Hurricanes beat Blackhawks, 3-0, behind Antti Raanta’s first shutout of the season

After a three-day Christmas break, the Carolina Hurricanes were back at it Tuesday at PNC Arena, winning again, beating the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-0.

The Canes, with a strong start, took an early lead, withstood a penalty-filled second period and finished strong in securing their ninth straight win to tie a franchise record. It extended their point streak to 15 consecutive games, adding to that franchise record.

Goalie Antti Raanta, something of a surprise starter, earned his first shutout of the season and 16th of his career with 24 saves. It made him the game’s first star and had the PNC Arena crowd serenading him after the game.

Canes captain Jordan Staal said he used the break to physically recover and Seth Jarvis said it was a good mental break from hockey. Other players such as Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas said they enjoyed having family in town, which was relaxing.

But refreshed or not, the first game after Christmas can be unpredictable and often ragged as players try to get back in beast mode. Some become shootouts, others are decided on mental gaffes not usually made.

“With a three-day break, it’s not a lot of fun to play, not after three days off,” Necas said. “It was important to get back and have a good start, which was huge, and a good game. ‘Rants’ played great and the PK (penalty kill) was on point. We’ve just been trying to play the game the right way and it’s been working.”

Staal’s line, making a strong argument as being the Canes’ top line in the streak, produced another two goals — wingers Jesper Fast and Jordan Martinook scoring. Necas had the game’s first goal, scoring at 3:36 of the first.

The Canes (23-6-6) topped the Blackhawks 3-0 in Chicago in November as Pyotr Kochetkov had the shutout, and the rookie goalie seemed slated to start again Tuesday. But the decision was made to start Raanta — Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour later saying Kochetkov felt “a little off” physically.

Nothing was off about the Canes’ game most of the first period as Carolina took a 2-0 lead and kept constant pressure on Blackhawks’ goalie Petr Mrazek, who faced 47 shots in the game.

The Canes were much sharper and had the Blackhawks on their heels, outshooting Chicago 23-7 — the most shots by Carolina in a period this year.

“It’s almost our trademark here that the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually (played) in the other end,” Raanta said. “You just try to keep yourself warm and focused.”

Necas scored his 15th by swatting a rebound past Mrazek, his former teammate and good Czech friend. When Fast followed with his third goal in the past two games, an early knockout seemed possible.

Mrazek was shaky early, nearly allowing another goal in the first after fumbling the puck behind the net. But the Blackhawks did a lot of chasing in the period as the Canes were quicker to pucks, harder on pucks and moved the puck well in transition.

“Chasing this team, and they’re a pretty quick team, is hard to do,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said.

But an offensive-zone hooking call against the Canes’ Teuvo Teravainen with 20.8 seconds left in the first marred an otherwise dominant period. When Fast followed with a hooking call early in the second, the Blackhawks had a brief 5-on-3 power play.

“That took the flow right out,” Brind’Amour said.

The Canes killed off both penalties, then another against defenseman Calvin de Haan, but the ‘Hawks came away with extra jump they maintained through most of the second.

Martinook’s goal, his ninth, came in the third after a fight for the puck in front of the Chicago net. With Staal earning an assist, his line has combined for 29 points in the 15-game streak (13-0-2).

The Blackhawks (8-21-4), after an eight-game losing streak, went into the Christmas break off a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It has been a long season, already.

The Canes are streaking in the other direction.

“We’re not thinking too much about the streaks,” Raanta said. “That’s the media hyping it. We just try to go every game to play our best and win the game. If we keeping playing like this we’re going to get a lot of wins. It’s a good confidence-booster but I don’t think we’re worrying too much about the streaks.”

Pacioretty making progress

At the Canes’ morning skate Tuesday, Max Pacioretty had traded a yellow no-contact jersey for a red one and was moving well on the ice. Not that the veteran forward, who suffered an Achilles tear in preseason, is game-ready, Brind’Amour said.

“It’s him saying he wants a little extra work,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s a good sign. We don’t want to rush anything but every day I think he’s getting closer.”