Big second period propels Hurricanes past Blackhawks

Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook both scored once and added an assist, and the visiting Carolina Hurricanes used a three-goal second period to beat the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Saturday night.

Mark Jankowski, Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won four straight games.

All four Carolina forward lines lit the lamp.

Goaltender Brandon Bussi made 24 saves and Mike Reilly collected two assists.

Roman Kantserov, with his first NHL goal, and Oliver Moore replied for the Blackhawks, while goalie Spencer Knight made 34 saves. Chicago has just one win in six games to start the season.

After dominating play from the drop of the puck, the Hurricanes finally pulled ahead when Jankowski converted a breakaway with 56.2 seconds remaining in the first period. He has scored in three consecutive games for the first time in his 11-year NHL career.

That tally sparked the defending Stanley Cup champions. Aho doubled the lead when he buried a shot from the slot after neatly eluding a check at 2:09 of the second period. Blake gave the visitors a three-goal lead 79 seconds later by converting from the doorstep for his first goal of the season.

Kantserov provided the Blackhawks a boost when he tallied on a breakaway for his milestone marker, a huge boost for the 2023 second-round draft pick, at 4:40 of the middle frame.

However, Hall restored Carolina's three-goal lead 85 seconds later by unloading a one-timer from the high slot. Martinook extended the edge with his first of the season, a backhanded shot from the slot at 5:00 of the third period.

Moore rounded out the scoring with less than six minutes remaining.