Hurricanes Grind Down Blackhawks at United Center
Carolina had the better looks all night and turned that tilt into a 5-2 road win. The chances pointed one way: the Hurricanes’ opportunities were worth 3.99 expected goals — a sign their pressure kept producing Grade‑A looks.
The volume backed it up. Carolina led shot attempts 72-48 and finished with 39 shots, a steady stream that wore Chicago down. That pressure came from everywhere: Sebastian Aho fired six shots and scored, Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook each had two points, and Mike Reilly moved pucks for two helpers. Mark Jankowski added a goal and, along with Jordan Staal, rang iron — two posts in all — which kept the score from getting out of hand.
Chicago’s best defense was in net. Spencer Knight faced 39 shots and kept it respectable, while Carolina’s Brandon Bussi quietly handled 24 of 26. He even finished in the black on goals saved above expected at +0.73 — goalie-speak for stealing back a few looks.
The takeaway: Carolina’s depth carried the chance game, and Chicago needs tighter structure in front of its goalie before the bounces stop helping.
