Hurricanes rolling, Blue Jackets reeling: Metropolitan Division roundup

It was a busy night in the Metropolitan Division: Carolina tightened its grip on top spot with a sixth straight win, Columbus was run out of its own building, and Philadelphia still couldn’t buy a victory.

Hurricanes stay hot but lose Taylor Hall vs. Capitals

The Carolina Hurricanes remain first in the division with 13 points in eight games (6-1-1) after a 4–2 win over the Washington Capitals. Sportsnet reports that Andrei Svechnikov led the offence with two goals and three points, with Sebastian Aho adding a pair of assists, while Eric Robinson and Mark Jankowski also scored in the victory. According to The Hockey Writers, the result extends Carolina’s winning streak to six games. The downside: per Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet, Taylor Hall left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury after posting five points in his first seven outings. We had already reported that Jordan Staal will miss one to two months with a torn calf muscle.

On the other side, the Capitals remain at 6 points (3-3-0). La Presse and Eyes on the Prize are already looking ahead to Washington’s matchup with the Canadiens, with Alexander Ovechkin’s complex legacy front and centre in the nation’s capital.

Blue Jackets hammered, Devils and Rangers grab key wins

In Columbus, the Blue Jackets suffered a nightmare 7–3 loss to the Florida Panthers. La Presse notes that Brady Tkachuk recorded a natural hat trick while his brother Matthew piled up five assists in the rout. Sportsnet likewise highlights how the Tkachuk brothers drove the blowout and details Brady’s three straight goals. According to Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet, head coach Rick Bowness said players should be embarrassed by the effort, and Mathieu Olivier was given a game misconduct for slashing an opponent. Columbus drops to seventh in the Metro with just 4 points in five games (2-3-0).

The New Jersey Devils pulled out a 5–4 overtime win in Detroit. Sportsnet reports that Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists, while Evan Rodrigues and Anthony Mantha each had two points, before Jack Hughes capped a three-point night with the overtime winner. New Jersey sits in the crowded middle of the pack with 6 points (3-3-0).

In Manhattan, the New York Rangers (second with 12 points, 6-2-0) kept rolling in a 4–1 win over the Lightning. Sportsnet notes that Alexis Lafrenière scored twice and Dylan Garand made 25 saves in the decisive home victory.

Flyers still winless, Islanders rise, Penguins stumble

The Philadelphia Flyers earned a single point but lost 3–2 in a shootout to the Kraken. Sportsnet points out that Bobby McMann scored the shootout winner and Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves. Philadelphia remains last in the division with 3 points in eight games (0-5-3) and is still searching for its first win.

Across the river, the New York Islanders climbed to fourth (6 points in six games, 3-3-0) with a 3–2 win over the Canucks. Sportsnet reports that Kyle Palmieri scored twice, including the game-winner, and Matthew Schaefer collected two assists, while Eyes on the Prize notes that Matias Maccelli scored his first goal as an Islander off a Zeev Buium turnover.

The Pittsburgh Penguins, third with 7 points (3-3-1), dropped a 5–3 decision in Chicago in what Sportsnet calls Connor Bedard’s season debut. Teuvo Teräväinen and Roman Kantserov each scored twice for the Blackhawks, and Sidney Crosby wired home his first goal of the season on a rush. Finally, on the Canadiens front, Eyes on the Prize reiterates that Mike Matheson will miss tonight’s game in Buffalo, an injury already noted on our site.