Hurricanes 2, Blackhawks 1
CHICAGO - Justin Faulk and Victor Rask scored on wrist shots as the Carolina Hurricanes won their third game in the last four, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 at the United Center.
Carolina (15-16-5) drew closer to .500 and evened it road record at 8-8-2.
In suffering its second straight loss, Chicago (20-13-4) avoided its second shutout in a row and what would have been its fourth of the season had it not been for defenseman Brent Seabrook's sixth goal of the season with three seconds left in the game.
One consolation for the defending Stanley Cup champions is they're still one of the most dominating teams at home in the NHL this season: 14-5-1 at the United Center.
The two teams were mirror images of each other for most of the first two periods, playing each other evenly.
Carolina outshot Chicago 12-11 in the first period. Then in the second period, both teams had just six shots each, leaving the Hurricanes with a slight 18-17 edge.
Carolina had a good opportunity to score the first goal of the game late in the second period, as Chicago goalie Corey Crawford found himself out of position.
However, Chicago center Phillip Danault, playing in just his fourth game of the season, knocked the puck away just before it wound up in Chicago's net.
But with just 18 seconds left, Faulk scored his 14th goal of the season on a wrist shot past Crawford (18-10-2, stopped 25 of 27 shots) to put Carolina ahead 1-0.
Faulk's goal ties him for the team lead with left wing Jeff Skinner, as well as gives Faulk a team-high 30 points thus far this season.
Carolina made it 2-0 at 4:48 into the third period when Rask sank a 30-foot wrist shot over Crawford's left shoulder for his 10th goal of the season.
Chicago outshot Carolina 19-9 in the third period, but ran out of time to tie the game.
Crawford's counterpart, Eddie Lack (4-6-2), played outstanding in net through the first two periods, stopping 35 of Chicago's 36 shots.
Appearing in only his 13th game of the season, Lack filled in for Cam Ward, who won Saturday night's game at home vs. New Jersey, earning Ward Sunday night off.
Attendance was 22,157.
NOTES: Carolina listed just two scratches: C Brad Malone and D Michal Jordan. Chicago had three scratches: D David Rundblad, C Marcus Kruger and LW Brandon Mashinter. ... Former Blackhawks RW Kris Versteeg and LW Joakim Nordstrom, now with the Hurricanes, received cheers during pregame introductions. ... Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to an upper-body injury. Also returning to the ice was D Rob Scuderi, who left Tuesday's game at Dallas after being hit in the face with a puck. The injury required 25 stitches, Scuderi told the Chicago Tribune, adding, "It made for some interesting family photos, but it'll still be memorable." ... Chicago D Brent Seabrook played in his 800th NHL game Sunday, while G Corey Crawford is just two games away from playing in 300 NHL games. ... With Cam Ward playing in Saturday night's game, Eddie Lack got the start in goal for Carolina on Sunday.