Hurricanes extend point streak to 13 in OT loss to Blackhawks

RALEIGH, N.C. --The Carolina Hurricanes extended their point streak to 13 games, tying their record, with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at PNC Arena on Thursday.

Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winner on a wrist shot at 2:02 to extend his goal streak to five games.
The Hurricanes are 9-0-4 in the past 13 games, tying their record from March 9-30, 2017 (9-0-4).
"We needed to get our butts kicked, to be quite honest, just so we can show that this is not how it works," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It's just not good enough. We can't play like that certainly [in the playoffs], that's for sure."
Carolina extended its lead in the Discover Central Division to five points over the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, who are tied for second. All three have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with one berth remaining from the eight-team division.
Riley Stillman's first NHL goal tied the game 1-1 for Chicago with 3:01 left in the third period when he deflected a shot from Pius Suter.
"He made a good shot and I just happened to touch it. I'm just glad it went in," Stillman said after his 54th NHL game. "I've had a couple of opportunities in the past, but it was big to get that first one out of the way."

Collin Delia made 36 saves for the Blackhawks (23-25-6), who ended a six-game losing streak. Delia, who came on in relief against Carolina on Monday before starting Tuesday and Thursday, got his first win of the season in his fourth start.
"I think playing a couple of games in a row definitely helps, especially not seeing a lot of practice and game action throughout the year," Delia said. "To have games in succession like that, you really get to get in a rhythm."
Martin Necas scored, and Petr Mrazek made 25 saves for the Hurricanes (36-10-8), who had won five straight games.
Necas gave Carolina a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 9:49 of the first period. He got a loose puck in the neutral zone after Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith fell along the boards, then finished a breakaway on his backhand cutting through the low slot. After Keith fell to the ice, he collided with a linesman.
Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said Keith and Brett Connolly, who collided with Hurricanes forward Steven Lorentz in the second period, sustained concussions.
"They're out now and we'll see how it goes," Colliton said. "But not much time left in the season here."

Colliton said he was impressed with Delia, whose last NHL win was 5-4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 13, 2019.
"He gave us a chance," Colliton said. "I thought it was a pretty even game, and obviously their goalie was good, made some big saves, so that puts a lot of pressure on 'Deals' to stay with him, and he made some key saves."
Carolina ends the regular season with games at the Nashville Predators on Saturday and Monday.
"We gave up too many Grade A's," Necas said. "We've got to figure it out in the next two games. There is no chance we can play like that in the playoffs."
NOTES:DeBrincat has scored six goals during his five-game streak; he finished the eight-game season series against Carolina with 10 points (seven goals, three assists). … Chicago defenseman Nikita Zadorov had a game-high eight hits. … The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 20-3-5 home record. Their .804 home points percentage is the highest in their history. … Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho had his nine-game point streak end (six goals, 11 assists), and Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov had his five-game point streak end (two goals, seven assists). … Blackhawks defenseman Alec Regula had one shot on goal and one hit in 14:16 in his NHL debut. … Carolina won the season series 5-2-1. Chicago was 3-4-1.