Saad's OT goal helps Blackhawks complete comeback vs. Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Brandon Saad scored with 3:16 left in overtime -- his fifth game-winning goal of the season -- as the Chicago Blackhawks rallied twice from two-goal deficits to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Saturday night.
Brock McGinn and Jeff Skinner scored 2:08 apart in the first period to put the Hurricanes up 2-0 early, but Carolina (6-5-4) and goaltender Scott Darling, making his first appearance against his former team couldn't hold the lead late.
Chicago (8-7-2) trailed 3-1 heading into the third before Alex DeBrincat scored his second of the game early in the period and defenseman Gustav Forsling notched his first of the season with 8:31 left to tie the score.
Darling, Chicago's backup goalie for three years prior to being acquired in April by Carolina, stopped Saad on a penalty shot less than two minutes into the game to give his club some early momentum.
Brock McGinn's backhander five minutes after Saad's attempt gave Carolina a 1-0 lead and extended his goal scoring streak to three straight games. He then scored midway through the second on a partial breakaway for his first career multi-goal game after Chicago had cut the score to 2-1.
McGinn's fifth of the season came on his first shift after being stung on a blocked shot while shorthanded.
Skinner almost snuck the puck under Chicago backup goalie Anton Forsberg with 11 minutes left in the first, but scored seconds later. The puck was cleared from the crease to the far boards, where Skinner gathered it in and wheeled around, firing his team-leading eighth of the season over Forsberg's shoulder.
DeBrincat's fourth of the season midway through the second and as time expired on the Blackhawks' third power play of the game cut into Carolina's two-goal lead before McGinn gave his club a two-goal cushion again less than two minutes later.
NOTES: Carolina G Scott Darling is one of six former Blackhawks on the Hurricanes' roster. ... Chicago RW John Hayden was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. ... Injured Carolina RW Lee Stempniak, playing his first game of the season on a conditioning stint with AHL Charlotte on Friday night, left the game after one shift with an injury and did not return. ... Chicago G Anton Forsberg has played three of his 14 career games against the Hurricanes. ... The first period featured a combined 31 shots on goal. ... Chicago RW Richard Panik's assist on Chicago's second-period goal was his 100th career point.