"Exquisite, and Other Great Adjectives to Describe Dominance": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 79: Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks

The road to the postseason has just one more road trip to get through before the Hurricanes begin their chase for the Stanley Cup once more. The four-game journey begins tonight in the Windy City against the Chicago Blackhawks. While postseason hockey remains a distant memory for Chicago, they are still in the business of being spoilers. The Canes called up a bunch of players on Wednesday, which could signal the beginning of mass resting for the group, which I wouldn't be opposed to. The Canes have just the top spot in the conference to play for, though that comes with both great advantages and expectations. This game could serve as the trend setter for the team as they venture through a wild path before Game 1 this weekend.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (0:19)- Sean Walker (8) (Nikolaj Ehlers (42))

CHI (10:48)- Anton Frondell (2) (Louis Crevier (17))

CAR (17:10)- Logan Stankoven (20) (unassisted)

2nd Period

CAR (4:08)- Logan Stankoven (21) (Taylor Hall (30) & Jackson Blake (30)

CAR (14:50)- Mark Jankowski (9) (Alexander Nikishin (21) & William Carrier (9))

3rd Period

CAR (5:47)- K'Andre Miller (8) (William Carrier (10))

CHI (6:09)- Anton Frondell (3) (Louis Crevier (18) & Alex Vlasic (19))

CAR (8:13)- Taylor Hall (18) (Shayne Gostisbehere (35) & Logan Stankoven (21))

CAR (12:51)- Mark Jankowski (10) (William Carrier (11) & Nicolas Deslauriers (2))

My Thoughts

Don't lie and say that you saw this coming because I know that I didn't. The Carolina Hurricanes, despite playing without their three leading scorers, two of their shutdown defensemen, their captain, and another alternate captain, beat the Chicago Blackhawks like they stole something. It was a beatdown of epic proportions. Sean Walker scored 19 seconds into the game, but the Blackhawks played their best stretch of hockey between there and their tying goal just past the midway point. From there, the Canes bent the Hawks to their will, and it ended with a 7-2 win and outstanding nights from everyone in the lineup.

Without the usual top line dressing for the contest, the Stankoven line was elevated to that role, though they've probably been the Canes' best line for the last little bit. That trend continued tonight. Logan Stankoven has gotten so hot that it's a minor miracle the ice under him isn't melting. He broke the tie in the first period with an incredible individual effort to lift it over Spencer Knight's shoulder for his 20th goal. Early in the second, he added to it. The entire line joined the fun. Jackson Blake got to a turnover. Taylor Hall's shot was stopped. Stankoven was there for the rebound. Hall added a goal in the third, and Stankoven earned his first three-point game as a Hurricane with an assist on his goal. Stankoven has seven goals and nine points during his ongoing six-game point streak, while Hall and Blake have five-game streaks with eight and seven points, respectively.

Let's not kid ourselves. This game wasn't about one line doing all of the scoring. The contributions were felt throughout the lineup. William Carrier had the first three-point game of his career, earning two primary assists and a secondary helper that might as well have been the primary. Mark Jankowski scored twice, redirecting an Alexander Nikishin shot and sniping a shot past Knight. Walker and K'Andre Miller scored goals on the back end. Nicolas Deslauriers recorded his first point as a Hurricane with an assist on the last goal. Heck, even Nikolaj Ehlers found the scoresheet. The power play only had one abbreviated chance that didn't cash, but the penalty kill went 4-for-4. It was dominance in every sense of the word.

Lost in it all was the night of Frederik Andersen. He faced more rubber than Knight did, though his counterpart faced far more dangerous chances. Andersen's toughest work came in the first period, and he made two of his biggest stops of the night. His first was a skate stop on Andrew Mangiapane's one-timer. There's a chance that this one was heading through the crease without hitting the net, but Andersen got his toe on it to keep it from going in. Then, Miller lost an edge out of nowhere, allowing Nick Lardis to skate in alone. Andersen didn't bite on the first move and made a great backhand stop. The rest of the way was nearly perfect. He finished with 23 stops on 25 shots, and he got plenty of run support to earn another win. There wasn't much to hate about this game as a whole, and Andersen's work was one of many bright spots.

First Star of the Game: William Carrier

This could easily go to Logan Stankoven, but I had no clue that William Carrier had never recorded a three-point game in the NHL. I know he's not a big scoring threat. It's just insane to me that it hasn't ever happened. On a night when the best scorers weren't playing, it almost makes sense. His only secondary helper came on Jankowski's first goal after Carrier made the pass to Nikishin, whose shot was eventually redirected. He made another great pass to Miller on a 3-on-1 as the defender came out of the box, and finished it with the primary assist on Jankowski's second goal. 

Around the League

Pittsburgh: With their win tonight, the Penguins joined the Hurricanes in the postseason, dominating the Devils to the tune of a 5-2 win as they close in on 100 points.

Philadelphia: Not only did they play a bad game tonight, but they played a bad game against another team fighting desperately to make the playoffs, losing 6-3 to Detroit.

Columbus: Even with the Sabres playing on Wednesday night, the Blue Jackets couldn't do anything to beat Colton Ellis, who registered a 37-save shutout in a 5-0 win over Columbus.

New York: The Flyers and the Blue Jackets losing was music to the Islanders' ears as they beat the Maple Leafs tonight, putting them one point back of the Flyers for third in the Metro once more.

Current Standings

Metropolitan Division

y-Carolina: 108 Points (3 GR)

x-Pittsburgh: 98 Points (3 GR)

Philadelphia: 92 Points (3 GR)

New York: 91 Points (3 GR)

Columbus: 90 Points (3 GR)

Wild Card

WC1: Boston: 97 Points (3 GR)

WC2: Ottawa: 94 Points (3 GR)

Detroit: 91 Points (3 GR)

New York: 91 Points (3 GR)

Columbus: 90 Points (3 GR)

Next Up: The Canes venture to Salt Lake City on Saturday, and I'll be in attendance for the contest. The last time these two played, the Canes made a little history. Once their trip to Utah finishes, they'll fly back across the country for a divisional back-to-back. Both the Flyers and the Islanders remain in playoff contention, making both opponents tough draws to close the season.