Blackhawks Face Hurricanes As Frank Nazar Returns To Lineup

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to test their mettle on the road against the high-flying Carolina Hurricanes, with both teams entering Thursday night’s showdown at Lenovo Center on distinctly different trajectories. While the Blackhawks have been fighting tooth and nail to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot, the Hurricanes continue to assert themselves as one of the NHL’s elite, boasting both a formidable record and a style of play that’s become their calling card under head coach Rod Brind’Amour.

After a stretch of home games, Chicago (20-22-7) is back on the road for just the third time in the new year. The matchup marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the Blackhawks and Hurricanes in the 2025-26 campaign. The last time out, Chicago snapped a three-game skid in style, blanking the Winnipeg Jets 2-0 at the United Center. Spencer Knight was the star of the show, turning aside all 32 shots for his third shutout of the season and his 14th win. Jason Dickinson netted the game-winner, while Connor Bedard—finally back from a shoulder injury—iced it with an empty-netter, his first goal since returning to the lineup. Alex Vlasic, meanwhile, chipped in two assists and logged a team-leading 22:01 of ice time.

Despite that morale-boosting win, the Blackhawks still have plenty of work ahead. With 47 points through 49 games, they find themselves six points behind the Seattle Kraken for the final wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference. The San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Nashville Predators all sit ahead of Chicago in the chase, making every game crucial from here on out.

For the Hurricanes, life is good atop the Metropolitan Division. Carolina (31-15-4) enters the contest riding a three-game winning streak and has gone 7-3-1 in their last 11 games of 2026. Their most recent outing saw them edge the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 at home, with goals from Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis—the latter’s power-play tally standing as the game-winner. Brandon Bussi was steady in net, stopping 17 of 18 shots for his 18th win of the season. With 66 points through 50 games, the Hurricanes not only lead their division but are also tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings for the most points in the Eastern Conference.

Carolina’s dominance isn’t just reflected in the standings. According to MoneyPuck’s advanced metrics, the Hurricanes are the NHL’s premier 5-on-5 team this season, leading the league in both expected goals rate and shot attempt differential. Their suffocating team defense allows a league-low 24.1 shots per game, while their offense peppers opposing goalies with 32.4 shots per contest. It’s a relentless, system-driven approach that’s earned them seven consecutive playoff berths and three conference finals appearances since Brind’Amour took the helm. Yet, the Stanley Cup remains elusive—a fact not lost on anyone in Raleigh.

Goaltending, however, has been Carolina’s one soft spot. Frederik Andersen and rookie Brandon Bussi have split duties, but their combined .882 team save percentage is below league average. Andersen, set to make his 21st start of the season against Chicago, has a 7-10-3 record, a 3.25 goals-against average, and an .869 save percentage. Bussi, meanwhile, has provided solid backup play. Still, with Carolina’s defensive structure, even average goaltending has been enough to keep them among the NHL’s elite.

For the Blackhawks, Spencer Knight remains the backbone between the pipes. The 24-year-old netminder will make his 34th start of the season, entering the contest with a 14-13-6 record, a 2.53 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage. Knight’s recent play has been stellar, and he’s 3-1-0 with a sparkling 1.50 GAA and .952 save percentage—including two shutouts—in four career games against Carolina. If Chicago is to pull off an upset, Knight will almost certainly need to steal the show once again.

Thursday’s contest also marks the return of Frank Nazar to the Blackhawks’ lineup after missing 14 games with a jaw injury. Nazar, who’s racked up 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games this season, will center the second line alongside Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi. Andre Burakovsky returns to the top line with Connor Bedard and Ryan Greene after missing the Winnipeg game due to illness. Colton Dach is a healthy scratch for just the second time in 50 games, while Landon Slaggert continues to skate with rookies Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis.

Chicago’s projected forward lines are: Ryan Greene—Connor Bedard—Andre Burakovsky; Ryan Donato—Frank Nazar—Tyler Bertuzzi; Nick Foligno—Jason Dickinson—Ilya Mikheyev; and Landon Slaggert—Oliver Moore—Nick Lardis. On defense, expect Alex Vlasic paired with Louis Crevier, Wyatt Kaiser with Artyom Levshunov, and Matt Grzelcyk alongside Connor Murphy. The Blackhawks’ top-four centers—Bedard, Nazar, Dickinson, and Moore—offer a mix of youth, speed, and two-way ability that could cause headaches for opponents if they click.

Carolina, meanwhile, will likely roll with Andrei Svechnikov—Sebastian Aho—Seth Jarvis as their top trio, followed by Taylor Hall—Logan Stankoven—Jackson Blake; Nikolaj Ehlers—Jordan Staal—Jordan Martinook; and William Carrier—Mark Jankowski—Jesperi Kotkaniemi. On the blue line, Jaccob Slavin—widely regarded as the NHL’s best defensive defenseman—anchors the top pair with Jalen Chatfield. K’Andre Miller and Sean Walker form the second duo, while Alexander Nikishin and Joel Nystrom round out the group. The Hurricanes’ man-on-man defensive system, orchestrated by Brind’Amour, requires both discipline and athleticism, and it’s paid dividends year after year.

It’s no secret that Chicago faces an uphill battle. The Blackhawks have struggled to generate offense at 5-on-5, ranking last in expected goals rate and managing just 2.71 goals per game (26th in the league). Their young defensive corps has been prone to mistakes, especially against high-powered attacks like Carolina’s. The Hurricanes, conversely, rank fourth in goals per game (3.38) and eighth in goals against (2.86), with Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho leading the way offensively.

History isn’t on Chicago’s side, either. The Hurricanes have dominated the series in recent years, going 18-2-1 in the last 21 matchups dating back to 2018. The Blackhawks have managed just one win in their last ten visits to Lenovo Center, and Carolina swept both meetings in the 2024-25 season.

Yet, hockey can be unpredictable. With Frank Nazar’s return, Bedard heating up, and Knight in top form, the Blackhawks have the ingredients for a surprise. But they’ll need to be nearly flawless to topple a Hurricanes squad that’s firing on all cylinders and hungry for another deep playoff run.

Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. CT, with coverage available on ESPN+, HULU, and WGN 720 AM. As the Blackhawks look to build momentum and the Hurricanes aim to tighten their grip atop the East, all eyes will be on Lenovo Center for what promises to be an intense, high-stakes battle. The action is about to begin, and with so much on the line for both sides, fans can expect nothing less than a spirited contest in Raleigh.