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Can Carolina Hurricanes' Powerplay Struggles Against Chicago Blackhawks Be Overcome?

The Carolina Hurricanes faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks in a tightly contested game at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes, with a record of 31-15-5, were looking to extend their winning streak but fell short in a shootout, ending the game with a score of 4-3. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks improved their standing to 21-22-7.


Jan 22, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) chips the puck past Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (44) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

First Period


The opening period saw both teams finding the back of the net once. The Canes' Jordan Staal capitalized on his only shot on goal to score, showcasing his precision and effectiveness on ice. However, the Hawks responded quickly with an even-strength goal that kept them level.


Second Period


In the second period, both teams continued their offensive efforts. Joel Nystrom stood out for Carolina by scoring an impressive goal from defenseman position. Despite this effort from Nystrom and solid defensive plays by Jaccob Slavin who recorded an assist during this period, Chicago managed to equalize again through another even-strength play.


Jan 22, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes defenseman K'andre Miller (19) checks Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Third Period


As tensions rose in the third period, Jackson Blake added another tally for Carolina with his sharp shooting skills that brought excitement among fans at Lenovo Center. Yet again though, Chicago's resilience showed as they tied it up once more before heading into overtime.


Overtime and Shootout


Despite several attempts during overtime where both teams had opportunities to clinch victory – including notable saves by Frederik Andersen – neither team could break through leading into a decisive shootout phase where Spencer Knight’s goaltending prowess ultimately secured victory for Chicago after stopping crucial shots from key players like Sebastian Aho.


Jan 22, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes defenseman K'andre Miller (19) checks Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

The game-changing plays Carolina Hurricanes vs Chicago Blackhawks highlighted some areas needing improvement such as powerplay efficiency; despite having five opportunities throughout regulation time without converting any into goals which might have altered outcome significantly if executed better.


Looking ahead post-game report Carolina Hurricanes indicates next matchup scheduled against Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 24th at 7:00 PM EST available via ESPN+ or FDSSO broadcast networks offering fans chance witness potential bounce-back performance live!


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