National Hockey League
Columbus 3, Carolina 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 16, 2020
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Referees: Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Andrew Smith, James Tobias
Attendance: 17900

Nick Foligno made up for a blunder moments earlier by scoring the game-winning goal with 1:41 remaining as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Thursday night.

Foligno's unassisted tally allowed the Blue Jackets to win for the fifth time in their last six games.

Emil Bemstrom and Cam Atkinson, who returned from a 12-game absence, also scored for the Blue Jackets.

Even though Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins' shutout streak ended at two games, he racked up 32 saves.

Martin Necas and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost two games in a row.

Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek stopped 15 shots in the loss.

Thirty-eight seconds after Staal's tying goal at 7:05 of the third period, the Blue Jackets thought they had regained the lead on a Zach Werenski delivery. However, Carolina initiated a challenge, and a video review determined that Foligno was offside, negating a goal.

The Hurricanes lost All-Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton in the second period to a lower-body injury.

The Blue Jackets welcomed Atkinson, a right winger, back to the lineup, and he provided an assist on the game's first goal before delivering a third-period goal. Atkinson missed time due to a sprained ankle.

Atkinson's 10th goal of the season gave Columbus a short-lived 2-1 advantage at 4:51 in the third period.

Bemstrom scored just 67 seconds into the game. It was Bemstrom's second goal in the past three games. The center played for just the sixth time since missing nearly a month with an injury.

Necas' goal came at 8:38 of the second period. That ended a stretch of more than 166 minutes without a goal allowed by Merzlikins.

The Hurricanes won't play another road game until February.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Carolina   Columbus
Martin Necas 1 Points Cam Atkinson 2
Martin Necas 1 Goals Cam Atkinson 1
Jake Gardiner 1 Assists Cam Atkinson 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Petr Mrazek .833 Save Percentage Elvis Merzlikins .941
Petr Mrazek 15 Saves Elvis Merzlikins 32
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Carolina 34 2 0-1 2-2 4 27
Columbus 18 3 0-2 1-1 2 25
Upcoming Games
  • Columbus will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .522 after a win and .480 after a loss.
  • Carolina will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .630 after a win and .500 after a loss.