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Columbus Blue Jackets sting Carolina Hurricanes with another shootout win
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- Columbus Blue Jackets sting Carolina Hurricanes with another shootout win
The Blue Jackets ended 2024 with a bang, literally.
Following goals from Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli plus a clinching save by goalie Elvis Merzlikins , the Jackets celebrated an exciting 4-3 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricane s on Tuesday night with a cannon blast followed by fireworks on New Year's Eve at Nationwide Arena. It was the Blue Jackets ' second shootout win over the Hurricanes in Columbus this season, after winning 5-4 that way on Nov. 23.
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Johnson's goal in the third round tied the breakaways competition at 1-1 after Andrei Svechnikov put the Hurricanes up with a goal to end the second. Fantilli took it from there, zipping the puck through Pyotr Kochetkov 's pads for a go-ahead goal to start the fourth that became the decisive tally after Merzlikins stopped Sebastian Aho in the bottom half.
"I just tried not to think about it," Johnson said. "Just a normal shootout attempt is all I tried to do, so (the pressure's) not too bad. It's just sports."
Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) shoots a penalty shot at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Kirill Marchenko 's two goals led the Blue Jackets (16-6-6) in regulation, helping them even their record before the arrival of the year 2025. Dmitri Voronkov scored the Blue Jackets' other goal, trying it 3-3 on a power play early in the third period to force an exciting overtime with three shots each way.
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Merzlikins earned the goaltending win with 32 saves for the Blue Jackets. Kochetkov (25 saves) took the loss for the Hurricanes (22-14-1), whose goals were scored by defenseman Ty Smith , former Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic and center Jesperi Kotkaniemi .
"It's a wonderful sign, obviously moving forward," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "We've handled adversity up to this point, and you're going to have to handle a lot more. But to do it (against) that team ... that's such a good hockey club. Carolina's so good, put so much heat on us, and we didn't handle it in areas. But, at the end of the day, we get the job done."
Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates after right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) scored a goal in the first period at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Marchenko gave the Blue Jackets leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first period on his goals, which were his team-leading 15thand 16thof the season.
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The first was scored with a snapshot that beat Kochetkov off a great setup from Monahan 4:48 into the game. The second broke a 1-1 tie with 4:17 left in the period, scored with a long wrister after Kochetkov fell backward into his net trying to stop a play between Voronkov and Monahan at the right post.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (10) speaks to Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) in the third period at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Smith's goal tied it 1-1 earlier in the first to cap a power play that followed a tripping penalty called on Merzlikins, which shifted the game's momentum in Carolina's favor. Marchenko's second goal gave the Blue Jackets a needed boost going into the first intermission, but the Hurricanes also dominated the second period.
Getting goals less than three minutes apart from Roslovic and Kotkaniemi, they surged ahead to lead 3-2 starting the third. Voronkov's 13thgoal of the season tied it 3-3 at 4:58 of the third to cap a power play prompted by Andrei Svechnikov's slashing minor against Zach Aston-Reese — setting up the exciting finish.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets down Carolina Hurricanes by shootout again
