The Columbus Blue Jackets wrapped up a tough three-game road swing with a 4–1 loss in Carolina, finishing the trip 0-2-1 and managing just one goal over their final two outings. When the scoring dries up, wins are almost impossible to find, and Columbus is feeling that reality right now. They head back home sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, even with a record still above .500 — a reminder of how brutal and unforgiving this division is. Every mistake gets punished, every missed chance matters, and the margin for error is razor thin for a team still searching for offense and consistency
FULL GAME SUMMARY — HURRICANES 4, BLUE JACKETS 1
The Columbus Blue Jackets ended a difficult three-game road trip without a win, falling 4–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night at Lenovo Center. Columbus went 0-2-1 on the trip and produced just one goal over its final two games, while being held without a 5-on-5 goal for the second straight night.
The Blue Jackets managed the opening strike, converting on their first power play when Dmitri Voronkov redirected his 11th of the season at 12:39 of the first period, a clean tip off a point feed from Sean Monahan with Kirill Marchenko drawing the secondary assist. Outside of that moment, however, Columbus struggled to create sustained offense. Carolina won battles along the walls, closed off the neutral zone, and controlled the shot clock 9–6 after 20 minutes.
The Hurricanes took over in the second period. They outshot Columbus 13–8, hemmed the Jackets in their own zone for long shifts, and eventually broke through when Seth Jarvis snapped home his 17th of the year at 9:42, finishing a setup from Andrei Svechnikov. The goal tied the game 1–1 and shifted momentum heavily toward Carolina, as Columbus failed to register any meaningful pressure at even strength.
The breakdown continued into the third period, where Carolina fully separated. At 7:53, Eric Robinson stepped into a loose puck in the slot and fired his 6th of the season, giving the Hurricanes their first lead. The play developed after extended zone time by Carolina, and Columbus never recovered after falling behind.
A costly penalty by the Blue Jackets allowed the Hurricanes to add to their lead. On the ensuing power play, Jordan Staal redirected a Gostisbehere point shot for his 9th goal of the season at 13:38, a perfect tip-in that made it 3–1 and effectively put the game out of reach. Columbus had no answer at 5-on-5 and continued to generate only low-danger attempts.
With the Jackets pressing late and pulling their goaltender during a power play, the Hurricanes capitalized again. Jordan Martinook hit the empty net shorthanded at 18:45, scoring his 4th of the year and sealing four unanswered goals for Carolina.
Goaltender Brandon Bussi made 23 saves for his seventh straight victory, rarely tested by a Columbus offense that lacked cohesion. Carolina finished with a 31–24 shot advantage and controlled the majority of puck possession, zone time, and scoring chances.
For Columbus, the loss underscores a significant offensive problem. The Blue Jackets have now scored just once in their last two games — both on the power play — and continue to struggle generating any production at even strength. Combined with a winless road trip and their position at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, the Jackets return home needing answers quickly in the hardest division in the NHL.
Game Stats
| Category | Blue Jackets | Hurricanes |
| Goals | 1 | 4 |
| Shots on Goal | 24 | 31 |
| Faceoff % | 41.1% (23/56) | 58.9% (33/56) |
| Power Play | 1/2 (50%) | 1/4 (25%) |
| Penalty Minutes | 8 | 6 |
| Hits | 14 | 19 |
| Blocked Shots | 18 | 16 |
| Giveaways | 11 | 11 |
| Takeaways | 6 | 8 |
3 Stars of the Game
1st Star — Jordan Staal (CAR)
1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point
2nd Star — Brandon Bussi (CAR)
23 saves, .958 SV%, 7th straight win
3rd Star — Seth Jarvis (CAR)
1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point
My Takeaway
This game showed exactly where the Blue Jackets are struggling right now. They can work, they can skate, but they can’t finish at 5-on-5, and that’s killing them. One power-play goal isn’t enough against a structured team like Carolina. Columbus generated almost nothing inside, got pushed to the outside all night, and once the Hurricanes tied it, the Jackets didn’t have a pushback. Four unanswered goals tells the story. The road trip ends 0-2-1, only one goal in the last two games, and the offense simply isn’t there.
Next Up
The Blue Jackets finally return home for a four-game homestand, a much-needed reset after a tough stretch on the road. This is the moment to regroup, rebuild confidence, and find some scoring before the standings gap grows even more.
Next Game: Thursday, Dec. 11 — at Columbus vs. Ottawa Senators, 7:00 PM.
In their last 10 games, the Blue Jackets are 3-3-4, while the Senators are 4-6-0 and come in on a three-game losing streak.
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Tagged: Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, nhl