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Hurricanes score 3 unanswered goals to down Blue Jackets at home

*Photo from Canes Country*
   See the lead? Not anymore you don't. Seth Jarvis had two assists, Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist, and the Carolina Hurricanes rallied to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh.

   Following a rough 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Hurricanes bounced back against a Metropolitan Division rival to win their 6th game in the last 10, sitting at 12-8-0 to open the season. The Hurricanes completed the win by scoring 3 goals in 8:04 to take down Columbus.

   Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said that "It kind of felt like, here we go, it’s not our night. But I give our guys a lot of credit because there was no hanging their heads or anything. They just kept playing. We got what we deserved tonight, for sure."

   After a scoreless first two periods, the Blue Jackets got on the board first. Just 13 seconds into the 3rd period, Kirill Marchenko gave Columbus a 1-0 lead on his 6th goal of the season. At the 6:41 mark of the 3rd, Johnny Gaudreau, who assisted on Marchenko's goal, scored one of his own to make it 2-0 on his 3rd goal of the season.

   Jesperi Kotkaniemi broke the ice for the Hurricanes 10:01 into the period, making it 2-1 on his 7th goal of the season. At the 16:51 mark of the period, Brady Skjei scored for the Hurricanes, tying the game with assists from Svechnikov and Jarvis. With 1:55 left on the clock, Svechnikov scored his first goal of the season to put the Hurricanes ahead for good.

   Starting in goal for the Hurricanes was Pyotr Kochetkov, who was able to pick up the win and improve his record to 2-4-0. Kochetkov stopped 21 of the 23 shots he saw from the Blue Jackets, good for a .913 save percentage.

   Getting the start for the Blue Jackets opposite Kochetkov was Elvis Merzlikins, whose record dropped to 5-7-3 in 16 starts. Merzlikins turned aside 40 out of the 43 shots on goal the Hurricanes sent at him, recording a .930 save percentage.

   Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent said of the loss that "We did it right for most of the game, but that’s not enough. They play a playoff style, and that’s what happens in the playoffs. You just lose yourself a little bit and you give an inch and the next thing you know the game is over."

   Up next, the Blue Jackets finish a back to back when they face the Boston Bruins at home on Monday, with Spencer Martin the likely starter. The Hurricanes take on the Philadelphia Flyers on the road on Tuesday, with Antti Raanta listed as the starter.

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