Never trust a game with a number that matches a brainrot meme…
In the Carolina Hurricanes’ 67th game of the season, they were handed a hard loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who defeated them 5-1 for part one of the Hurricanes’ back-to-back Metropolitan Division set. Nicolas Deslauriers dropped the gloves with Mathieu Olivier, Seth Jarvis was a blood-thirsty menace who couldn’t stay out of the box, Jaccob Slavin ate a puck, and I’m still confused on the decision to allow a goal that was clear goalie interference…just wait until you hear what the referees told Rod Brind’Amour about it.
The Hurricanes came out of the gates strong on Tuesday evening, but after Jarvis took a double minor for high-sticking Zach Werenski before even five minutes had been played, the momentum swung quickly into the Blue Jackets’ direction. The wildest part, that wasn’t even the only double minor for a stick infraction Jarvis took, as he later did the same thing to Conor Garland in the third period, though…a bit worse. Garland left the ice crimson and went down the tunnel.
He has already accumulated 13 penalty minutes since ending his ‘good guy streak’ in the previous game.
Seth Jarvis has gone 41 consecutive games without taking a penalty.
The only other active players with streaks above 30 games and 15 minutes a night:
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Mark Scheifele
Teuvo Teravainen
— The Canes Stats Brand™ (@CanesStats) March 14, 2026
By the time the second period began, the Blue Jackets were already up by two goals, and the Hurricanes had nothing going for them. And so, in classic enforcer fashion, Deslauriers got down to business in his Hurricanes debut as he dropped the gloves with the Blue Jackets’ renowned bruiser. As always, after the fight, he was sure to give a helmet tap to Olivier – his signature show of respect.
He did his job well, giving Carolina enough spark for Andrei Svechnikov to score and halve Columbus’s lead. However, that was all the Hurricanes could manage in the scoring department.
Just Referees Doing Referee Things
With just over two and a half minutes left in the second frame, one of the most confusing incidents in the recent stretch of games occurred. Brandon Bussi was behind the net with the intention to clear the puck when Danton Heinen came in with speed, pushing his right skate behind the unsuspecting goaltender’s left skate, tripping him. Alexander Nikishin managed to block Charlie Coyle’s shot at the empty net, but Heinen came around and fired the loose puck in while Bussi attempted to jump in front and stop it from beside the crease.
That is…an interesting goal. Brandon Bussi came out to play the puck and was tripped by Danton Heinen.
Alexander Nikishin made the initial block, but Heinen picked up the loose change.
I don’t know how this goal was allowed.#CarolinaCulture #CBJ #NHL pic.twitter.com/CryXf4FaZv
— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) March 18, 2026
It was one of the most obvious instances of goaltender interference – a penalty at worst, and a goal removal at best.
Rod Brind’Amour was unhappy when the call was not made, and made things known to the referees. Later, he spoke with FanDuel Sports Network’s rinkside reporter, Hanna Yates, about the incident, in which she reported that he had been told by the referees that Bussi dived.
I’m honestly not sure how they came to that conclusion, considering the speed and movement of Heinen and the reaction from Bussi. Additionally, goalies are much easier to fall after contact is made with the skate due to the boot, which is far shorter than the standard skaters’ boot (which comes up well past the ankle), thus providing significantly less support.
Alas, the goal stood, and play continued.
In the third frame, Slavin got caught defending a two-on-one situation, in went down on the ice to block a shot. Sadly, that block was courtesy of his face. Bloodied, he left for the bench to get assistance and was able to remain in the game.
The Hurricanes will turn around and face the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will have Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup, Wednesday night at Lenovo Center.
Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on Sportsnaut. Painting stories with … More about Rachel Barkley