2024-25 Regular Season, Game 30 Preview: Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Carolina Hurricanes went quietly into the night on Friday at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. In front of their fans on Pride Night, the Canes fell 3-0. The teams were scoreless after the first period, featuring excellent goaltending from Pyotr Kochetkov and Linus Ullmark. Shane Pinto would benefit from a Canes turnover, scoring in the slot early in the second period to break the deadlock. Kochetkov did his best to keep his group in the game, making a pair of crucial stops on Ottawa's power play to keep it 1-0 going into the third period. The kill came up big again late in the third, but Nick Jensen scored shortly after the power play to put Ottawa ahead for good. The Canes couldn't generate any good scoring chances once Kochetkov was on the bench, allowing Pinto to score his second goal of the night into the empty net. Pinto, Jensen, Michael Amadio, and Nick Cousins were the only players to find the scoresheet, picking up two points each, and Ullmark made 32 stops to stone the Hurricanes at home.

The Opponent: Columbus Blue Jackets (12-13-5, 29 Points, 8th in the Metropolitan Division)

Last Meeting: The Hurricanes and the Blue Jackets went back and forth for most of the night when the Canes visited Columbus on November 23rd. Dante Fabbro opened the scoring by going coast-to-coast, but Jack Roslovic got it back against his former team a few minutes later. Kirill Marchenko helped Columbus retake the lead midway through the first period to keep Columbus up a goal after 20 minutes. Jalen Chatfield jumped into the play and helped tie it again, only for Dmitri Voronkov to score on the power play 90 seconds later. The Canes earned their first lead of the night after Sebastian Aho scored on the power play and Jackson Blake buried a shot three minutes apart. The 4-3 lead kept its form until Marchenko scored his second goal of the game with 1:06 left. In overtime, Pyotr Kochetkov exited after a collision with Sean Walker, bringing Spencer Martin into the net to relieve him. No one scored in overtime and Sean Monahan was the lone scorer in the shootout to help Columbus earn the second point.

Since We Last Met: The Blue Jackets remain in the thick of the Wild Card battle, sitting three points out of a playoff spot entering play on Sunday. They have stumbled lately, losing their last three games and six of their last seven. They've earned points in their last two games, falling in overtime during both. This includes a 4-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks last night in which they put up 42 shots and led twice. Jet Greaves was in the net on Saturday, meaning Elvis [Merzlikins] will be in the building on Sunday. He has lost three of his last four starts since his seven-game point streak. Zach Werenski continues to lead the team in points with 31, scoring points in eight of his last ten games since facing the Canes. Werenski is also second on the team in goals to Kirill Marchenko, who scored his 11th of the season last night. 

Stories of the Night

1. Someone Has to Step Up for the Hurricanes

I honestly don't care who it is, but someone needs to grab this group and take charge. Whether it's the stars, the leadership core, or the depth guys, I need someone to have a career game against the Blue Jackets. I waited all night for someone to take control of the Ottawa game, only for them to fall silently. That can't happen again tonight. Everyone has their role and I appreciate that, but could someone please start stringing goals together? Imagine a Jordan Staal hat trick or a four-point game from Jackson Blake. That would be awesome. The Canes need a win, by any means necessary. 

2. Does RBA Trust Tokarski, or is it Pyotr Again?

I wholeheartedly believe that Pyotr Kochetkov is the future in the net, meaning he should be earning the majority of the starts when he's healthy. However, Kochetkov has started five straight games since returning from his injury in Columbus to mixed results. Against a team playing the second half of a back-to-back before facing three straight division opponents, give Dustin Tokarski a chance to prove himself as a viable short-term option. It will allow Kochetkov a few extra days before he likely gets the Islanders, Capitals, and Rangers. Do I think it's likely? Probably not. I've been wrong before while making this same argument. If the team weren't struggling, this decision might be easier.