Nash Helps Hurricanes Pound Blackhawks, 5-0

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Riley Nash scored two goals, Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist and the Carolina Hurricanes routed the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-0, on Tuesday night in the final game before the All-Star break for each team.

Carolina outshot the reigning Stanley Cup champions 16-5 in the first period, taking a 3-0 lead and chasing goalie Corey Crawford.

Eddie Lack made 26 saves to improve to 4-1 in his career against the Blackhawks. Crawford, replaced by Scott Darling, made 13 saves.

The Hurricanes, 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, completed a season sweep of the Blackhawks, who have lost three of their last four.

Chicago has two wins at Carolina since the 1997-98 season.

The Hurricanes got off to a fast start, and the Blackhawks never recovered.

Skinner put Carolina in front with his 18th of the season at 2:21 of the first. After Crawford stopped Elias Lindholm's shot, Skinner and Jay McClement, originally credited with the goal, were in front of the net for the rebound.

Nash scored his third of the season on a deflection off a Chicago player with 6:55 left in the first. Just over two minutes later, John-Michael Liles took a pass from former Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg on a 2-on-1 and beat Crawford for his fifth.

Joakim Nordstrom, who along with Versteeg was traded by Chicago to Carolina in September, gave the Hurricanes a 4-0 lead in the second, and Nash scored about 90 seconds later on an assist from Skinner.

Carolina also won Dec. 27 at Chicago with Lack in goal. In that game, he was three seconds shy of a shutout.

NOTES: The Hurricanes' next game is Feb. 3 at Calgary, and Chicago plays next at Colorado on Feb. 2. ... The Blackhawks announced a three-year contract extension for general manager Stan Bowman through the 2021 season. ... The announced attendance at PNC Arena was 14,588. ... Nordstrom has scored in the past three games, and Andrej Nestrasil has had assists in the past three. ... Carolina has killed off 57 of 65 power plays at home, including 4 of 4 Tuesday night.

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