Blue Jackets routed by Carolina Hurricanes in preseason flop
The sixth game of the Blue Jackets’ preseason slate was ugly.
Despite taking a brief 1-0 lead on a goal by Yegor Chinakhov, Columbus allowed eight unanswered goals by the Carolina Hurricanes in an 8-1 rout at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
Martin Necas led the way for Carolina (4-0-0) with two goals, two assists and four points, while six other Hurricanes finished with multiple-point outings — including Derek Stepan (two goals, one assist) and defenseman Brent Burns (goal, two assists).
Stefan Noesen, Brady Skjei and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each had a goal and assist for the Hurricanes, who played Antti Raanta (25 saves) in net.
Here are some takeaways:
Blue Jackets swarmed by Carolina Hurricanes again
It was only a preseason game and the Blue Jackets (3-2-1) didn’t take their top stars, but coach Brad Larsen can’t be pleased with how the game unraveled after Chinakhov’s goal.
The Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals by Kotkaniemi, Noesen and Stepan to take a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes and the shot count — which favored Carolina 18-7 — was just as ugly. It got worse in the second, when the Hurricanes used four power plays to build a 38-12 shot advantage and pushed their lead to 6-1 on goals by Burns, Necas and Skjei.
“There’s not much to take out of this one," Larsen said. "The guys got an opportunity to go out and compete … and we got a dose of medicine tonight on work ethic.”
Looking at each roster, the Hurricanes had an advantage in NHL talent — including their top two defensive pairs in the game — but getting blown out is not a good look for the Blue Jackets. A roster cut removed 20 players from training camp Monday, but 37 players remain with Columbus and at least 14 more will be subtracted to forge a 23-man roster for the season-opener Oct. 12 in Raleigh.
Larsen runs a taxing camp with long practices that burn leg muscles, but this was the second straight game the Blue Jackets were outskated by a Metropolitan Division rival. That shouldn't happen to the extent it did. Adding Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Jakub Voracek, Zach Werenski and others in the season-opener will help bridge the gap, but the Hurricanes' top forwards also sat out.
"Every game’s an opportunity," Larsen said. "We know they’re a hard-pressing team. If you’re not ready and get going, you’re going to be chasing the game all night. That’s what happened. It’s a good indicator of where maybe some guys are at right now.”
Blue Jackets goalies Tarasov, Greaves deluged by Carolina Hurricanes
Daniil Tarasov might never want to face the Hurricanes again.
Each time the Blue Jackets’ goalie has faced Carolina, his net has been swarmed by Hurricanes players and tons of shots. In fact, that’s how Tarasov sustained a season-ending labrum tear in one of his hips during a 7-4 Hurricanes win last season on New Year’s Day.
He allowed two goals on 33 shots in the first two periods of that game, helping the Blue Jackets cling to a 4-2 lead after they’d scored the game’s first four goals. This time, Tarasov allowed three goals on 21 shots and left at 6:18 of the second.
Larsen said the Blue Jackets' coaching staff was being "overly cautious" by pulling Tarasov earlier than planned. Rookie Jet Greaves finished the game, allowing five goals on 24 shots.
Another game, another goal for Yegor Chinakhov
Speaking of Chinakhov, he might be lining up for a breakout season.
The 21-year old forward put the Blue Jackets up 1-0 just 5:54 into the game for his fourth goal in four preseason games. This one was the result of a smart decision and Chinakhov’s shooting acumen, putting a hard wrister through Raanta's pads after gathering the puck in the right circle off a faceoff.
Chinakhov scored seven goals in 62 games as a rookie, but struggled converting scoring chances against NHL goalies. Thus far, his four preseason goals were against NHL netminders — including the St. Louis Blues' Thomas Griess and Raanta, who’s playing his 10th season.
Making a bid for the playoffs will be more attainable for the Blue Jackets if Chinakhov carries his success into the regular season.
Blue Jackets pay for Erik Gudbranson roughing penalties
Erik Gudbranson is a veteran defenseman with a heavy shot plus a lot of size, muscle and toughness.
That toughness is one of the main reasons he was offered a four-year, $16 million contract by the Blue Jackets, who sorely lacked those qualities and needed better protection for skill players who absorbed too much abuse from more physical opponents. Gudbranson hasn’t had a fight yet, but sensed an opportunity to flex his muscle after Carolina’s Stelios Matteos boarded Carson Meyer at 6:18 of the second.
Skating half the length of the ice, Gudbranson confronted Matteos physically. Matteos was penalized for boarding and Gudbranson picked up roughing double-minor that gave the Hurricanes a power play. Burns made it 4-1 just 22 seconds later with the first of three Carolina goals in the period.
Larsen said he didn't have an issue with Gudbranson's decision to react, even though it led to a costly power-play goal for the Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns impressive
Brent Burns is going into his 19th season, but his offensive prowess might get a boost with the Hurricanes.
They've paired the hulking veteran with Jaccob Slavin, one of the best all-around defensemen in the league, anbd that could free up Burns to play freely in the offensive zone — almost like a fourth forward. Burns is also a threat on the top power play unit, which he showed on his goal to make it 4-1 in the second.
It was Burns’ third goal of the preseason, which is a pace reminiscent of his three career-best efforts with 20-plus goals for the San Jose Sharks — including a career-high 29 in 2016-17. Barring injury, Burns is going to be a handful for Eastern Conference teams to defend.
Sillinger brothers unite as Blue Jackets
This was the first time brothers Cole Sillinger, 19, and Owen Sillinger, 25, have officially been teammates.
The six years that separate them prevented the two from playing on the same team until this preseason, when the Jackets' two “Sillys” arrived for training camp.
Cole, the 12th overall pick in 2021, was a rookie last season as the NHL’s youngest player. Owen, meanwhile, finished his collegiate career at Bemidji State before signing a deal with the Cleveland Monsters — the Blue Jackets’ affiliate in the American Hockey League.
The game was the first of the preseason for the younger Sillinger, who returned from an upper-body injury that happened during the first practice of camp. His older brother nearly scored near the mid-point of the third, but was stopped by Raanta on a breakaway.
Former Blue Jacket, Dzingel, sets up two goals for Carolina Hurricanes
Ryan Dzingel played at Ohio State in college and joined the Blue Jackets for a brief stint in 2019 after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators.
He wasn’t a great fit in Columbus, wasn’t offered a contract extension and signed with the Hurricanes as an unrestricted free agent that offseason. He has since played for the Senators, Arizona Coyotes and San Jose Sharks while dealing with injury issues and inconsistency.
Dzingel is now back with the Hurricanes on a professional tryout offer and had a big night Monday, notching primary assists on both Necas goals. Last season, while playing for the Coyotes, Dzingel got into a fight with Cole Sillinger and threw a punch at the rookie’s head while pinning him to the ice — a move that didn’t sit well with the Blue Jackets. He also fought Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly prior to the scrap with Sillinger.
Should Dzingel earn a roster spot with the Hurricanes, there could be another rematch or two this season.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sloppy Blue Jackets blown out by Carolina Hurricanes
