The Blue Jackets vs Hurricanes preview centers on a Metropolitan Division gap that already looks wide one month into the season. Columbus (5-5-0) visits Carolina (10-2-2) on Thursday, Oct. 29 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes sit atop the division with 22 points, while the Blue Jackets are seventh with 10, and the biggest question entering the night is whether Columbus can slow down a Carolina team that has won three of its last five.
Columbus Blue Jackets Vs Carolina Hurricanes Game Information
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 29
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, CBJNHL, CARNHL
- Series: First meeting of the season
How Have Both Teams Been Playing Lately
Carolina enters on a mixed but productive stretch, going 3-2-0 in its last five with wins over Vancouver (6-3), St. Louis (4-0) and Boston (2-1) on Wednesday. The Hurricanes’ two losses in that span came by one goal apiece, including a 6-5 shootout defeat to Edmonton on Oct. 23. Their 10-2-2 record gives them the best points total in the Metropolitan Division through this stretch of the schedule.
Columbus has split its last five, going 3-2-0 with three of those five games decided in overtime. The Blue Jackets beat the New York Rangers 1-0 in overtime, lost 2-1 at Minnesota and were routed 6-2 by Toronto before closing with overtime wins over Vegas (2-1) and Philadelphia (4-3). That pattern of close finishes suggests a team capable of hanging in tight games even while sitting at 5-5-0.
Who Are The Projected Starting Goalies
Jet Greaves is listed as the probable starter for Columbus, while Pyotr Kochetkov is projected to start for Carolina, according to the official data. Both designations remain projections until warmups, per the league’s note on probable starters. Carolina’s defense has allowed 33 goals against through its first 14 games for a 2.36 average, while Columbus has also allowed 33 goals but in two fewer games played, pushing its average to 3.30.
What Is The Carolina Hurricanes Injury Situation
Carolina will again be without left wing Taylor Hall, who is out with an undisclosed injury and carries a projected return date of Nov. 1. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin is out for a reason the team lists as not injury related, with a projected return of Nov. 7. Center Jordan Staal remains on injured reserve with a calf injury and a projected return date of Dec. 3. Columbus has no injuries listed in the official data ahead of Thursday’s game.
Key Matchup: Columbus Defense Against Carolina’s Top Line
The clearest matchup to watch is Columbus’ depleted defensive numbers against Sebastian Aho’s production. Aho leads Carolina in goals (8), assists (11) and points (19), well ahead of Columbus leading scorer Kent Johnson, who has 6 goals and 10 points. Carolina’s offense has produced 53 goals on 471 shots this season for an 11.3 shooting percentage, compared to Columbus scoring 25 goals on 256 shots for a 9.8 percentage. The Blue Jackets also own a notable faceoff edge at 54.8% to Carolina’s 50.2%, which could help limit offensive-zone time for Aho’s line if Columbus wins key draws in its own end.
Special teams could factor in as well. Carolina has converted 12 power-play goals already with two short-handed goals of its own, while Columbus has just three power-play goals and none short-handed, a gap that points to Carolina having more ways to score in different game states.
By The Numbers
- Points: Carolina 144, Columbus 71
- Goals: Carolina 53, Columbus 25
- Shots on goal: Carolina 471, Columbus 256
- Shooting percentage: Carolina 11.3%, Columbus 9.8%
- Power-play goals: Carolina 12, Columbus 3
- Short-handed goals: Carolina 2, Columbus 0
- Goals against average: Carolina 2.36, Columbus 3.30
- Save percentage: Carolina .892, Columbus .888
- Faceoff percentage: Columbus 54.8%, Carolina 50.2%
- Penalty minutes: Carolina 130, Columbus 98
What To Watch
Carolina’s division lead gives it a four-point cushion over second-place New Jersey in the Metropolitan standings, and a win Thursday would extend that margin early in the season. For Columbus, currently seventh in the division at 10 points, the game offers a chance to pick up ground against the conference’s top team after the Blue Jackets’ recent run of overtime finishes. Kent Johnson’s recent play is worth tracking after he scored the winning goal in Columbus’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Flyers on Oct. 27, continuing a stretch that also included the overtime winner in a 1-0 win over the Rangers. This marks the first meeting between the two teams this season, with the full season series still to be determined.
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