Blackhawks succumb to Hurricanes' barrage of shots in overtime loss

The Blackhawks aren't feeling celebratory about tying their season-long point streak.

After all, it’s just three games long, and the Hawks have won only one of the three games. They blew a two-goal lead en route to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes on Monday night at the United Center after losing in overtime against the Predators on Thursday and defeating the Golden Knights on Saturday.

The Hurricanes, always one of the NHL’s most shot-happy teams, peppered the Hawks with 91 shot attempts — 48 on goal against Petr Mrazek.

Mrazek was spectacular at times, but Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal eventually poked in a loose puck Mrazek thought he had covered to tie the game with 6:23 left in regulation. Sebastian Aho blasted a one-timer past Mrazek 59 seconds into overtime.

“We didn’t support the puck well enough to break it out of our end, and [our] wingers didn’t do a good enough job on the walls,” forward Taylor Hall said. “So they] kept a ton of pucks in and . . . overwhelmed us at times throughout the game.”

Philipp Kurashev, making his return to the lineup, and Ryan Donato had each tallied two points on the Hawks' fourth line.

Teuvo nostalgia

Hawks fans spent years missing Teuvo Teravainen before finally getting him back this season.

Now, the Hurricanes are the team missing Teravainen's presence. The Finnish forward didn't fit in their salary-cap situation last summer, so they had to let him walk after eight years in their organization, but their appreciation for him hasn't waned.

"He's one of the more talented players and certainly one of the highest-hockey-sense [players around]," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said Monday. "He knows the game. Whatever situation you put him in, he's probably the smartest guy out there."

In Chicago, Teravainen got off to a hot start, then endured a drought and now has found a rhythm under interim coach Anders Sorensen.

He has 20 points in his last 17 games, but since 16 of those points are assists, the offensive surge hasn't thrust him into the spotlight — which he doesn't exactly enjoy anyway. He won't be able to avoid it, however, as the Hawks' lone representative in the 4 Nations Face-Off next month.

His defensive play has been solid, too, and he's being used in a defensive role right now alongside Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev. He's hard on himself and has admitted the Hawks' losing ways are difficult for him to tolerate, but he hasn't been the problem.

"[Teuvo's] poise stands out," Sorensen said. "He’s assertive, he knows where pressure’s coming from and he puts his body in a good spot."

Notes

The Hawks have hired former Wild and Coyotes executive Chris O’Hearn as their new vice president of hockey operations, a source confirmed. O’Hearn is known as an expert on salary caps and contract negotiations.

— Forward Pat Maroon is day-to-day with a back injury, Sorensen said. Forward Jason Dickinson left the game Monday after taking a hard shot to his right forearm but should be fine, Sorensen said.