After letting three one-goal leads slip away in regulation, the Chicago Blackhawks finally took out the Carolina Hurricanes for good in the shootout, winning 4-3 at Lenovo Center on Thursday night.
In a building that’s given them fits in recent years, with only one win in their last 10 trips to Raleigh entering Thursday, the Blackhawks survived the swarming pressure the Hurricanes provide all over the ice to earn a gutsy road victory.
While the Blackhawks never trailed on the night, Carolina’s hounding forecheck and constant attack without the puck proved to be a tough puzzle to solve, especially in the first two periods. There wasn’t much sustained possession in the offensive zone from Chicago through 40 minutes, while the Hurricanes were spending tons of time on the other end near goaltender Spencer Knight.
Before picking up their play in the third period, the Blackhawks leaned heavily on Knight and the penalty kill to keep the game competitive. Knight picked up where he left off on Monday, when he recorded his third shutout of the season to beat Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old racked up 23 saves heading into the second intermission, while all four of Carolina’s power-play chances were unsuccessful.
With the score level at 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining, the Blackhawks impressively played their best hockey when it mattered the most in the third period. After struggling to carry the puck into the Hurricanes’ zone and often getting stuck at center ice, quick passes and speed in transition opened up avenues that weren’t available earlier in the game. The Hawks used their pace to create some pressure of their own and tilted the ice in their favor.
A late 3-2 lead wouldn’t last very long for Chicago, as Carolina’s resiliency was on display once again to tie the score for a third time. However, the momentum still appeared to be on the visitor’s side as the game headed into overtime.
Playing hero in the shootout and capping off an eventful night in style was none other than Birthday boy Oliver Moore, who had a 21st to remember. Moore was involved in a rookie-on-rookie scrap with defenseman Alexander Nikishin late in the second period, where he was quickly dropped and forced to exit the game to get stitches.
Thankfully, Moore returned for the third period and was able to get called on in the sixth round of the shootout. After being denied by Canes’ goaltender Frederik Andersen on a breakaway in overtime, he wasn’t about to let the moment fall out of his grasp again. Moore calmly skated down the slot and snapped a wrist shot past Andersen to lift the Blackhawks to a second consecutive win.
“It was fitting,” head coach Jeff Blashill said after the game. “To me, that’s karma. You stick up for your teammate, and you get a chance to finish it and win the game.”
While the goal technically won’t count towards his stats, Moore came away with the game-winning tally, a fight, and an assist against Carolina on Thursday. That’s a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in most folks’ eyes, and what a night for the former first-round pick to do it.
“Got beat up. Won a hockey game. That’s all that matters.” Moore said during his postgame interview.
A memorable 21st Birthday that Moore will surely never forget.
Here are the highlights from the Blackhawks’ 4-3 shootout win over the Hurricanes, moving their record to 21-22-7 on the season.
FIRST PERIOD
Thursday marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Blackhawks have scored the opening goal. With Artyom Levshunov in the penalty box for high-sticking, Ilya Mikheyev used an active stick in the defensive zone to spring a 2-on-1 rush and score his ninth goal of the season. It’s his first shorthanded tally of 2025-26. 1-0, Chicago.
The Blackhawks’ lead lasted less than two minutes, however, as Joel Nystrom scored his first NHL goal at 12:50 to tie the game 1-1. Off a defensive-zone faceoff, Matt Grzelcyk was checked into the boards and lost control of the puck. Jesperi Kotkaniemi gained possession and fed Nystrom at the left circle, where he ripped a shot through traffic and past Knight.
The score remained tied going into the first intermission, and the Blackhawks were rather fortunate for that to be the case. Carolina led 13-4 in shots on goal and 13-4 in scoring chances through 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
Less than five minutes into the second period, Nick Lardis capped off a beautiful passing play for his fifth NHL goal to put the Blackhawks back ahead by one. Oliver Moore wheeled wide and sent a spinning pass over to Ryan Donato, who slipped the puck to Lardis on the doorstep at 4:35. 2-1, Chicago.
Oliver Moore➡️Ryan Donato➡️Nick Lardis🚨
Moore uses his wheels to enter the offensive zone on the outside & find Donato, who sets up Lardis for his 5th NHL goal. #Blackhawks lead 2-1.pic.twitter.com/9G4CM5h7FB
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) January 23, 2026
Near the midway point of the game, a rookie mistake from defenseman Artyom Levshunov leveled the score once again.
While his defensive partner, Wyatt Kaiser, was already caught below the circles in the offensive zone, Levshunov pinched along the left wall and allowed the puck to get behind him, giving Carolina a 2-on-1 rush. Bedard was the Blackhawks defender back on the rush, and Canes’ captain Jordan Staal blasted a shot over Knight’s glove to tie the game 2-2 at 9:16. That’s a decision Levshunov cannot afford to make with his team ahead by one.
In the latter stages of the period, Hurricanes’ rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin laid a booming hit on the fellow first-year skater Lardis. Moore immediately came to his linemate’s aid and dropped the gloves with Nikishin, which is a decision he’ll likely regret. The Russian blue liner quickly dropped Moore to the ice with a stern right-hand punch. Moore left the game to get stitches and did not return.
Once again, the score remained tied going into the intermission. Carolina continued to throttle Chicago in terms of puck possession, leading 25-12 in shots on goal and 32-8 in scoring chances.
THIRD PERIOD
Chicago’s lone power play of the night carried over into the start of the third period, and they had a prime-time opportunity to grab the lead just before Nystrom stepped out of the sin bin. Nazar entered the zone and made a drop pass to Connor Bedard, and he skated into a shot that beat Andersen cleanly on his glove side. But the puck drew iron and kicked into the corner, keeping the score tied 2-2.
With 6:22 remaining in regulation, the Blackhawks took the lead back again with Connor Murphy’s second goal of the season. It was certainly one to add to Murphy’s offensive highlight reel, as he made a few nifty moves after getting lost in coverage to put his team ahead 3-2. Mikheyev picked up his second point of the game with the secondary assist.
Ilya Mikheyev➡️Tyler Bertuzzi➡️Connor Murphy🚨
MURPHY HIGHLIGHT REEL TIME😂Murphy makes some nifty moves in front for his 2nd goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-2! Mikheyev with his 2nd point of the game.pic.twitter.com/6uV6Y7oKbc
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) January 23, 2026
Just 42 seconds after Murphy’s tally, the Hurricanes tied the game once again. Three one-goal leads were each answered by the home squad. Jackson Blake finished off a centering feed from Logan Stankoven to tie the game 3-3.
With the two teams still tied through 60 minutes, overtime was required to determine the winner.
OVERTIME
The best scoring chance for either side in the 3-on-3 period came from Moore, who had a breakaway opportunity for the game-winning goal on his 21st Birthday. Moore tried to sneak a shot through Andersen’s wickets, but he squeezed the pads together just enough to keep the puck from trickling past the goal line.
SHOOTOUT
Andre Svechnikov and Bedard were the only two players to score in the opening five rounds of the shootout. Knight made a huge glove save on Mark Jankowski to kick off the sixth round, sending Moore onto the ice with the game on his stick.
Moore patiently waltzed down the left-hand side of the O-zone and lifted a shot over Andersen’s blocker to record the game winner. Happy 21st, Oli!
The Blackhawks picked up just their fourth win in the last 22 meetings against Carolina. That should make for a rather enjoyable flight back home to Chicago. It’s a quick turnaround, with another game on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center.
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