Hurricanes 5, Blackhawks 2: Aho Short-Handed, Fourth Straight

October 10, 2026 - Chicago - Mark Jankowski went in alone with 57 seconds left in the first. Backhand to forehand. 1-0. By 6:05 of the second it was 4-1, and United Center had watched the defending champions score three in 4:25.

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Carolina is 4-1-1, four in a row. Chicago is 1-5-0, five losses in six, the Associated Press recap said. Shots were 39-26 Carolina. Brandon Bussi stopped 24 of 26. Spencer Knight stopped 34 of 39.

Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist. Jordan Martinook did too. Martinook is not seeded on AthX player pages, so the name stays unlinked. Sebastian Aho scored short-handed. Taylor Hall scored even strength. Mike Reilly had two assists. Unlinked.

The Associated Press recap called Carolina the defending Stanley Cup champions and said they won most of the faceoffs. This was the first of two Chicago games without Frank Nazar, suspended for an illegal check to Bo Horvat's head on Thursday, that same recap said. Nazar is unlinked.

Jankowski's third straight, then Aho while down a man

Jankowski scored at 19:03. Jesperi Kotkaniemi hit him at the blue line. Eric Robinson the other assist. Both unlinked. The NHL recap said it was Jankowski's third straight game with a goal. 1-0.

Aho made it 2-0 at 2:09 of the second. K'Andre Miller the lone assist. The NHL landing marks the goal short-handed. 2-0.

Blake scored at 3:28 from Logan Stankoven and Martinook. 3-0. Three goals in 4:25 from the end of the first, the Associated Press recap said.

Aho told NHL.com that after the first couple of games, Carolina got to its game. Play Hurricanes hockey, he said, and that usually gives you a chance to win.

Kantserov's first, Hall 1:25 later

Roman Kantserov scored his first NHL goal at 4:40, unassisted. Unlinked. 3-1. Hall answered at 6:05 from Blake and Reilly. 4-1.

Martinook beat Knight on a slot backhand at 5:00 of the third from Nikolaj Ehlers and Reilly. 5-1. Oliver Moore scored at 14:14 from Wyatt Kaiser and Ryan Donato. All three unlinked. 5-2.

Chicago coach Jeff Blashill told NHL.com there were moments of frustration on the opening trip (0-3-0). Frustration builds when you have not won, he said. He also said he has 100 percent belief in the group. He could not say if the winning starts Tuesday, next week, or a year from now. He said the group is going to win.

Carolina visits Philadelphia on Sunday. Chicago hosts Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the second of seven straight at home, the Associated Press recap said.

AthX Engine on a 21.00 road night

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Aho at 8.10 (a goal, six shots, one block). The NHL landing marks that goal short-handed. The skater row in the gamecenter box does not fill a short-handed-goals column. The Engine follows the box: no short-handed bonus. Blake is 7.70. Martinook is 7.10. Reilly is 6.70. Hall is 6.40. Jankowski is 6.30. Kantserov is 5.80. Miller is 5.40. Moore is 5.20. Bussi's win, 24 saves, and two goals against land at 10.20. Knight is 7.60.

Carolina's team line is 21.00. Chicago floors at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a Hurricanes club on a four-game streak, and for a Blackhawks group that is 1-5-0 without Nazar. They are not the same number.

Track Aho, Blake, Bussi, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com recap, NHL.com scoreboard. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from NHL gamecenter box 2026020078. Information only; not financial advice.*