The Carolina Hurricanes finished their six-game road trip with a 4-3 shootout win in Dallas on Saturday and will bring home 8 out of a possible 12 points. The Canes improved their road record to 6-3-0 and return to PNC Arena with an unblemished home record of 3-0-0.
Monday night, the Canes host the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time this season, which will mark the beginning of a five-game home stand, including a meeting with Florida on Wednesday, a back-to-back with Chicago on Friday and Saturday, and finally Tampa Bay on the following Monday.
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The Blue Jackets currently sit just below the Hurricanes in the Discover Central Division standings at 7-5-4, and are 3-1-1 in their last five games. The story of the season so far for Columbus is their newest acquisitions from Winnipeg, Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, who are both almost point-per-game players this season with their new club. The duo combined for five total points against the Canes in their first two meetings last week.
Martin Necas returned to the Canes’ lineup against Dallas on Saturday and looked as if he hasn’t missed a step since his injury in Chicago, playing 17 minutes and notching an assist on the night. With the exception of Petr Mrazek, we’re back to seeing the faces we’re used to in the lineup. After a bit of a shaky win against Dallas, let’s see if the Canes can get their chemistry back to full strength now that a majority of their regulars are healthy.
With some new faces joining the fold we will see how the lines shake up soon enough (as long as Rod doesn’t take McGinn off the first line).
Columbus is a team that has given Carolina a couple of tight games so far this season, here are the keys for the Canes to capture their 10th win of the season against the Jackets.