The Carolina Hurricanes rebounded from a 3-0 shutout loss to the Ottawa Senators with a decisive 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. Hosting the Jackets, who had beaten them in a shootout during their November meeting, the Hurricanes were determined to make a stronger statement. Dustin Tokarski made his first NHL start since February 2023, showing composure in goal for Carolina, while Columbus turned to Elvis Merzlikins. Early penalties shaped the game’s opening minutes, but Carolina’s penalty kill stood strong, allowing the Canes to capitalize and take the lead.
Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho connected on a slick 2-on-1 play to open the scoring, with Aho slipping the puck past Merzlikins. Later in the first period, Jordan Staal set up William Carrier for a backhand finish, doubling Carolina’s advantage heading into intermission. The Staal line, which included Martinook and Carrier, was instrumental, combining for two goals and three assists in a dominant performance. The Hurricanes thrived when playing at even strength, controlling the tempo and creating quality scoring opportunities.
The second period saw Columbus attempt to fight back. Kirill Marchenko forced a turnover behind the net, leading to Dmitri Voronkov scoring to cut the lead in half. Carolina responded with sustained pressure, and Jordan Martinook tipped in a shot by Staal. After a tense review for goalie interference, the goal stood. Another Columbus challenge negated a potential Hurricanes goal for a hand pass, but the Canes maintained their two-goal cushion heading into the third period.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi sealed the game early in the final period with a sharp shot over Merzlikins’ glove, assisted by Martin Necas. Columbus pushed for a comeback, but Tokarski and the Hurricanes’ defense was impenetrable, ensuring the win. Tokarski, making his first NHL appearance in nearly two years, proved reliable, handling early penalty kills and making key saves throughout the game. His strong showing adds optimism for Carolina’s goaltending situation moving forward.
The Hurricanes now look ahead to their final game of a four-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. The Islanders previously defeated Carolina with a dominant second period earlier this month, setting the stage for a challenging rematch. After Tuesday, the Hurricanes face three consecutive road games before the Christmas break, starting with a matchup against the Washington Capitals on Friday night.
