UNDATED (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets grabbed a 4-0 lead against the Carolina Hurricanes on New Year’s Day, only to absorb a 7-4 loss. There was none of that on Thursday.
Yegor Chinakhov scored twice and Elvis Merzlikins turned back 31 shots as the Jackets blasted the Canes, 6-0. Amil Bemstrom and Jack Roslovic each added a goal and an assist for Columbus, which put the game away with a four-goal third period.
Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen gave up four goals on 32 shots, taking a seat on the bench after Patrik Laine and Chinakhov scored in a 32-second span early in the final period.
The Hurricanes’ first shutout loss of the season drops them out of a first-place tie with the Rangers in the Metropolitan Division.
Igor Shesterkin returned from COVID-19 protocol and stopped 37 shots to lead the Rangers’ 3-0 shutout of the Sharks. Chris Kreider got his first career short-handed goal and an empty-netter to reach 200 goals as the Rangers blanked San Jose for the second straight meeting.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Tuukka Rask made his return to the Boston nets and David Pastrnak provided the Bruins’ second hat trick in two nights, leading a 3-2 victory against the Flyers. Rask made his season debut after recovering from surgery last summer to repair a torn labrum, finishing with 27 saves in the Bruins’ seventh win in eight games.
— Steven Stamkos scored his team-leading 18th goal and Anthony Cirelli put the Lightning ahead to stay in a 4-2 downing of the Canucks. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 24 saves for Tampa Bay, including a stop on Elias Petterson’s breakaway in the third period.
— Third-period goals by Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich pushed the Blues past the Kraken, 2-1. Ville Husso made 31 saves as the Blues extended their home points streak to 13 games.
— Mikey Anderson, Viktor Arvidsson and Anze Kopitar scored in a span of 1:23 of the third period to secure the Kings’ third straight win, 6-2 over the Penguins. Dustin Brown had a goal and an assist to reach 700 career points, and Sean Durzi had a goal and two assists to help Los Angeles finish 5-2 on its seven-game homestand.
— The Predators had won five straight before Jeff Skinner scored twice and Aaron Dell handled 29 shots in the Sabres’ 4-1 victory at Nashville. Mark Jankowski and Vinnie Hinostroza also scored for Buffalo, who snapped a six-game skid.
— Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves for his second shutout of the season, sending the Jets to a 3-0 win at Detroit. Andrew Copp scored twice and Kyle Connor added an empty-netter in Winnipeg’s first game since a 7-1 loss in Colorado a week ago.
— Philipp Kurashev scored 2:24 into overtime to send the Blackhawks to their third straight win, 3-2 against the Canadiens. Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots as Chicago handed Montreal its fifth loss in a row.
— The Islanders pulled out a 3-2 win over the Devils on Mat Barzal’s tiebreaking goal with 4:53 remaining. Josh Bailey and Adam Pelech scored and Zach Parise added two assists for the Islanders, who ran their point streak to five games and played for the first time since New Year’s Day.
— The Senators also were in action for the first time since New Year’s Day, getting two goals from Nick Paul in a 4-1 verdict over the Flames. Matt Murray made 27 saves for his first victory of the season.
