4 Takeaways: Hurricanes Rally Twice To Defeat Blackhawks In Overtime

The Carolina Hurricanes may not know how to start games on time, but they certainly know how to end them.

Despite finding themselves once again in an early hole, the Canes overcame two deficits against the Chicago Blackhawks to take the game in overtime, 4-3.

Sebastian 'Mr. Overtime' Aho 

Is there anything more automatic than the Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas in overtime this season?

The duo were once again back at it as they connected for the winner less than a minute into the overtime period.

Necas entered the zone with speed and as he did, he pulled all three Blackhawks toward him. Once he got to the circle, he hit the breaks and then found Aho streaking in with the one-timer ready.

It was Aho's fourth OT winner of the season (the Canes have four overtime victories and Necas has also assisted on every one as well) and the 15th of his career.

Since he entered the league in 2017-18, only Leon Draisaitl (17) has more overtime game-winning goals.

Captain Milestones

Not only was it Jordan Staal's 1,300th career game, making him just the 74th player in league history to reach that milestone and the first member of the 2006 draft class to do it, but he also registered his 700th career point to force overtime.

With former Canes goaltender Petr Mrazek piling up the saves, Carolina needed a break and that moment came by playing till the whistle. 

Dmitry Orlov put a long-range drive on net and Mrazek thought he had it covered, but the official never blew the whistle because it was actually loose right under him.

So Staal jumped in and swept the loose puck home to give Carolina the third-period equalizer they needed to force overtime and take home the win.

Welcome Back Frederik Andersen

Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen returned to the net for the Hurricanes tonight in his first appearance since Oct. 26.

Andersen had been out since then due to a knee injury which he had surgery on in November.

But the Dane was terrific even with the long layoff (minus the one goal he got banked in off his back).

Although he only saw 25 shots, multiple times Andersen had to make some tough, tough saves to keep his team in the game.

Without him in net, the Canes don't come away with the win either. A pretty good way to celebrate his 500th career game too.

Hot and Cold Special Teams

On the one hand, the Canes had a really good penalty kill.

Not only did they go 2-for-2 on the kill, but Seth Jarvis also scored yet another shorthanded goal to finally get Carolina on the board.

So that was good.

What wasn't good was the power play which twice failed to generate even a sliver of momentum for the Hurricanes.

The man advantage has been slumping massively as of late and it's been costing Carolina points. Today they were able to overcome its failures, but something has to start clicking soon.

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