Hurricanes Rout Blackhawks 9-2 Before Finland Trip in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes left for Europe on a high, piling up nine goals in a 9-2 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, a total that tied the franchise mark for goals in one game.

Carolina had two goals before four minutes were gone. Seth Jarvis cashed in on a lucky bounce 94 seconds in, and Jackson Blake tipped home a return feed from Nikolaj Ehlers at 3:21. Jordan Martinook then scored twice off setups from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Eric Robinson to make it 4-0 after one period. It was the seventh time in his career that Martinook has scored more than once in a game.

The second period went the same way. Andrei Svechnikov buried his own rebound, Sebastian Aho finished a 2-on-1 with Sean Walker, and defenseman Alexander Nikishin scored in his first game of the season after signing a one-year, $3 million deal on Oct. 25. Chicago pulled starter Spencer Knight after six goals on 17 shots, and Carolina led 7-0 after 40 minutes.

Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks spoiled Pyotr Kochetkov’s shutout with two goals in the third, but Shayne Gostisbehere and Svechnikov answered late. Kochetkov made 18 saves and is 11-1-0. Aho had a goal and two assists to lift his team-high total to 26 points, and 15 Carolina skaters reached the score sheet.

Coach Rod Brind’Amour said his team came out ready and finally finished its chances. The Hurricanes, 14-3-2, have won six straight at home, while Chicago has lost six in a row.

Carolina next plays the Seattle Kraken twice in the NHL Global Series in Helsinki, Finland, on Nov. 12 and 14.

Filed under: Asheville NC Sports News