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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Preview and Storm Advisory

The Canes have a rare one-game stint against a team, this time the Columbus Blue Jackets.

By Zeke Lukow

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Carolina Hurricanes v Columbus Blue Jackets Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

The Carolina Hurricanes come home tonight to play their fourth home game of the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the last game against Columbus, the Canes lost late in the third period despite the infamous benching of Patrik Laine.

Carolina looks could turn back to James Reimer, who won his first matchup against Columbus, in net. With Joonas Korpisalo playing Saturday, John Tortorella would go to Elvis Merzlikins tonight. Merzlikins, who has missed time with an injury, has not started a game since last month in a 3-1 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Canes have had their second-best start in franchise history through 12 games with a 9-3-0 record this season but have not looked to have fired on all gears. The good news from the last game is that Teuvo Teravainen got his first goal and that Martin Necas was able to return to play after an apparent head injury.

Vital Statistics

Category Hurricanes Blue Jackets
Category Hurricanes Blue Jackets
Record 21-7-3 13-13-7
Goals/Game 3.23 2.54
Goals Against/Game 2.48 3.12
Shots/Game 31.52 28.70
Face Off Win % 54.4% 46.2%
Power Play % (Rank) 30.6% (1st) 14.8% (26th)
Penalty Kill % (Rank) 82.9% (9th) 74.0% (26th)
ES Corsi For % 53.04% 46.16%
ES PDO 100.96 99.42
PIM/Game 07:21 06:43

Goaltender #1

Category James Reimer Joonas Korpisalo
Category James Reimer Joonas Korpisalo
Record 12-4-1 8-10-5
Save % 0.909 .900
GAA 2.68 2.98

Goaltender #2

Category Alex Nedeljkovic Elvis Merzlikins
Category Alex Nedeljkovic Elvis Merzlikins
Record 7-2-2 5-3-2
Save % .930 .912
GAA 1.96 2.91

Game Notes:

  • The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets are meeting for the 44th time in their histories, with Carolina holding a 21-17-0-5 record all-time against Columbus, including a 10-10-0-2 road record.
  • The Hurricanes are 15-8-5 in their last 28 games in the series.
  • A pair of Blue Jackets come into the game with significant streaks. Cam Atkinson has a three-game goal streak and Seth Jones has an active five-game assist streak.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have the highest win percentage in overtime and shootout games since 2019 with .750 (15-5-0).
  • Patrik Laine and Sebastian Aho rank first and second, respectively, in goals from Finnish born players since 2017. Laine leads Aho 108 to 100.

Reading Assignments:

  • We should know by noon whether or not Alex Galchenyuk was claimed on waivers or assigned to the taxi squad.
  • The League is making strides in completing the outdoor rink for the two Lake Tahoe games coming up this weekend. [$The Athletic]