Hurricanes Complete Stunning Comeback to Beat Mammoth

Carolina scores 3 goals in final 2 minutes to rally from 2-goal deficit

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:15pm

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The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in NHL history on Thursday night, scoring three goals in the final two minutes to beat the Utah Mammoth 5-4. Down 4-2 late in the game, the Hurricanes rallied with goals from Andrei Svechnikov, Shayne Gostisbehere, and a last-second tally from captain Jordan Staal to complete the stunning victory.

Why it matters

The Hurricanes' comeback is just the third time in over 30 years an NHL team has rallied from two goals down in the final two minutes to win in regulation. It showcases the team's resilience and the unpredictable nature of hockey, where no lead is ever truly safe. The win also extends Carolina's points streak to six games as they continue their push for the playoffs.

The details

With the Hurricanes trailing 4-2 and time winding down, Svechnikov scored on the power play with 1:59 left to cut the deficit to one. Gostisbehere then tied it with 1:29 remaining before Staal redirected the game-winner with just 29.4 seconds on the clock. The comeback was fueled by the raucous home crowd, who the players said pushed them to another level.

  • The Hurricanes scored three goals in the final 1:59 of the game to complete the comeback.
  • Andrei Svechnikov scored on the power play with 1:59 left to make it 4-3.
  • Shayne Gostisbehere tied the game at 4-4 with 1:29 remaining.
  • Jordan Staal scored the game-winning goal with just 29.4 seconds left on the clock.
  • The Hurricanes' win extended their points streak to six games.

The players

Jordan Staal

The captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, who scored the game-winning goal with 29.4 seconds left to complete the comeback.

Andrei Svechnikov

The Hurricanes forward who scored one of the three late goals to spark the rally.

Shayne Gostisbehere

The Hurricanes defenseman who scored the tying goal with 1:29 remaining after missing the previous five games due to injury.

Rod Brind'Amour

The head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, who witnessed his team's improbable comeback.

Brandon Bussi

The rookie Hurricanes goaltender who became the first goalie with 20 wins in his first 24 career games.

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What they’re saying

“It's making memories. I love being part of nights like this. You want more of them. You're chasing those memories.”

— Jordan Staal, Hurricanes Captain

“I don't know you draw them up, but at the end of the day we found a way. Kind of a crazy last couple of minutes.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes Head Coach

“I think that's something to be said about this building, too. I think the fans here are great. They're always behind us. But when it gets going and gets fired up, you can tell guys feed off of that. Momentum is a funny thing in this game (and) the fans pushed us to another level.”

— Jordan Staal, Hurricanes Captain

“That's how we should play all the time. A couple of bounces for us, obviously, but we (stuck) with the plan.”

— Andrei Svechnikov, Hurricanes Forward

“We were exactly where we wanted to be. Let it sting for now.”

— André Tourigny, Mammoth Head Coach

What’s next

The Hurricanes will look to build on this dramatic comeback win as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is on Saturday against the division-leading New York Rangers.

The takeaway

The Hurricanes' stunning rally from a two-goal deficit in the final minutes showcases the unpredictable nature of hockey and the team's resilience. It's a game that will live long in the memory of Carolina fans, reminding them that no lead is ever truly safe and that their team has the heart and determination to fight back from any deficit.