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Posted at 12:00 PM EST. 

OT included. The Hurricanes are coming off an emotional victory against the Rangers in Eric Staal’s return to Carolina. Anyone that watched that game witnessed the intensity both teams displayed. The Hurricanes rallied from a 3-2 deficit after two periods with a pair of third period goals to win it 4-3. The building was packed, the atmosphere was electric and this is the anti-climactic follow up game. Despite being mathematically alive to make the playoffs (Carolina is five points back with four games remaining but they have to catch both Detroit and Philly and Philly has six games left), it is very unlikely that the Hurricanes will bring that same intensity here that they brought against the Rangers. It’s a big letdown spot but even if they do, it may not matter.

The Jackets were red-hot for a six-week stretch from January 25 until March 8 in which they picked up 25 out of a possible 36 points over 18 games. Since then and beginning on March 11, the Jackets have gone ice-cold again with just two victories over their last 10 games. The reason the Jackets have gone so cold is because that stiff, Sergei Bobrovsky returned from a long injury on that exact date (March 11). Bobrovsky has posted save percentages of .815, .846, .892, .864, .875 and .852 in six of eight starts. It’s is 100% for certain that Bobrovsky would have remained on the bench upon returning from injury if Columbus wasn’t paying him 8.5M this season. The Jackets had a great thing going with Joonas Korpisalo playing every game before Bob returned but since everything is about money, Bobrovsky got his job back. We’ve said it a million times in the past and we’ll say it again that goaltending is the number one deciding factor in the outcome of games.

Korpisalo is an outstanding young talent that played brilliantly when he was called upon. Sergei Bobrovsky cost Todd Richards his job and now Bobrovsky is working on John Tortorella. Bobrovsky is signed until the 2018/19 season and he’ll make another 8.5M next year so it’ll be interesting to see what the Jackets do. Actually, no it won’t. Unless they get someone to take this stiff in the off-season via trade, he’ll be the Jackets #1 goaltender again next season and Tortorella will be out another job. For this one game however, Korpisalo gets the call and he gives the Jackets an outstanding chance to win. The proof is in the pudding. 

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