Hurricanes’ January 3 Stars: Svechnikov Ignites, Aho Steadies, Bussi Holds the Fort
The Carolina Hurricanes have officially flipped the calendar to February, and if January was any indication, this team is gearing up for a serious postseason push. With three more games before the Olympic break, Carolina sits at 33-15-6 with 72 points - five ahead of Pittsburgh and tied with Tampa Bay, though the Lightning have two games in hand. Still, the ‘Canes are in a strong position in the Eastern Conference, and a big reason why is the trio of players who carried the load through the first month of 2026.
Let’s take a closer look at the Hurricanes’ 3 Stars of January - a mix of scoring firepower, steady leadership, and clutch goaltending - all of which are keeping Carolina firmly in the contender conversation.
⭐ Third Star: Brandon Bussi - The Backbone in Net
Brandon Bussi continues to be one of the most compelling stories of the Hurricanes’ season. After earning the top spot in December, Bussi stays on the podium in January, and rightfully so. He’s been the kind of stabilizing force in goal that every playoff-bound team needs - and Carolina may have found theirs in “Bus.”
In January, Bussi posted a 7-2-0 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Sure, those numbers dipped a bit from his December performance (2.05 GAA, .916 SV%), but context matters.
He started two more games in January and saw significantly more ice time - 535 minutes compared to 458 in December. That’s a heavier workload, and the numbers reflect that.
One rough outing against Montreal - where he allowed six goals and finished with a .727 save percentage - dragged down his monthly average. But that game was more of a team-wide collapse than a goaltending issue.
Outside of that, Bussi was steady, stopping 190 of 212 shots faced across the month. That’s an average of 21.1 saves per game on 23.6 shots - not exactly a light workload.
With a season record of 20-3-1, a 2.22 GAA, and a .908 SV%, Bussi has quietly built a Vezina-worthy campaign. He’s been a lifeline in the crease, and if Carolina is going to make a deep run in the spring, they’ll need him to keep this level of play going. The only question now: will the Hurricanes lock him up with an extension before he hits the market?
⭐⭐ Second Star: Sebastian Aho - The Playmaker Returns
Sebastian Aho is back on the 3 Stars list after a strong January that reminded everyone why he’s the heartbeat of this Hurricanes team. In 15 games, Aho racked up 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) and posted a plus-8 rating. He was a difference-maker on special teams too, with a shorthanded goal, six power-play assists, and one shorthanded helper.
Even when the puck wasn’t going in for him - and it didn’t for a stretch - Aho found ways to contribute. He went 12 games without a goal but still dished out 10 assists during that span.
That’s the kind of consistency and leadership you want from your top center. He also had six games without a point, but those were balanced by strong two-way play and a 55.9% win rate in the faceoff circle.
Aho finished the month averaging 19:31 of ice time per game and logged nearly 293 minutes total. He fired 33 shots on goal from 67 attempts, good for a 12.1% shooting percentage. He now leads the team in both assists (35) and points (53), and with 28 games left, he’s on pace to surpass last season’s assist total (45) and possibly match or exceed his 29-goal mark from 2024-25 - he’s already sitting at 18.
His 12-game goal drought ended with a tally against the Capitals on Jan. 31, and if he heats up again heading into the Olympic break (where he’ll suit up for Finland), the Hurricanes will be even more dangerous.
⭐⭐⭐ First Star: Andrei Svechnikov - Scorching Start to 2026
What a month it was for Andrei Svechnikov. After a quiet start to the season - no points in his first eight games - Svechnikov has caught fire, and January was his breakout. He lit the lamp 10 times, added nine assists, and totaled 19 points in 15 games, all while playing a physical, high-impact brand of hockey that’s become his signature.
Svechnikov scored seven of his goals at even strength and three on the power play. He also picked up six power-play assists, showing he’s not just finishing plays - he’s creating them too.
His shooting percentage in January? A scorching 26.3% on 38 shots.
That’s elite efficiency.
But it wasn’t just the offense. Svechnikov brought the physical edge as well, recording 28 hits over the month.
That blend of scoring touch and grit is what makes him such a nightmare for opposing defenses. He averaged 17:21 of ice time and logged 260 minutes total, skating primarily on the top line and first power-play unit.
With 20 goals and 26 assists on the season, Svechnikov has already matched last year’s goal total - and he’s done it in 18 fewer games. He’s just two assists and two points shy of tying last season’s totals in those categories as well. If he keeps this pace, a 30-goal, 60-point season is well within reach - something he hasn’t done since 2021-22.
Even with an eight-game pointless stretch earlier in the year, Svechnikov is trending toward a career season. And if this is the version of Svech the Hurricanes are getting down the stretch, they’re going to be a tough out come playoff time.
Looking Ahead
The Hurricanes close out their pre-Olympic schedule with games against the Kings, Senators, and Rangers. With a five-point cushion over Pittsburgh and a neck-and-neck race with Tampa Bay, every point matters. But with Bussi holding it down in net, Aho running the offense, and Svechnikov turning into a one-man highlight reel, Carolina looks poised to keep climbing.
The playoffs are still a couple of months away, but this team is already showing signs of being battle-ready. January was a statement. Now it’s time to see how loud that message gets in February and beyond.