Rasmus Kupari News

The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout on New Year's Eve at Nationwide Arena, witnessed by 17,712 fans. Kirill Marchenko led the charge for Columbus, scoring his 15th and 16th goals of the season in the first period at 4:48 and 15:43, respectively, to give the Blue Jackets an early lead. Despite falling behind in the second period after goals by Jack Roslovic at 5:47 and Jesperi Kotkaniemi at 8:18, the Blue Jackets rallied back, with Dmitri Voronkov tying the game in the third period. The game went to overtime, and after no goals were scored, it proceeded to a shootout. Adam Fantilli scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout, while Elvis Merzlikins made crucial saves, including stopping Sebastian Aho, to clinch the win. The victory brings the Blue Jackets within two points of the Ottawa Senators, who hold the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Kent Johnson also scored in the shootout, and the Blue Jackets faced 10 icings in the first two periods.