Hurricanes score early, blank Blue Jackets

Field Level Media|published: Sun 7th April, 19:45 2024

Apr 7, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) clears the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) during the first period at PNC Arena. credits: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho scored in the first period to set the tone and the Carolina Hurricanes rode another shutout for Frederik Andersen to win their regular-season home finale, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.

Teuvo Teravainen tacked on a third-period goal after providing a first-period assist. Andersen posted his third shutout in his last seven outings, needing 23 saves. It was Andersen's 27th career shutout.

The Hurricanes (49-22-7, 105 points) wrapped up the home portion of their schedule with a 27-10-4 mark. They'll play their last four regular-season games on the road before opening the Eastern Conference playoffs on home ice.

Carolina has won four of its last five games and has points in 14 of its last 17 as the Hurricanes remain in contention for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Goalie Malcolm Subban made 32 saves in his first NHL game of the season for the Blue Jackets (26-40-12, 64 points), who won three of their previous four games.

Svechnikov had gone 10 games in a row without scoring prior to sitting out Friday night. He notched his 18th goal of the season just 17 seconds into Sunday's game.

Aho's goal came 16 seconds into the first power play, giving him a team-leading 35 goals. His tally at 11:45 of the opening period pushed his recent surge to eight goals in an eight-game stretch.

Jake Guentzel notched an assist on Aho's goal, giving him 21 points in 14 games since joining the Hurricanes in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Teravainen's goal came with 6:07 to play, lifting his season total to 22 goals after going nine games without scoring.

Cole Sillinger's shot off the post late in the first period was one of the better scoring chances for the Blue Jackets, who were shutout victims for the fifth time this season. This result came a night after the team's 6-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers.

This was the beginning of a four-game road trip for Columbus before meeting the Hurricanes again in the regular-season finale April 16.

—Field Level Media

Latest