Hurricanes at Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are major players in the Eastern Conference wild-card race thanks to an 11-2-2 surge and rookie goaltender Elvis Merzlikins as they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Merzlikins, pressed into action when No. 1 Joonas Korpisalo sustained a torn meniscus, has recorded two straight shutouts after a 3-0 victory over Boston on Tuesday improved the 25-year-old Latvian to 6-2-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average and .950 save percentage since taking over.
"Tonight the team worked really hard," Merzlikins told reporters after Tuesday's game. "I think the team did a bigger part than me tonight. It's a team shutout. They did a big job blocking the shots, so thank you to them." The Blue Jackets on Thursday will get a lift as Cam Atkinson has been activated off injured reserve and will play after missing 12 games because of an ankle injury. Carolina had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 2-0 loss at Washington on Monday but is clinging to the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference - two points ahead of Columbus. “We never got going,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told the media. “I don’t know that we had a forward who really had a good game. I was waiting for something to get going and we just never got any traction.”
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Carolinas, FS Ohio
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (27-17-2): Justin Williams participated in Monday's morning skate but did not play as he nears a return after signing as a free agent Jan. 7. "Him pushing everybody, his work ethic, is incredible,” teammate Brock McGinn told reporters. “He brings so many little things that you don’t see or people take note of that can really push a team and make us better. I think everybody is excited to have him back.” Sebastian Aho leads the team with 23 goals but is mired in a season-high six-game scoreless streak.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (23-16-8): Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Zach Werenski share the team lead with 15 goals apiece while Dubois' 34 points top the club. Alexander Wennberg has scored in two straight games, giving him four goals this season, while Riley Nash also has four after tallying against Boston. Atkinson, who is second to Rick Nash in franchise history in games, goals and points, had nine goals and 21 points in 35 games before his injury.
OVERTIME
1. Columbus won the first two meetings this season - 4-3 in overtime Oct. 24 on Atkinson's goal and 3-2 on Oct. 12.
2. Carolina's power play is 0-for-13 in its last five games while the penalty-killing unit is 14-for-15.
3. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, whose 645 victories are 15th all-time, is one shy of 200 with Columbus.