Overview
- Faceoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena, with Carolina 42-18-6 atop the East and Columbus 34-21-11 in the Metro race.
- Brandon Bussi is projected to start for the Hurricanes, with Jet Greaves the expected starter for the Blue Jackets.
- Andrei Svechnikov is a game-time decision for Carolina, while Shayne Gostisbehere is set to miss a fifth straight game with a lower-body injury.
- Columbus has gone 15-2-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason on Jan. 12 and has points in nine straight games.
- Carolina is 14-3-2 in its last 19; Sebastian Aho leads with 68 points, Seth Jarvis tops the team with 28 goals, and Kirill Marchenko hit his 25th of the season and 100th career goal in the Jackets’ latest win as Rod Brind’Amour notes his new 600-game wins mark.