Recap: Canes Breeze Past Blackhawks

CHICAGO - Three second-period goals served as the backbone of the Carolina Hurricanes' fourth consecutive win on Saturday, a 5-2 decision over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.

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After scoring inside the first three minutes of their last three outings, this time, the Canes needed 19:03 for Mark Jankowski to ignite the evening's action. Jesperi Kotkaniemi served up a partial breakaway for the former Providence Friar to tuck past Spencer Knight.

Having broken through once, Carolina wasted little time doing so twice more on the other side of the first intermission. Just 2:09 after the puck dropped for period two, Sebastian Aho bagged his team-leading fifth of the year with a highlight-reel shorthanded effort. And 1:19 later, it was Jackson Blake getting on the board for the first time this year to make it 3-0.

Chicago's Roman Kantserov spoiled any shutout hopes shortly afterward with the first goal of his NHL career, but former Blackhawk Taylor Hall responded to restore the three-goal gap in favor of the visitors.

Once again managing a multi-goal lead in the final frame, the Canes pushed their advantage to four with Jordan Martinook's seeing-eye shot at the five-minute mark. Chicago, finding a bit more time in the offensive zone given the deficit on the scoreboard, capitalized late on one of its 13 third-period shots to get back within three, but did no further damage.

Brandon Bussi did his part between the pipes, stopping 24 of 26 shots for his second victory of the season.

Stats & Standouts

• Sebastian Aho now boasts five goals and nine points, totals that rank T-5th and T-7th, respectively, among all NHLers at the time of publication. Each of those points has come amid his current five-game point streak.
• Aho has also now recorded a goal in the Canes’ first three road games to start the season, tying Shayne Gostisbehere (2024-25) and Pat Verbeek (1989-90) for the third-longest run in franchise history. The only players with a longer run are Andrei Svechnikov (5 GP in 2020-21) and Blaine Stoughton (4 GP in 1981-82).
• Mark Jankowski scored for the third straight game, the longest such goal-scoring run of his career.
• Jackson Blake chipped in a goal and an assist, marking his fifth straight game with a point and his second straight showing with at least two. The 23-year-old leads the Hurricanes with six assists on the year.
• Mike Reilly recorded his first multi-point game as a Hurricane with two assists.
• Jordan Martinook lit the lamp for the first time this year and added an assist for his maiden multi-point performance of the campaign.
• Taylor Hall stretched his point streak to three games (3G, 2A) with his third goal of the season.
• The Hurricanes scored five or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time since a three-game stretch from Oct. 7-13, 2018. The longest streak by the team is six games, which spanned Nov. 23 to Dec. 7, 1985.
• The Canes have also won each of their first three road games of a season for the fourth time in franchise history, following 2021-22 (4 GP), 2019-20 (3 GP) and 2025-26 (3 GP).

They Said It...

Rod Brind’Amour giving his assessment of the team’s performance…

“I thought for the first two periods, we were playing pretty solid. It was a big goal at the end of the first. Janks makes a great play. We had an almost (goal) against us, and we made a save, and then we go down and score. I thought the second period was pretty solid. We kind of cruised from there. It was a good effort from pretty much everyone. I liked it.”

Jordan Martinook describing the complete effort…

“Every single line is contributing. The defense is playing some of the best hockey I think I’ve ever seen the group play together. They’re tight on everything. The sticks are incredible. It’s been a real together group for the last little bit here, and it’s been fun to watch.”

Sebastian Aho following a fourth straight win...

“The feeling is good. I think after the first couple of games we got to our game. (We) just play Hurricanes hockey. That usually gives you a chance to win. We’ll just keep on working.”

What's Next?

The Canes will fly to Philadelphia post-game and wrap up their weekend back-to-back set on Sunday against the Flyers.

Next Game: Sunday, Oct. 11 at Philadelphia | 7:00 p.m. ET | Hurricanes Hockey Network | How To Watch

Next Home Game: Tuesday, Oct. 13 vs. Washington | 6:45 p.m. ET | Hurricanes Hockey Network | How To Watch