Carolina Hurricanes vs. Chicago Blackhawks Pick & Prediction JANUARY 20th 2025
Preview and Prediction
After breaking their losing streak in their previous game, the last-place Chicago Blackhawks will aim to continue their momentum against a top-ranked team when they face off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
The Blackhawks put an end to their four-game slide with a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Despite still holding the bottom spot in the league standings, Chicago received a major boost by defeating the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.
"It was a positive result for the team after our loss to Nashville (a 3-2 shootout defeat), where we felt we played well enough," said interim coach Anders Sorensen. "Our first period was strong (on Saturday). In the second, we took a step back, but it was great to see the team respond in the third and fight through it together."
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Not only did Chicago overcome an early deficit, but they also took a 3-1 lead. Although Vegas tied the game, the Blackhawks rallied with two more goals, including Tyler Bertuzzi's second power-play goal of the night.
"I'm starting to feel more confident and prepared coming into games," said Bertuzzi. "My chemistry with Connor (Bedard) keeps growing as we play together. Our main focus is to improve defensively, and we've been doing that in our recent games, which we need to continue."
Bedard, the first overall draft pick for 2023, struggled offensively in the first few months of his second season, but has now found his groove. He has recorded points in 12 of the last 13 games, with six goals and nine assists in that span.
Interestingly, the Hurricanes also snapped a losing streak with a win over the Golden Knights. Carolina defeated Vegas 3-2 on Friday and now holds a 3-1-1 record in their last five games.
Like the Blackhawks, the Hurricanes see their victory as a stepping stone for future success, especially after staging a comeback.
"After the first 10 minutes of the first period, we started creating more chances, and in the second and third, we really found our game," said forward Jackson Blake. "It was a really exciting game, and coming out on top means a lot to us."
Blake's goal in the early third period not only broke the tie, but it was also his 10th of the season, a promising start to his rookie career. And he doesn't mind that it was a shot that deflected off a defender and into the net.
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"Those are the goals you don't question," Blake said. "I don't mind those once in a while. They feel just as good."
The Hurricanes will receive a boost during their quick two-game trip, which also includes a matchup against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen is expected to play in one of those games, marking his return after undergoing knee surgery in November. Andersen's next game will be his 500th in the NHL.
Having Andersen back in the lineup gives the Hurricanes a stronger goaltending duo. Pyotr Kochetkov has delivered several impressive performances in his absence and was a key factor in the win over Vegas, making 13 saves in the first period alone.
"(Kochetkov) kept us in the game," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Their first period was strong, and we were trying, but they were putting the pressure on us. That's what a goalie can do, keep us in it."
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Chicago Blackhawks Recap JAN 20TH 2025
Sebastian Aho scored the game-winning goal in overtime and Jaccob Slavin collected three assists as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes notched a 4-3 comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Seth Jarvis, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal also scored for the Hurricanes, who have won four of their last six games.
Frederik Andersen, playing in his 500th career game and his first since Oct. 26 (knee surgery), made 22 saves for Carolina.
Aho rocketed a one-timer from the right circle to net his 15th career overtime winning goal 59 seconds into the extra period. Aho has netted all four of Carolina's overtime winning goals this season.
Philipp Kurashev and Ryan Donato both collected one goal and one assist while Tyler Bertuzzi added a goal for the Blackhawks, who are 1-3-2 over their last six games. Petr Mrazek tallied a season-high 44 saves.
Kurashev opened the scoring just before the midway point of the first period when he neatly redirected Donato's crossing pass to snap his 16-game goal-scoring drought.
Bertuzzi doubled the lead at 16:55 of the opening frame when he gained the puck near the end boards and sent it off Andersen's back and into the cage for his third goal and fifth point in three games.
Jarvis put the visitors on the board 1:25 into the second period by completing a deke to his backhand on a short-handed breakaway. Kotkaniemi tied the clash six minutes later when he converted Eric Robinson's cross-crease pass while at the doorstep.
Donato restored the Chicago lead with 19 seconds remaining in the second period, burying a golden chance set up when Taylor Hall slipped a pass to the front of the net.
Staal tied the game with his 700th point in his 1,300th regular-season game at 13:37 of the third when he found the loose puck in a scramble.