PREVIEW: Blackhawks at Hurricanes - May 6, 2021

TIME: 6 p.m. CT
TV:NBCSCH+ | RADIO:WGN 720-AM / TUDN 1200-AM | STREAM:
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The Blackhawks and Hurricanes conclude their eight-game season series on Thursday night in Carolina, capping off a three-game week between the two clubs.

TEAM RECORDS

CHI: 22-25-6, 50 PTS
CAR: 36-10-7, 79 PTS

LAST TIME OUT

The Blackhawks took a 2-0 first-period lead on the back of goals from Alex DeBrincat and Mike Hardman on Tuesday night in Carolina, but four straight goals in the second and third periods propelled the Hurricanes to a 6-3 win. DeBrincat added a second on the night in the third to pull within a goal at 4-3 before a pair of empty-netters sealed the victory for the home side. Collin Delia made 22 stops in his first start since Jan. 17.

FIRST TIMERS

Hardman scored his first career National Hockey League goal on Tuesday night, which was also his first career NHL point. MacKenzie Entwistle recorded the primary assist on the play for his first career NHL point as well.
They were the first Blackhawks to register their first NHL points on the same play since October 6, 2007 when Patrick Kane and Magnus Johansson notched their firsts with helpers on a Tuomo Ruutu goal that evening. The last time it happened with a goal scorer was April 5, 2007 against Detroit when Bryan Bickell scored the goal and Jonas Nordqvist got the assist.

ON THE PROWL

DeBrincat stretched his point streak (5G, 2A) to five games and his goal streak (5G) to four games with a shorthanded marker and even-strength tally on Tuesday night. It was his first career shorthanded tally and his fifth multi-goal game of the year.
The four-game goal streak matches a season high (Feb. 27-March 5). His 28 markers during the 2020-21 campaign share fourth in the NHL. He matched his rookie year goal total in which he played in 82 games during the 2017-18 season, the second-highest single-season mark (41 in 2018-19).

QUICK LEARNERS

Hardman became the seventh Blackhawk rookie to notch their first career goal this season. It is the first time since the 2016-17 campaign Chicago has had that many rookies score a goal.
Ian Mitchell picked up a point for the third consecutive game with an assist against the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Mitchell shares third among first-year defensemen with three goals this year.
Pius Suter is fifth in the NHL among rookies this year with 13 markers and shares seventh among NHL rookies with 23 points.
Chicago leads the league with 39 goals and is second with 86 points from rookies this season.