National Hockey League
Columbus 4, Carolina 3
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Cody Beach, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Dan Kelly, Bryan Pancich
Attendance: 17712

Adam Fantilli scored the shootout winner as the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Fantilli beat Pyotr Kochetkov five-hole in the fourth round of the shootout for Columbus, which improved to 4-1-1 in its past six games.

Kirill Marchenko scored twice, Dmitri Voronkov added a goal and an assist, and Sean Monahan added three helpers for the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzlikins made 32 saves for his third win in his past four starts (3-0-1).

Ty Smith, Jack Roslovic and Jesperi Kotkaniemi tallied for Carolina, which fell to 2-3-1 over its past six. Sebastian Aho had a pair of helpers, and Kochetkov stopped 25 shots.

Carolina outshot Columbus 15-10 in the opening period, but it was the Blue Jackets with a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Marchenko opened the scoring, snapping a Monahan feed past Kochetkov at 4:48 of the first frame. Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk picked up his first career point with the secondary assist.

Carolina tied it 1-1 on a power play. Smith's point shot deflected off Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov and past Merzlikins for his first of the season at 9:59 of the opening period.

Columbus retook the lead at 15:43 as Marchenko beat an out-of-position Kochetkov, whom teammate Brent Burns ran over. Marchenko has six goals and nine assists in his past nine games.

Roslovic tied it 2-2, tapping in a Seth Jarvis pass for his team-leading 17th at 5:47 of the second period.

The Hurricanes took their first lead of the game at 8:18 of the second when Kotkaniemi backhanded a shot glove-side past Merzlikins.

Voronkov tied it 3-3 on a power play as his cross-ice pass went off Jarvis' skate and in at 4:58 of the third.

Carolina defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere missed his second game with an upper-body injury.

Tuesday was the third of four meetings between the teams, with the Hurricanes falling to 1-0-2 in those contests. Columbus visits Carolina on Jan. 23 to conclude the season series.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Carolina   Columbus
Sebastian Aho 2 Points Sean Monahan 3
Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1 Goals Kirill Marchenko 2
Sebastian Aho 2 Assists Sean Monahan 3
Ty Smith 1 Power Play Goals Dmitri Voronkov 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Pyotr Kochetkov .893 Save Percentage Elvis Merzlikins .914
Pyotr Kochetkov 25 Saves Elvis Merzlikins 32
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Carolina 35 3 1-4 2-3 8 30
Columbus 28 4 1-3 3-4 10 43
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game at home against Detroit. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .478 after a loss.
  • Carolina will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .522 after a win and .714 after a loss.