The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-1, on Thursday night to clinch a playoff spot for the eighth straight season.
Logan Stankoven netted two early first period goals and the Hurricanes rolled from there, holding the Blue Jackets to just 11 shots in the game.
It took little time for the Canes to strike first, with Stankoven deflecting a K’Andre Miller wrist shot from the point less than three minutes in.
Stankoven added his second of the game off a rebound from a Taylor Hall
shot a little less than halfway into the first, giving Carolina a 2-0 lead. It marks Stankoven’s first multi-goal game this season and the fourth of his career.
The first period rout continued when Alexander Nikishin added a short handed goal on an odd-man rush three minutes later.
Indicative of the scoreboard, the Canes dominated the first period, outshooting Columbus 9-2 and controlling the pace of play.
Columbus came out firing to start the second period, but the Canes were able to escape without letting in a goal.
After settling in, Carolina reverted back to controlling the pace of play, putting pressure on the Blue Jackets with a couple of chances in the offensive zone.
The Blue Jackets were able to get on the board courtesy of Denton Mateychuk, who tapped in a rebound at the 11:24 mark of the second to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Less than 15 seconds later, the Canes responded, with Jordan Martinook finding the back of the net on a shot from the point to reclaim a three goal advantage.
Andrei Svechnikov gave the Canes a 5-1 lead on a power play goal a little under seven minutes into the third period. Svechnikov has now scored a goal in three consecutive games while Carolina’s power play continues to produce at a high level.
That was all Carolina needed, as they kept Columbus off the board for the rest of the game.
The Canes will take on the New York Islanders next on Saturday at 7 PM in the Lenovo Center.
