COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an exciting matchup on Tuesday night, Adam Fantilli netted the decisive goal in the fourth round of a shootout, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
After Fantilli successfully maneuvered past goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets’ netminder, came up big by stopping a shot from Sebastian Aho, securing the win and enhancing Columbus’s home record to 12-4-3 this season.
In the shootout, Kent Johnson also found the back of the net for Columbus while Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov managed to score once. Merzlikins played a crucial role in the shootout, thwarting additional attempts from Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis.
The Blue Jackets tied the game at three in the third period on a power play, when Dmitri Voronkov’s shot ricocheted off Jarvis and in. Kirill Marchenko shined in the first period with two goals, while Merzlikins contributed significantly with 32 saves for the victory. Sean Monahan provided three assists in the game.
The Hurricanes saw scoring contributions from Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Ty Smith, and Jack Roslovic. Kochetkov ended the night with 25 saves.
In terms of key takeaways, the Hurricanes came into the game as the NHL leaders in shots per game, showcasing their ability to control the rhythm of the game, especially through the first two periods. However, they faltered to regain momentum after Voronkov’s equalizer in the third.
On the other hand, the Blue Jackets faced challenges entering the offensive zone for a significant portion of the match but managed to execute effectively in the shootout, achieving three wins in their last four games.
A pivotal moment occurred during the shootout when Johnson slipped a shot between Kochetkov’s pads, responding to Svechnikov’s earlier goal.
In a remarkable stat, Marchenko established a new franchise record for the most points during the month of December, racking up 19 points (seven goals and 12 assists) across 16 games. This eclipses the previous record of 18 points set by Artemi Panarin, who achieved that in 2017 while playing for the Blue Jackets.
Looking ahead, both teams will be back on the ice Thursday, with the Hurricanes facing off against the Florida Panthers, while the Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings.
