Hurricanes Battle Back Three Times, But Fall to Blackhawks in Shootout Thriller
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes showed plenty of fight on Thursday night, clawing back from three separate deficits to force overtime, but it was the Chicago Blackhawks who walked away with the extra point after a 4-3 shootout win at Lenovo Center.
This one had all the ingredients of a midseason grinder - momentum swings, clutch goals, and a shootout finish that kept fans on edge until the very last attempt. And while Carolina didn’t get the result it wanted, there’s no questioning the resilience this group showed.
Back-and-Forth from the Start
Chicago struck first, and they did it in deflating fashion - shorthanded. Ilya Mikheyev jumped on his own rebound just past the midway mark of the opening period, giving the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead despite Carolina controlling much of the early play.
But the Canes didn’t flinch. Less than two minutes later, rookie Joel Nystrom found the back of the net for the first time in his NHL career, ripping a wrister through traffic from the left circle. Jesperi Kotkaniemi set him up with a clean feed, and Nystrom did the rest, tying things up and giving the home crowd something to cheer about.
Second Period, Same Story
The script didn’t change much in the second. Chicago took the lead again, this time off the stick of Nick Lardis at 4:35.
But just like in the first, Carolina had an answer. Veteran center Jordan Staal took matters into his own hands on a 2-on-1, electing to shoot and beating Spencer Knight short side to knot the game at 2-2 heading into the third.
It was vintage Staal - poised, decisive, and clinical when his team needed a lift.
Late Drama in the Third
The third period brought more of the same. Connor Murphy gave the Blackhawks their third lead of the night late in regulation, but it didn’t last long. Just 42 seconds later, Jackson Blake cleaned up a wraparound attempt from Logan Stankoven, tapping in the loose puck to tie the game once more and send it to overtime.
It was a fitting end to regulation in a game where neither team could hold a lead for long.
Shootout Seals It for Chicago
Overtime saw chances both ways, but no one could find the winner. That sent the game to a shootout, where both teams traded goals early - Andrei Svechnikov for Carolina, Connor Bedard for Chicago.
But in the sixth round, it was Blackhawks rookie Oliver Moore who played hero. After Carolina came up empty on their attempt, Moore calmly beat Frederik Andersen to secure the win for Chicago.
Andersen Holds the Fort
Despite the loss, Frederik Andersen delivered a solid performance in net. The veteran stopped 19 of 22 shots in regulation and overtime, then turned away four of six in the shootout. He didn’t get the win, but he kept Carolina in it all night long.
The Hurricanes may not have come away with two points, but they showed plenty of grit in a game that tested their resolve. Coming back three times against a fast, opportunistic Blackhawks team is no small feat. There’s plenty to build on - and plenty to clean up - as Carolina looks to turn these close calls into wins down the stretch.