The Carolina Hurricanes face their Metropolitan Division opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets, for the first time this season Thursday in Lenovo Center. It marks just five more games until the Hurricanes make the journey over the sea to Helsinki Finland for the Global Series against the Seattle Kraken.

The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT.

Carolina’s last game, against the Boston Bruins, certainly wasn’t a high-scoring game, but it did come with some great action. Pyotr Kochetkov minded the net great, Jesperi Kotkaniemi didn’t score – but saved a goal, Nicolas Deslauriers got into a heavyweight tilt, and the Hurricanes came out with the win. You can read all about it here!

As for Columbus, they are currently riding a two-game winning streak after taking the win in their two latest games in overtime – but their season hasn’t been the greatest. As of the time of writing, they sit second to the basement of the Metro Division, ahead of only the Philadelphia Flyers, who ironically was their last opponent.

In the Crease

Seeing as Pyotr Kochetkov had the start Tuesday against the Bruins, it is most likely that Brandon Bussi will get it Thursday against the Blue Jackets.

This season, Bussi’s goals against average is 3.27, with a save percentage of .865.

As for the Blue Jackets, 39-year-old veteran goaltender Cam Talbot has been their man since Jet Greaves’ was pulled from their October 20th game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which saw him allow five goals on 19 shots in 32:02. The assumption is that they will roll again with Talbot, though you never really know.

This season, Talbot’s goals against average is 2.83, with a save percentage of .894.

Projected Carolina Hurricanes Lines

William Carrier – Sebastian Aho – Andrei Svechnikov

Nikolaj Ehlers – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Jordan Martinook – Mark Jankowski – Seth Jarvis

Eric Robinson – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Nicolas Deslauriers

Defense

Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Juuso Valimaki

Goaltenders

Brandon Bussi / Pyotr Kochetkov

Projected Columbus Blue Jackets Lines

Valeri Nichushkin – Adam Fantilli – Kent Johnson

Matthew Knies – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier

Sean Monahan – Cole Sillinger – Conor Garland

Dmitri Voronkov – Luca Del Bel Belluz – Ryan Lomberg

Defense

Zach Werenski – Damon Severson

Jake Christiansen – Denton Mateychuk

Dante Fabbro – Erik Gudbranson

Goaltenders

Cam Talbot / Jet Greaves

Special Teams

Carolina Hurricanes power play: 23.5% (10th, down two spots from previous game) Carolina Hurricanes penalty kill: 83.3% (11th, down two spots from previous game)

Columbus Blue Jackets power play: 11.1% (30th) Columbus Blue Jackets penalty kill: 72.7% (24th)

Hurricanes Game Notes

Prior to Tuesday morning’s practice, it was anticipated that Mark Jankowski would skate with the team – but his return to play was uncertain. Interestingly, he played against the Bruins. However, while Taylor Hall was activated from injured reserve and expected to play, he left practice early and has since been listed as day-to-day.

With his eighth win in row to start the season, Pyotr Kochetkov has tied Frederik Andersen for the longest season-opening winning streak in franchise history. Furthermore, Kochetkov and Andersen are the only two active goalies in the NHL to have accomplished the feat.