Just hours before the calendar turned to 2025, the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice for the final time in 2024 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Canes earned a big win on Saturday night to complete their home-and-home with the Devils, scoring four times in the third period to defeat New Jersey, 5-2. The victory was the 300th in Rod Brind'Amour's coaching career as the team looked for #301 to close the year.
With Shayne Gostisbehere out for the second straight game, the Hurricanes rolled the same lineup against the Blue Jackets. The only change was in the net as Pyotr Kochetkov took the ice. He suffered the loss during the first half of the back-to-back in New Jersey on Friday. Elvis Merzlikins stood opposite him for the Blue Jackets.
When trying to earn two points on the road, it's never ideal to allow the first goal by leaving one of the hottest scorers in the league wide open. Unfortunately, that memo didn't reach the Hurricanes. Kirill Marchenko, who has been on an absolute tear recently, was left all alone in front of the net. Sean Monahan found him and the Blue Jackets were up 1-0 less than five minutes into the contest.
The Hurricanes' power play got them even midway through the period. After Merzlikins was guilty of tripping, Ty Smith got a friendly bounce off Ivan Provorov's stick to score his first goal with the Hurricanes in Gostisbehere's spot on the man advantage. Late in the period, Marchenko struck again. Brent Burns ran into Kochetkov trying to defend a pass to the front of the net. Marchenko wasted little time snapping his shot past the fallen goalie to regain the lead going into the break.
After a successful carry-over penalty kill, the top line continued its hot stretch. All three forwards combined on the tying goal, ending when Jack Roslovic redirected Seth Jarvis' backhand saucer pass into the net. The Canes would take their first lead of the night shortly after. Jesperi Kotkaniemi started and finished the play. Eric Robinson did a good job of absorbing a hit to push the puck for Kotkaniemi to backhand into the net to make it 3-2 before the halfway point of the contest.
Merzlikins did his job to keep the Jackets in the game, allowing them to tie it early in the third period. Dmitri Voronkov's attempted pass got a bounce off Jarvis' leg and found the back of the net. It would be the only goal of the third period, meaning extra hockey would be required. Each side traded chances in overtime, the best coming as Kochetkov made consecutive saves on Monahan and Marchenko late. Overtime wouldn't decide a winner either, meaning a shootout would end 2024.
Svechnikov got the Canes on the board in the bottom of the second round after Kochetkov pulled out his patented flying poke check on Damon Severson. Unfortunately, Kochetkov went to the well one too many times. Kent Johnson anticipated the poke check coming with the game on his stick, beating Kochetkov between the five-hole to keep the Jackets alive. Jarvis wasn't able to win it and after Adam Fantili slid one through Kochetkov, Merzlikins denied Aho to secure the second point.
This isn't how the Hurricanes wanted to end the year, but a point is a point. It helps them make up a little ground in the division with the Devils losing to the Ducks, so there's a positive way to spin the loss. Frankly, this is a game they should've won. They played well enough, too. Merzlikins made a few big saves, but the Canes had their chances. Even in the shootout, they had the lead, but couldn't get it done.
The shootout will go down as another moment when Kochetkov did too much when he didn't need to. He had just made the great play against Severson to stop him. There was no need to try and give Johnson free space to score. Outside of the shootout, I thought Kochetkov had a good night. He had unfortunate luck on two of the three goals, with the opening goal being more about a defensive breakdown. Kochetkov made a giant stop or two, including a stellar spinning stop on Zach Werenski.
The top line is officially on a heater. Sebastian Aho had another multi-point night, picking up two assists, while his linemates combined for another spectacular goal. Jack Roslovic has points in five straight games, including four goals during this stretch to extend his team lead. Seth Jarvis is starting to find the scoresheet more regularly, showcasing his incredible playmaking. It was also great to see Jesperi Kotkaniemi get one into the net.
One thing to watch before Thursday night's game is the status of Tyson Jost. He was in some discomfort in the third period, seemingly missing from the bench late in the game. If he's hurt, it potentially opens a spot up the middle. The Canes could opt to go 11/7, with Riley Stillman currently the healthy extra, or they could call on a forward from Chicago, like Ryan Suzuki. I'm sure there will be an update on Wednesday.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes will begin 2025 in Florida battling the defending champions. After being run out of the building the last time they met, the Canes will look for a better effort against the Panthers. The team will return to Raleigh for a weekend back-to-back, beginning with the Minnesota Wild for the first home game of the new year on Saturday.