Opinion
3 min read

Can the Carolina Hurricanes Surge Past the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena?

As the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their recent momentum. The Hurricanes have been showing a mix of performances, but there's reason to believe they could dominate in their upcoming game.


Nov 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov (7) is chased by Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Eric Robinson (50) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter with the Vegas Golden Knights on February 18, 2024, the Hurricanes secured a victory with a final score of 3-1. Their performance was solid during even strength play, where they scored two goals and maintained an impressive shooting percentage of 11 percent. The goaltending was also stellar, saving all but one of the 30 shots faced. This level of defensive reliability will be crucial when they go up against Columbus.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for CAR in recent games. A closer look reveals some inconsistencies that could trouble them against CBJ. On February 17 against Arizona Coyotes, while they won with a comfortable margin (5-1), it's worth noting that their faceoff win percentage dropped significantly from previous games to just 75 percent despite dominating in other areas such as hits and blocked shots.


Nov 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes players celebrate their victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The most concerning performance came on February 14 versus Dallas Stars where CAR lost with a scoreline reading unfavorably at 2-4. They allowed an empty-net goal and suffered from a -11 plus-minus rating which indicates potential vulnerabilities in both offense and defense that need addressing before facing CBJ.


The Blue Jackets should not be underestimated either; any lapses in concentration from CAR could be exploited by CBJ’s roster who will have home advantage and fan support behind them.


Nov 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) celebrates his goal with left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

For Carolina Hurricanes fans looking ahead optimistically, there are several key factors suggesting why your team might come out on top: resilience shown after setbacks like the loss to Dallas Stars; ability to bounce back strong as seen against Arizona Coyotes; and maintaining composure under pressure which was evident during their win over Vegas Golden Knights.


With these considerations in mind, it is reasonable for fans to expect another thrilling display from Carolina Hurricanes when they take on Columbus Blue Jackets next month. The scheduled date for this highly anticipated match is March 1st at Nationwide Arena – mark your calendars! Puck drop is set for shortly after midnight Eastern Time due to time zone differences (7 PM local time). Fans can catch every minute of action streamed live nationally on ESPN+ or Hulu platforms – don't miss what promises to be an exciting clash between these two teams!

Rate the article

Related stories

Carolina Hurricanes to Unleash Fury on St. Louis Blues at Lenovo Center
Opinion

Carolina Hurricanes to Unleash Fury on St. Louis Blues at Lenovo Center

4 min read
Hurricanes Set to Storm the Senators in a Thrilling Showdown at Lenovo Center
Opinion

Hurricanes Set to Storm the Senators in a Thrilling Showdown at Lenovo Center

3 min read
Carolina Hurricanes Set to Dominate at Delta Center Against Utah Hockey Club
Opinion

Carolina Hurricanes Set to Dominate at Delta Center Against Utah Hockey Club

3 min read