With the number of games left in single digits for both Carolina and Columbus, these two matchups this week will be big ones. The Hurricanes weren’t able to figure out Montreal the third time around, losing 3-1 on home ice on Sunday evening, allowing the Canadiens to sweep the season series. Andrei Svechnikov scored the Canes’ lone goal, doing so on the power play.

For the third time this season, Brandon Bussi and Jet Greaves went head-to-head between the pipes. Each netminder has picked up a victory in the season series on home ice, so Bussi will look to buck the trend after a solid start against the Devils on Saturday. Greaves has been outstanding in March, going 6-2-2 over his ten starts this month.

If you needed a better example of just how hot Carolina’s power play has been, look no further than the first period. Late in the frame, they got two chances, and they cashed in twice. First, Shayne Gostisbehere hammered one home after Greaves was a step behind the play. Then, Logan Stankoven scored from the slot after Mark Jankowski picked off a pass. After 20, the Canes appeared in control.

The only goal of the second came late in the frame from Kirill Marchenko. Initially, the referees didn’t think the puck was in the net, but a review confirmed that Bussi couldn’t keep it out from his backside. The Blue Jackets kept swarming after the goal, doing everything they could to try to tie the game. Bussi was having none of it, allowing his team to skate into the second break up 2-1.

Columbus kept pushing, tying it early in the third on an Adam Fantilli one-timer. However, Nikolaj Ehlers took over late. His wrister from the point eluded Greaves’ glove to put the Canes back in front. After a failed Columbus challenge, he made an all-world pass to Andrei Svechnikov to restore the two-goal lead. Jordan Martinook put it away for good with the empty-netter to secure a 5-2 win.

Ehlers was the best free agent signing of the summer

I said it during the game, but I’ll say it again. I love that Nikolaj Ehlers is a Carolina Hurricane. He has been simply phenomenal after a slow start, and he put the team on his back in the third. As much talk as there was about Ehlers not getting big minutes in Winnipeg, the best fit for him has been on the line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, but his work on the power play has been great, too.

His go-ahead goal was just as much about the work of his linemates in front of the net, with Martinook providing a little contact that Toronto didn’t deem enough to rule goalie interference. Both of his assists came on the power play, with his second helper to Andrei Svechnikov being particularly gorgeous. His 40 assists are a career-high, while his 64 points are tied for the best of his career.

Bussi might be finding his groove again

Tonight marked the second time that Brandon Bussi won what I am calling the “Transportation Battle” between him and Jet Greaves. Both goalies were good, but Bussi was a touch better. Both goals against were tough, though it was his responses that stood out the most. In particular, his point-blank stop on Sean Monahan after Columbus got on the board was massive.

Bussi has won three straight starts after a rough patch after the Olympics. His last two contests have been particularly impressive. The win over New Jersey felt like a good return to form. Tonight, Bussi added the exceptional high-danger stops we had grown accustomed to. The Canes will likely go back to Frederik Andersen on Thursday, leaving Bussi available for Saturday against the Islanders.

Additional Thoughts

The power play was lethal once again for the Hurricanes, scoring three times. Most importantly, it was both units finding the scoresheet. Shayne Gostisbehere and Logan Stankoven joined Svechnikov in finding the back of the net. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each earned assists, giving Aho 50 for the season. Mark Jankowski picked up the lone assist on Stankoven’s goal.

With the win, the Hurricanes joined the Buffalo Sabres as the only 100-point teams in the Eastern Conference, with the Sabres reaching it earlier in the night. They own a game in hand over the Sabres, which becomes important with the Canes trailing both Buffalo and Tampa Bay in regulation wins, which is the first tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same number of points.

Up Next: The Hurricanes and the Blue Jackets will head to Raleigh to complete their season series on Thursday. The Blue Jackets will look for revenge after tonight’s clash in Ohio. They’ll continue into the weekend for another back-to-back. The Canes host the Islanders on Saturday night before a final trip to Canada’s capital on Sunday night.