The Carolina Hurricanes will look to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second time in three days when the Metropolitan Division rivals meet on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
Tuesday’s game in Columbus was tied until 12:42 of the third period, when Nikolaj Ehlers’ long-range shot beat a screened Jet Greaves. Ehlers’ goal was the first of three unanswered tallies for Carolina in a 5-2 away win.
As Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski put it, “the penalty kill kind of killed” the Jackets’ chances. The Hurricanes were 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Blue Jackets were 0-for-3 with the extra attacker.
“Our kill has to get it done,” Werenski said. “We can’t give up three power-play goals in a game, especially this time of year. That’s the deciding factor, since I thought 5-on-5 it was pretty even.”
The Jackets have killed only five of 11 penalties over their last three games, while the Columbus power play is 1-for-12 in its last seven games.
In contrast, Carolina’s special teams units are among the hottest in the NHL. The Hurricanes are 16-for-17 on the penalty kill over their last six games, and 11-for-23 on the power play during a streak of seven consecutive games with at least one power-play goal.
Just about everything is clicking for a Hurricanes team that leads the Eastern Conference. Carolina (47-21-6, 100 points) has a game in hand over the Buffalo Sabres, whose matching 100 points have come in 75 games.
Staying in peak form heading into the playoffs may not be a problem given the Hurricanes’ role in deciding the rest of the Eastern Conference’s postseason field. Six of Carolina’s final eight games are against East opponents in the playoff hunt.
“We don’t ever get an easy game,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “These teams we play a lot where just everybody’s scratching and clawing to preserve their spot or gain their spot. So it certainly forces us to be ready every night.”
Carolina and Columbus could meet again in the playoffs, as the Jackets (38-35-12, 88 points) hold the second and final East wild-card berth.
The Blue Jackets’ 0-3-1 record in their last four games has hampered their chances in both the division and wild-card races. Columbus is four points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division, but four teams also sit within three points of the Jackets for the wild card slot.
Werenski leads the Jackets in assists (57) and points (78). Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 26 goals, but the forward snapped an eight-game drought with a tally on Tuesday.
Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 50 assists and 75 points, while Seth Jarvis has a team-high 30 goals.
Greaves stopped 28 of 32 shots on Tuesday and will likely start again in the rematch. Greaves is 24-15-9 with a .909 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average this season, solidifying his place as the Jackets’ first-choice goalie.
Since Brandon Bussi faced Columbus on Tuesday, the Hurricanes’ usual goaltending rotation means that Frederik Andersen is likely to start Thursday. Andersen is 13-13-5 with an .871 save percentage and 3.16 GAA.
Carolina is 2-1-0 against Columbus this season and 15-3-4 in their last 22 games. The Blue Jackets are 0-7-0 in their last seven games in Raleigh.
–Field Level Media
