Game Preview: Columbus, Carolina Matchup For First Time Since Opening Night In Saturday Matinee

CAROLINA HURRICANES

25-8-6 (56 points; .718%) ROSTER / SCHEDULE

4:00 P.M. – SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS, OH

TELEVISION: Bally Sports Ohio ESPN+ (Out Of Market)

It's Saturday afternoon hockey at Nationwide Arena for the second consecutive weekend when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 4:00 p.m. matchup between the Metro division foes.

The Blue Jackets come into the contest with just one win in their last ten games — the win coming last Saturday afternoon over the league-worst Chicago Blackhawks. The New Year's Eve victory snapped a seven-game skid for Columbus, but the start of 2023 has not been kind to head coach Brad Larsen's group. Losses to the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals by a combined 10-2 tally come prior to a difficult week of hockey in which the Blue Jackets face the Hurricanes twice and are on the road against both the Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Here's what to know when the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes meet for the first time this since opening night:

TALKING POINTS: CANES

• As expected, the Hurricanes have been one of the most complete teams in the NHL — and they've done it with defense and goaltending. Carolina ranks 5th in goals allowed per game (2.67) and first in shots on goal allowed per game...
   
• ...but even the most complete teams have their times of woe. After winning 11 straight, Carolina has dropped their last two games by the same 5-3 score; one to the New York Rangers, one to the Nashville Predators. The Hurricanes are yet to lose three straight games in regulation this season, but did have an 0-2-3 stretch in November.
   
• Rookie netminder Pyotr Kochetkov went 7-0-1 with a 1.63 goals against average and .939 save percentage in December. For his efforts, he was named as the NHL's Rookie of the Month. Kochetkov won't repeat that in January, though — he's allowed eight goals on 54 shots in two January starts. 
   
• An interesting note: this is the first time since the opening week of the season in which the Blue Jackets' opponent has separate leaders in goals, assists, and points. Andrei Svechnikov leads the team with 19 goals and the ageless Brent Burns has 23 assists to lead the way. But it's 24-year-old center Martin Necas who has a stat line of 17-21-38 to lead the Canes in points. Again, balance.

CBJ STORYLINES

• JOHNNY ALL-STAR
  It was announced during the first intermission of Thursday's loss to the Washington Capitals that Johnny Gaudreau will represent the Blue Jackets in next month's NHL All-Star game. Gaudreau has 38 points in 37 games and is on pace for 84 points. Artemi Panarin has the franchsie record of 87. 
   
• PK BLUES
  Staying out of the box is always important, but especially when the penalty killing units are struggling. The Blue Jackets have allowed two power play goals in each of their last two games and have given up at least one in four of the last five. If there's an area Carolina struggles, it's the power play — they rank 25th in the league at 19.1% — but don't give them the chance for this to be the game they break through. 

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Updated: 7:05 a.m. // Subject to Change