti’s stick was too high.

The Hurricanes improved to 29-0-3 when leading after the second period.

Jets host the New York Rangers on Tuesday, and Hurricanes host Tampa Bay.

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Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) clears the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) watches the puck with Jets' Colin Miller (6) and Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) watches a replay of a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Mark Jankowski (77) celebrates after his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) has his shot blocked by Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Mark Jankowski (77) pushes the puck past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Taylor Hall (71) loses control of the puck as he approaches Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Winnipeg Jets' Brandon Tanev (73) has his deflection snared by Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, center upper left, and associate head coach Tim Gleason, upper right, speak to the team against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Mark Jankowski, center, celebrates with teammates after his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.

Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.

But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.

“We’re not doing much so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,” Shanahan said Tuesday.

Warner's presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.

“For someone who really set the standard here, I would do anything to play with him again this year,” defensive tackle Kalia Davis said. “We want him back out there.”

Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner's spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn't ready to talk about what Warner's possible return would do for the team.

“We’re aren’t going to talk about next week, right? We’ve got Seattle,” Kendricks said. “We’ve got to beat Seattle. Let’s pump our brakes. We have to beat Seattle this week. .. This is what meaningful football is all about.”

The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.

Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.

“If he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there,” Shanahan said. “But you can't always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he’s at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He’s got to hit all those before we feel it’s safe.”

But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner, "obviously it’ll be zero decision on my part.”

Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis’ 950, as far as records go back to 2000.

Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.

Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.

In other injury news, safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.

Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle went on injured reserve Tuesday and tight end Brayden Willis was signed from the practice squad.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) runs to the locker room after pregame warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)