Blackhawks’ four-game road win streak snapped at Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) blocks a shot despite Chicago Blackhawks' Tyler Motte (64) and Carolina Hurricanes' Klas Dahlbeck (6) battling behind him during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Elias Lindholm (16) slips the puck past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling (33) with Artemi Panarin (72) nearby for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) freezes the puck after it is shot by Chicago Blackhawks' Vinnie Hinostroza (48) with Hawks Ryan Hartman (38) looking on during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Chicago Blackhawks' Tanner Kero (67) battles with Carolina Hurricanes' Derek Ryan (33) and Brett Pesce (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Someone different always seems to step up to keep the Carolina Hurricanes rolling on home ice. This time it was Jay McClement’s turn.

McClement scored the key goal 2:54 into the third period and the Hurricanes beat the Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday night.

Elias Lindholm and Lee Stempniak scored early goals 1:05 apart to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead, and they held on to earn a point in their 11th straight home game.

They’re 10-0-1 at PNC Arena since Nov. 12, and McClement became the seventh Carolina player with a game-winning goal during that stretch.

Michal Kempny had a goal and an assist, and Vinnie Hinostroza added a deflected goal 5:49 into the third for the Western Conference-leading Blackhawks, who had their four-game road winning streak snapped while also losing their fourth in five games overall.

“It’s a long season, I think it’s bound to happen at a certain point where we go through a little lull, I guess,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “It’s not fun. I think we know it’s going to be tight all the way to the playoffs. ... We’ve got to work for it and earn it all the time, so yeah, it’s time for us to try to get that energy back, that excitement back.”

Cam Ward made 27 saves for Carolina while improving to 8-0-1 during the Hurricanes’ home-ice roll.

Scott Darling stopped 25 shots for the Hawks.

McClement’s goal early in the third period — a turnaround blast past Darling off a giveaway by Patrick Kane — put Carolina up 3-1.

That goal became more significant a few minutes later when Toews put a shot off Hinostroza’s midsection and past Ward to pull the Blackhawks within a goal.

“You never really assume” the comeback is coming, Hinostroza said. “You just want to keep playing and build off of it. Down two in the third, we get one, obviously we have the momentum and we want to keep building on it. We had a couple good looks after that and we kept coming. Unfortunately, we didn’t score.”

• Bryan Bickell, who’s been on injured reserve since Nov. 11 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, said between periods that “my mindset is to get back on the ice, and I think I can do that.” Bickell helped the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups before he was traded to Carolina over the summer.