What We Learned: CAR 2, CBJ 1

RALEIGH, N.C. - Whether it was the Carolina Hurricanes' defensive effort or just the Blue Jackets being kept to the outside too easily, the result was the either way Saturday night at PNC Bank Arena.
Carolina frustrated Columbus yet again, for the fourth time in as many games, and won 2-1 in yet another low-scoring, tight-checking game to conclude the season series. Columbus outshot the Hurricanes 36-24, but a lot of those shots were taken from low-danger areas and rebounds off them were scarce.
"Whether it's us, or them defending that well, we're just not getting enough second chances," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "I don't care how many shots [are] on the board. There's probably one or two second chances. It's a winnable game if we get some run support, and we don't. We don't generate enough, as far as rebounds."
It was a similar storyline after the previous three games against the Hurricanes (14-11-7), whose neutral-zone trap often leads to low-scoring, close games. The victory was Carolina's first in regulation since Nov. 19 against the New York Islanders, a span of 13 games.
The Blue Jackets' two wins against Carolina happened in overtime and in a shootout, but they just couldn't find a way to push the game that far Saturday.
Scott Darling made 35 saves to lead the way for Carolina, which got goals from Jordan Staal and Noah Hanifin. Alex Wennberg scored the only goal for Columbus, while Serge Bobrovsky made 22 saves against 24 shots.
"I feel like we tried to play the right way and all that, but we just couldn't score," said forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, who assisted on Wennberg's goal. "It seemed like once we got a shot on net, they were there to get the puck away. We need to be the ones to be the [first] to the puck, and we need to be better next game."
Here are six things we learned:

I: BOUNCEBACK FOR BOB
Bobrovsky made his seventh straight start for the Jackets, and got back to his usual level of sharpness. He'd allowed nine goals in the previous two games combined, and let in four-or-more goals in four of his previous six outings.
Bobrovsky didn't have a chance to stop the majority of them, but it's always notable when there are four or five goals next to Bobrovsky's name on the stat sheet. In this game, he didn't get as much work as Darling, but still made some high-caliber stops to keep Columbus in the game.
"He made some critical saves down in our zone there, and obviously gave us a chance to win," forward Josh Anderson said. "We've got to help him out, and try to find ways to score goals. I think we created enough scoring chances. It was just a goalie's night tonight."
The only goals that got past Bobrovsky came off two fortunate bounces for the Hurricanes. The first was off a shot by Staal that deflected into the net off the stick of Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson. The second goal was scored by Hanifin off a rebound of Derek Ryan's shot that hit the right post in the second.
Three of Bobrovsky's best saves were against Hurricanes center Marcus Kruger, who was denied on three prime scoring chances, including a shorthanded breakaway.

II: WENNBERG CONTINUES RESURGENCE.
Wennberg was one of the Jackets' most noticeable players again, in the Jackets' second game without injured veteran center Brandon Dubinsky.
He scored the lone goal for Columbus by redirecting a pass from Cam Atkinson past Darling in the first period, and returned the favor early in the third. Wennberg hit Atkinson with a nice pass for a shorthanded breakaway at 3:13 which led to a power play after Atkinson was tripped.
Wennberg had two assists in the Blue Jackets' 6-4 win Thursday against the New York Islanders. He played 17:53 against Carolina, had three shots on goal and won 55 percent of his face-offs.
"He wants to be a No.1 center, and I think everyone sees him as a No.1 center," Atkinson said. "It's one of those things where it's not going to happen overnight, but I think he's making big strides, obviously, this game and in the last game. Hopefully it continues."
III: AGREE TO DISAGREE
Atkinson's breakaway in the third was somewhat contentious, after the Hurricanes were put on the penalty skill when defenseman Justin Faulk was called for tripping the Blue Jackets' forward.
The Blue Jackets didn't score on the ensuing power play and went 0-for-4 with the man-advantage. Atkinson felt there should've been a penalty shot called instead.
"I was in clear from at least the top of the circle, if not the hash mark, clearly, and he's behind me when he trips me," Atkinson said. "So, I don't know how that's not a penalty shot."
Atkinson still got a shot off, but didn't have much on it as he fell to the ice.
"I was falling," he said. "I tried to get as much [on it] as I could, but I was falling back. "It was a great pass [by Wennberg]. He made a great play, and it should've been a penalty shot, I think."
IV: DONE IN BY DARLING
Darling hadn't beaten Columbus in three career starts coming into the game, with an 0-0-2 record. Still, the Hurricanes' backstop had outstanding secondary numbers, with a 1.40 goals-against average and .949 save percentage against the Blue Jackets.
He lived up to those stats again, making 15 saves in the first period, 12 in the second and eight in the third - including a number with a high degree of difficulty. It was just what the Hurricanes needed, concluding a back-to-back after finishing a 13-day, six-game road trip Friday in Buffalo.
"He gave us a chance to build the game," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "They outshot us there two to one. [It] almost looked like we had a little bit if a fatigued team there at times. We built the game, and got better, so credit to him to give us that opportunity."
V: OVER AND OUT
This was the finale of the season series for these teams, who played four times in the Blue Jackets' first 33 games (32 for the Hurricanes). The Blue Jackets, who entered the game atop the Metropolitan Division, went 2-2-0 with four points. The Hurricanes went 2-0-2 with six points.
VI: ENJOY THE RIDE
Scott Harrington played his ninth straight game, filling in while Ryan Murray is out with an upper-body injury. Murray is back skating on his own, and appears to be making progress, but Harrington said he's not looking too far ahead at what Murray's return might mean for him.
After playing in only two of Columbus' first 24 games, he's just enjoying the consistent playing time.
"It's a lot easier [than playing sparingly]," Harringtonsaid. "You're not worried about the nerves or maybe the pace of play, getting back into it. You're used to it by now, and you can just focus on building it every game and getting a little bit better every game."