Carolina Hurricanes @ Columbus Blue Jackets: Season 25 3/17/26

The Carolina Hurricanes sat in 1st in the Metropolitan Division with 90 points. In contrast, the Columbus Blue Jackets, at the start of this game, were just 1 point out of the 1st or 2nd Eastern Division Wildcard with 79 points. The Blue Jackets had more to gain tonight from the 2 points on the line, but even atop the division, the Hurricanes had plenty of reason to fight for those season-changing points, too. I have every faith in our Blue Jackets, but I can't lie, I was nervous about this game. Let me tell you, those concerns of mine disappeared faster than Ohio's spring weather this past weekend! 

Early into the game, at 4:23, Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis would go to the penalty box for 4 minutes after high-sticking Zach Werenski. Thankfully, #8 would be okay and continue to play. Bonus: Mason Marchment would score goal sixteen of his season, putting us up 1-0, at 5:25! Charlie Coyle continues collecting assists with his thirty-sixth this season on the primary, and Adam Fantilli does the same, collecting his twenty-ninth assist this season on the secondary. With the period coming to a close, the Hurricanes would get their second trip to the box. This time, Jackson Blake would sit for two minutes after tripping Dante Fabbro. At 19:05, Charlie Coyle would double the Blue Jackets' lead to 2-0! This marks goal seventeen of his season and would already give him a multi-point night, 1-1-2. Adam Fantilli adds his second assist tonight, number thirty of his season, with the primary, while Zach Werenski gets on the scoresheet with his team-leading forty-ninth assist this season on the secondary. The opening period would close with the Blue Jackets leading 2-0 on the scoreboard and 11-5 on shots on goal. But, 5th Line, we're just warming up! 

Before any other goals could happen, Hurricanes' Nicolas Deslauriers and Blue Jackets' Mathieu Oliver would get into a fight at center ice! Both men would be charged with a 5-minute major at 9:38. Not long after, the Hurricanes would get a goal back at 14:05 with a goal from Andrei Svechnikov, giving him twenty-five this season. Nikolaj Ehlers adds his thirty-third assist this season on the primary, while Alexxander Nikishin adds his seventeenth assist this season on the secondary. Danton Heimen would get that goal back for the home team at 17:29, adding his fourth goal of the season. Charlie Coyle would add another assist to his already goal and assist night; this is his thirty-seventh assist this season on the primary. Also, Cole Sillinger picks up his twenty-first assist this season on the secondary. Seconds later, off a faceoff, Denton Mateychuk would add his eleventh goal this season, elevating his team to their best lead of the night, 4-1! Sean Monahan, who won that faceoff and passed the puck to Denton Mateychuk, would have the only assist on this goal, giving him twenty-two this season. The period would wrap with that 4-1 Blue Jackets lead on the scoreboard, while they'd lose the shots on goal to the Hurricanes, 12-11. But I'm not complaining. especially when we added more goals in Period 3! 

It would be Mathieu Oliver and his thirteenth goal this season at 7:38, which would expand the Blue Jackets' lead to 5-1! Charlie Coyle adds his third assist tonight, thirty-eighth this season, on the primary, while Cole Sillinger adds his second assist tonight, twenty-second this season. The Hurricanes would win shots on goal in the final period, but the Blue Jackets would win where it matters, topping them 5-1 for 2 more points! 5th Line, we sit at 81 points after beating our division leader! Now that's how you end a fun St. Patrick's Day! 

The man with the pan in net, Jet Greaves, is your Third Star of the Game, after going 27/28, giving himself a solid .964 save percentage!   

Mathieu Oliver, with his third-period goal and fight in Period 2, is your Second Star of the Game. 

Charlie Coyle, with his 1-3-4 night, is your First Star of the Game! 

The Boston Bruins keep the 1st Wildcard spot by the skin of their teeth with an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadians. The final score was 3-2. The New York Islanders handled the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 3-1 win, keeping their third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. The Detroit Red Wings keep their 2nd Wildcard spot with 82 points, and the Pittsburgh Penguins keep their 2nd spot in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points, as both teams enjoy a night off.  

Our next chance for points comes in two days as we host the New York Rangers on Thursday Night. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m. in Nationwide Arena! 

Point streak sits at TEN games now, 5th Line! Let's keep rollin'! 

GO CBJ!     


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