PREVIEW: Blue Jackets and Hurricanes continue four-game stretch

BLUE JACKETS (13-12-7) vs. HURRICANES (20-7-3)

"I was down the tunnel, almost to the room," the defenseman laughed.
If Columbus has nine lives, they used a couple to survive Saturday night's thriller in Raleigh. A quiet game through the first two periods boiled in the third when Jones sent the game to overtime in the final minute of regulation. In the extra frame, things exploded.
Elvis Merzlikins, who turned aside 35 shots, saved his best for sudden death when he stopped Carolina forward Martin Necas all alone on the doorstep with an outstretched glove.
Then things got…confusing.
With Jones in the penalty box for high-sticking, the league's top power play took the ice. 30 seconds later, Dougie Hamilton won the game. As a few Blue Jackets made their way to the exit through a sea of red jerseys flocking to the defenseman like flies drawn to light, a horn sounded. The game had gone off the rails.
At the Columbus bench, John Tortorella, his staff, and most of the Blue Jackets stood pat. "Our staff called down to us that the play was going to be offside, but the refs were going out the gate. I was told the league is going to initiate [a review]. But everyone was leaving, including our players."
The league uses a "Situation Room," which resides in Toronto's Scotiabank Arena and was created to give league officials a singular location to monitor every game and review all contestable plays. Traditionally, teams rely on their video coaches to send word to the bench to initiate a challenge, but it's never foolproof. When Toronto makes the call, things become a little more concrete.
A short review confirmed what Tortorella and the bench knew - Andrei Svechnikov was standing offsides on Carolina's zone entry. A brain lapse from the forward served as a defibrillator for the Blue Jackets, who were granted another opportunity to kill a penalty.
That sent Jones back to the box to finish serving his infraction. Under the circumstances, Jones could only smile and agree when asked if he was happy to do so. There were plenty more smiles to go around after this one. Winning does that to a team.
Know the Foe
Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 20-7-3, 43 points, 3rd place in Discover Central Division
Last Game: Blue Jackets (3) at Hurricanes (2) (SO)
Top Performers: Sebastian Aho (13 goals-15 assists-28 points); Dougie Hamilton (3-21-24); Andrei Svechnikov (9-14-23); Alex Nedeljkovic (6 wins, 2.16 goals against average, .926 save%)
After eight consecutive victories, the Hurricanes have fallen on tougher times, going winless in their last three games (0-1-2). Carolina embodies the new style of hockey where teams value players who can skate. The Hurricanes feel comfortable throwing out any of their 18 rostered skaters on the ice in any situation, and force opponents to use their feet and quick decision-making to defend waves of speed and a ferocious forecheck.
Carolina holds a top-10 league ranking in a variety of categories headlined by a power play unit that clicks at a league-best 31.3%. Hamilton is cruising on an 11-game point streak, the longest active streak in the NHL. After a mediocre start to their season on the road, Hurricanes have won four of their last five games away from PNC Arena.
3 Keys to the Game
Adapt on the fly: Tortorella experimented with different line combinations during Saturday's game, and the trio of Kevin Stenlund, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Patrik Laine created a spark with the Blue Jackets first goal. Stenlund also took shifts with a Nick Foligno-Laine combination, while Bjorkstrand saw time with Boone Jenner and Riley Nash for parts of the game.
Stability in net: After the effort Joonas Korpisalo put forth in a Thursday win in Raleigh, some may have been surprised the goaltender did not get another crack at the Hurricanes over the weekend. Tortorella has been adamant on a two-goalie system with a pair of competitive and capable netminders. Look for Korpisalo and Merzlikins to continue to split the net and be fueled by healthy competition.
Hot hands: Bjorkstrand, Jones and Zach Werenski have come alive in the last four games (3-0-1), leading the Blue Jackets through their best stretch of hockey this season. The trio have combined for a 6-7-13 scoring line and have game-winning goals in all three wins.
Notable
Bjorkstrand leads the team in points (10-17-27) and has scored 5-6-11 in his last nine games. … Jones has three goals in his last two games and has recorded a 3-3-6 line against Carolina this season. … The Blue Jackets won their second shootout decision in five attempts this season. … Columbus saddled Carolina with its first shootout loss since 12/14/18 (10 straight wins). … The Blue Jackets have won seven of their last nine games against the Hurricanes dating back to 3/15/19. … Cam Atkinson has four shorthanded goals this season to lead the NHL. … The Blue Jackets have at least a .500 point percentage against six of seven Discover Central Division opponents this season, with Nashville being the exception.
Projected Lineup
(Subject to change)
Oliver Bjorkstrand - Kevin Stenlund - Patrik Laine
Max Domi - Jack Roslovic - Cam Atkinson
Boone Jenner - Riley Nash - Nick Foligno
Stefan Matteau - Ryan MacInnis - Eric Robinson
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Vladislav Gavrikov - David Savard
Dean Kukan - Michael Del Zotto
Joonas Korpisalo (confirmed starter)
Elvis Merzlikins
Scratches: Gabriel Carlsson, Scott Harrington, Mikhail Grigorenko
Taxi Squad: Alexandre Texier, Zac Dalpe, Cam Johnson
Injured reserve: Gustav Nyquist (shoulder, out 5-6 months as of November), Emil Bemstrom (lower-body, out around one week as of March 18), Brandon Dubinsky (wrist, LTIR)
Roster Report: The Blue Jackets activated Texier from the COVID-19 protocol list and assigned the forward to the taxi squad. Columbus also recalled Grigorenko from the taxi squad. Korpisalo is expected to be in net on Monday as he and Merzlikins continue to split time.