This was a game that Carolina could not have asked for anything more from. A dominant performance at both ends of the ice, the Hurricanes ran riot against a tired Columbus Blue Jackets team and it was a good way to cope with the recent news of the defensive absentees. A 4-0 shutout win over the Jackets was a good way to start up after a little break.
There’s a lot to talk about in this one. Carolina’s rookie dropping the gloves with the son of one of the most famous pairs of fists in NHL history. While we all enjoyed it, this was not a smart move. With the Hurricanes already dealing with a lot of injury concerns. Getting in a fight and risking serious injury like that as a top-six winger wasn’t something that I enjoyed seeing, although I understand why he did it.
And the lumberjack got a goal! His hands rival Michelangelo’s David in terms of how well sculpted from marble they are, but the Carolina Hurricanes captain managed to add one to his season tally and get number five on the year! It also happened to be Jordan Staal‘s first game-winning goal of the season, which is always nice. Leading by example and setting the tone midway through the second.
Carolina’s third line would score a couple of goals in this one, and they were great at both ends. Solid defensive performance from Carolina’s shutdown line allowed the team to dictate the play offensively, keep the puck moving in the offensive zone and push the Jackets back into their own end. They were completely outclassed by the Canes tonight, and the relentless forecheck from the team was a major reason.