Ehlers scores winner early in 2nd period as Hurricanes top Wild 4-3

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers scored 46 seconds into the second period and goalie Frederik Andersen overcame a poor start to stop the final 18 shots he faced as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Thursday night.

Jackson Blake, Andrei Svechnikov and Sean Walker also scored for the Hurricanes, who’ve won three of their last four games. They’ve won back-to-back outings for the first time since Oct. 16 and 18. Blake and Walker also each had an assist and Andersen finished with 20 saves.

Matt Boldy, playing in his 300th NHL game, scored two goals and Brock Faber had one for the Wild, who had won two in a row. Filip Gustavsson, who recorded a shutout last season in Raleigh, made 23 saves.

The teams combined for seven goals on 12 shots through the first minute of the second period. There were three goals in a 52-second stretch in the first period and then each team scored in the first 46 seconds of the second.

Ehlers, who didn’t score in his team’s first 11 games, now has goals in consecutive games.

Carolina captain Jordan Staal set the record for games played as a member of the Hurricanes with 910, pulling ahead of brother Eric Staal. Jordan Staal, 37, is third in Whalers/Hurricanes franchise history behind only Ron Francis (1,186) and Glen Wesley (913).

Staal received a 10-minute instigator penalty for dropping the gloves after teammate Jalen Chatfield took a first-period blow to the head on a hit from Wild center Tyler Pitlick, who was assessed a match penalty. Chatfield didn’t return.

Carolina had defenseman K’Andre Miller back after a six-game injury absence. He had a first-period assist.

Wild: Friday night at the New York Islanders.

Hurricanes: Saturday night at home vs. Buffalo.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) exchanges blows with Minnesota Wild's Tyler Pitlick (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Minnesota Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek (14) tries to backhand the puck at Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Minnesota Wild's Zeev Buium (8) tries to backhand a shot around Carolina Hurricanes' Joel Nystrom (64) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) controls the puck in front of Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) watches the puck with Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi (23) nearby during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Deni Avdija had 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Jrue Holiday hit seven 3s and finished with 30 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped the Los Angeles Clippers' five-game win streak, 114-104 on Tuesday night.

The Clippers (39-37) are eighth in the Western Conference, a half-game in front of the ninth-place Blazers (39-38). Los Angeles leads the season series — which wraps up April 10 in Portland — with the Blazers 2-1.

Toumani Camara scored 17 points and Scoot Henderson added 15 for the Trail Blazers.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 23 points. Darius Garland scored 20, Brook Lopez 18, John Collins added 17 and Jordan Miller 16 points.

Leonard has scored at least 20 points in 52 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak of its kind in the NBA (Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a 136 game streak).

Matisse Thybulle hit a 3-pointer that made it 31-29 with 1:06 left in the first quarter and the Blazers led the rest of the way.

Garland made a bucket in the lane that trimmed the Clippers' deficit to eight with 3:44 left in the third quarter but they got no closer. Henderson hit a step-back 3 at the buzzer to cap a 16-5 run that made it 91-74 going into the fourth.

Portland had 18 offensive rebounds and 32 second-chance points. The Blazers went into the game leading the NBA in second-chance points (18.2 per game) and are second in offensive rebounds (14.1 per game).

Avdija made 11 of 12 from the free-throw line and has 31 games this season with at least 10 free-throw attempts, second most in the NBA behind Luka Doncic.

Portland's Jerami Grant (calf) missed his second consecutive game.

Trail Blazers: Host New Orleans on Wednesday.

Clippers: Host San Antonio on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is greeted by Portland Trail Blazers guard Sidy Cissoko (91) after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) shoots the ball while being guarded by LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)