Logan Stankoven's trip home to see his dad helped rejuvenate him for the playoffs

Raleigh — There's a refrain in the Carolina Hurricanes' locker room right now.

"Just pass it to Stank."

Simple answer and an analytically correct one. Logan Stankoven is currently tied for the NHL lead in playoff goals with 6 and is the youngest player ever to begin the playoffs on a five-game goal streak.

"I don't expect to score every game and have a series like I did last series," the Hurricanes 23-year-old forward said after scoring two goals in game one vs. the Philadelphia Flyers. "I just try to provide secondary scoring."

Stankoven can't seem to miss right now, but that wasn't the case during the regular season.

"I think it goes back to how many chances I had throughout the season to score," Stankoven said. "These guys setting me up and hitting posts or goalies making good saves. I felt like since the Olympic break things have started to turn."

Everyone needs a break every once in a while and for Stankoven the break also meant a trip home to British Columbia.

"My dad's been my biggest supporter and I always like to talk with him," Stankoven said. "Obviously I was disappointed in how the first part of the season went. Puck wasn't bouncing and I felt I wasn't going to be able to hit my end goals. I just came back motivated and knew I had more to give."

Logan's father, Wes Stankoven, won't take the credit for the turnaround, but he was happy to be a sounding board for his son.

"He's very competitive and he had some goals this year, his goals were to get to 40 points, 20 goals and 20 assists," Wes said. "At the Olympic break he had 18-19 points and he said 'Dad I don't know if I'm going to get 30.' I said 'you know what just go out there and have fun. Don't put all this pressure on yourself and keep working hard. Keep it light, keep it positive."

Logan finished the regular season with 21 goals and 21 assists and that hot streak has continued into the postseason. Pretty big impact from one of the smallest players on the ice at a listed 5'8 and 165 pounds.

"From a small age people always said just wait until bantam and hitting, he's not going to make it far," Wes remembered. "He did well in that and major and midget hockey. With junior hockey, he led teams all the time in scoring and points. He's always worked hard and overcame adversity."

Wes played goalie himself and coached Logan in his youth hockey days. Wes was a backup for the Portland Winterhawks, a junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League. One of his claims to fame is playing with former Hurricane defenseman Glen Wesley.

"He's always been there to support me and help me through my journey," Logan said. "It's been a lot of ups and downs, obviously a lot of great memories, but pro hockey is tough. Everyone's journey is different. The first half of the season didn't go as planned. Being able to go home and chat with him and come back rejuvenated was huge."

It's not easy for Wes and Logan's mother, Deana, to make it out to games coming all the way from Kamloops, British Columbia. The family and Logan's sister Macie, who also played hockey, were able to come to Raleigh for a five-game stretch in November. Wes and a crew full of family and friends took a red-eye flight to make it to Raleigh for game one versus Philadelphia. Logan scored two goals in the win.

"I often tell family and friends that everyone I know, knows Logan," said Darryl Tocher, Logan's mom's cousin, who was in town for games 1 and 2 versus Philadelphia. "The text messages I get from people I hardly even know that cheer me on and cheer him on, just 'go Logan go,' just so proud of his achievements and where he's gotten to today."

The whole hockey world is getting to see, what the Stankoven family has known all along.

"It's hard to explain," Wes said. "It's kind of surreal sometimes, sitting on the couch and watching your son play hockey at that level. You only dream of that stuff. We're just very thankful for the opportunities he's had and how far he's made it in hockey."