Recap: Hurricanes Top Blackhawks in OT

Comeback: complete.
The Carolina Hurricanes erased a two-goal deficit in the second period, and Sebastian Aho scored the game-winning goal in overtime in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Teuvo Teravainen and Micheal Ferland netted goals on the man advantage in the second period, and Scott Darling made 33 saves in his second win against his former team in five days.
Here are five takeaways from tonight's game.

One
For the second time in five days, the Hurricanes came out victorious against the Blackhawks. Last week in Chicago, the Canes built a sizeable 4-0 advantage and had to stave off a Chicago push in the third period to win 4-3 in regulation.
Tonight, it was the Hurricanes working their way back into the game, and they scored three unanswered goals against Cam Ward to take the extra point in overtime.
"It's always fun to play against the Blackhawks," Darling said. "I'm glad Cam had a good game, but I'm glad we won."

Two
This game featured a sneaky goaltending duel; Darling took first-star honors, while Ward, with 37 saves in his return to Raleigh, was named the game's third star.
Darling, who had his family in town, produced a pair of dazzling saves in the second period to keep his team within a goal in the second period. The first play featured an all-star 2-on-1 rush for the Blackhawks, with Jonathan Toews, who scored the game's opening goal, dishing off to Patrick Kane for the scoring chance. Darling slid across the crease and flashed leather.
"I saw it was Kaner," Darling explained. "I knew he was going to try to go elbow-in, so I just threw my glove up, looked and it went in there."

Shortly after, Nick Schmaltz broke in alone behind the Canes' defense, and Darling denied the scoring bid with his left pad.
"We need saves at times when we break down," Brind'Amour said. "It keeps your team in the game when you need it."
The Canes certainly needed Darling until they were able to gain some momentum later in the period on a pair of power plays.
Three
Has the Hurricanes' power play turned a corner? The results over the last week might suggest it, and tonight, the man advantage was a difference-maker for the Hurricanes in the second period.
The game's first penalty was (finally) levied against Brent Seabrook, when he cleared the puck over the glass from his own end. Aho cleanly won the ensuing faceoff back to Teravainen at the point, and he ripped a one-timer to the back of the net.

Just 40 seconds later, Henri Jokiharju was penalized for slashing, and 26 seconds into their second power play of the game, the Canes tied the game. Andrei Svechnikov skated down the near wing with speed, put the shoulder down on Duncan Keith and centered to Ferland, who finished for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
"That was a huge stretch," Darling said. "For the PP to come through with two goals was great."

"It came up huge, obviously," Brind'Amour said of the power play. "Special teams is how you win in this league, so you have to be sharp on that."
Four
Brind'Amour had this to say about the overtime period on in the Canes' 4-3 shootout loss to Detroit on Saturday: "That was probably our worst overtime I've seen in a long time. We usually are the team that's pushing it and getting all the chances. That was not good."
Two days later, it took the Hurricanes just 76 extra seconds to bag the game-winning goal in overtime.
"Totally different. It looked way different," Brind'Amour said. "It looked like we were going to score right from the get-go. That was good."
They nearly did. Then, Aho skated into the zone and cut to the middle of the ice. Seabrook helplessly went down to his belly, and Aho got Ward moving laterally. That opened up his five-hole, and that's where Aho put his wrist shot. Game.
"We haven't won a lot lately, and we need some wins to get some confidence," Aho said.

Five
Svechnikov continues to show improvement with each game he plays. He had another solid effort tonight with two assists to show for it on the scoresheet, and he and the Canes dodged a bullet in the third period. Seabrook caught Svechnikov from behind with a nasty hit right on the numbers, Svechnikov's head smacking right into the boards. The Canes' rookie lay on the ground while Jordan Martinook immediately went after Seabrook.
"It goes without saying. Marty jumps in. I don't think it was a malicious hit, necessarily," Brind'Amour said. "We've got to stick together."

And at the end of the fracas? Seabrook received a boarding minor, and Martinook was penalized for roughing. The result was 4-on-4 hockey. What a farce.
Svechnikov did get to his feet and joined the crowd that had come together on the ice as a result of the hit. He was then pulled off to the room to go through the concussion protocol and returned as soon as he was cleared.
"That was real scary when he went down the way he did and didn't move for a little bit. That was worrisome," Brind'Amour said. "Glad to see he came back and was a factor at the end of the game."
Up Next
A four-day gap separates the Canes from the next game on their six-game homestand, which will be against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.