RALEIGH, N.C. — It has been a while since hats came flying on the ice at PNC Arena.
But Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes had ‘em flying Monday. Scoring the third hat trick of his career, the ever competitive center spurred a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Aho scored off the rush. He scored on the power play, with a crafty redirection. He then finished off the hat trick with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of regulation, scoring with the Blackhawks ‘ Patrick Kane on his hip to finish it off.
It wasn’t like the old days, when the arena was full and hats filled the playing surface. But it was a proper tribute to a player who always has his game face set and his eyes on the prize: winning.
“It’s pretty nice,” Aho said after the game. “But we’re here for a bigger goal.”
The Hurricanes (35-10-7) have established themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. They lead the Central Division and the NHL with 77 points. They have points in their last 11 games and are intent on staying sharp in the final days of the regular season.
Defenseman Dougie Hamilton had a goal and assist, Martin Necas scored and Vincent Trocheck had two assists as the Canes led 2-0 after the first period and 4-1 after the second.
Canes goalie Alex Nedeljkovic picked up his 15th win of the season, facing 17 shots as the Canes were quick on getting sticks on pucks and even quicker in exiting their zone. Nedelkovic’s best save might have come with 1:34 left in regulation, when he gloved a shot by Patrick Kane with the Canes leading 4-2.
Aho scored his first goal off a perfectly executed two-on-one rush with Andrei Svechnikov in the second. His second goal made it 4-0 and chased goalie Malcolm Subban of the Blackhawks (22-24-6), winless in their last five games.
Aho’s third goal, his 24th of the season, came at 18:44 of the third off a Jesper Fast pass.
Defenseman Ian Mitchell scored for Chicago late in the second period and speedy forward Alex DeBrincat in the third.
The Blackhawks had another apparent goal in the second overturned on a successful coach’s challenge for goaltender interference by Brind’Amour.
The Canes and Blackhawks go at it again Tuesday at PNC Arena,then again Thursday to close out their divisional series.
