Preview: Hurricanes at Blackhawks

CHICAGO - The Carolina Hurricanes can extend their winning streak to six games when they rematch the Chicago Blackhawks to round out the first third of a six-game road swing.

The Match-Up

Carolina Hurricanes (6-1-0, 12 points) at Chicago Blackhawks (3-4-4, 10 points)
Thursday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m.
Watch: FOX Sports Carolinas,
FOX Sports GO
Listen: 99.9 FM The Fan,
Hurricanes.com/Listen
,
Hurricanes app
PROJECTED LINEUP

The Last Meeting

Jordan Staal recorded a pair of assists while Andrei Svechnikov and Vincent Trocheck each tallied their team-leading fifth goals of the season in a 3-3 regulation draw with the Chicago Blackhawks. Extra hockey was required for the third time in the Canes' last four games, and a shootout then decided the final score for the second game in a row. James Reimer turned aside all three shots he faced, while Svechnikov netted the winning goal in the third round of the shootout, marking the Canes' eighth straight shootout win.

"We got the job done tonight. It wasn't pretty or the way we wanted to play,"
Staal said
. "We found a way to win tonight and keep the ball rolling here. We've got a group that's committed and talented and finding ways to win. I thought Reims played a heck of a game to keep us in it. We'll take the two points, for sure."

News to Know

Mrazek Undergoes Surgery: Petr Mrazek underwent surgery on his right thumb, and a recovery timetable is still to be determined by the Canes. The netminder, who recorded two shutouts in his first three starts of the season, was injured on Jan. 30. James Reimer has since collected three straight victories to improve to 16-2-2 in his last 22 regular-season appearances. While Mrazek is on the mend, Reimer will carry the load in net alongside Alex Nedeljkovic, who is likely to see his first start of the season within the next three games.

Numbers to Know

4: Staal has recorded points in four straight games (1g, 5a) since returning to the lineup.
4: The franchise record for longest shootout winning streak was four games, set back in 2006. The Canes have currently won eight shootouts in a row.

Worth a Click

News
CanesCast
Videos
- In the Room: Martinook, Feb. 3 - In the Room: Necas, Feb. 3 - In the Room: Brind'Amour, Feb. 3 - - Postgame: Staal, Feb. 2 - Postgame: Svechnikov, Feb. 2 - Postgame: Foegele, Feb. 2 - Postgame: Brind'Amour, Feb. 2