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Columbus Blue Jackets: The Battle’s Aftermath – Cardiac Cane

By Preston Byers

RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 10: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ryan Murray #27 of the Columbus Blue Jackets battle for the puck along the boards during an NHL game on October 10, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 10: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ryan Murray #27 of the Columbus Blue Jackets battle for the puck along the boards during an NHL game on October 10, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night in overtime by a score of 2-1. Although the Canes lost the game, they still picked up a point against a Metro opponent.

Sergei Bobrovsky, Sonny Milano, Jeff Skinner and missed penalty calls. That’s how I would describe the Columbus Blue Jackets versus Carolina Hurricanes game on Tuesday night. The game was a goaltenders affair for most of the night until Milano broke the scoreless tie. Skinner responded with a goal of his own to send the game in OT late in the third. In the end, Sonny was the hero as he scored on a breakaway in overtime to send the Jackets home with a W.

After the Columbus Blue Jackets’ win in Raleigh, we were lucky enough to sit down with CardiacCane.com site expert Andrew Miller to discuss some of the game and the Hurricanes in general.

Related Story: Twitter reacts to CBJ-CAR missed calls

What’s your experience as a Carolina Hurricanes fan and writer?

Andrew Miller: I have been a Canes fan since I was a kid really. As a kid that grew up in Raleigh, it’s the only professional team we have, which makes them an important part of the community. And I personally started writing as a sports media major in college at Oklahoma State University. I have been with FanSided writing college football and hockey for about one year now.

You guys lost Tuesday, but still picked up one point due to forcing OT. Before the game, did you expect to win in regulation or were you not as optimistic?

My preview and predictions actually had the Canes losing in overtime 4-3.

Jeff Skinner is unarguably the best scorer for Carolina and he showed it with the game-tying goal late in the 3rd period. What are your expectations from him this year?

I don’t know if I expect him to reach the 40-goal mark this year. However, he has the best chance of any player on the team to do it. Skinner and Sebastian Aho have a different sense that makes them special to watch on offense.

Two games in the year, you’ve went to extended time in both games versus 2017 playoff teams. Does this give you hope for the season?

It gives me just about as much hope as they had last year. A bit too early to say, but I think the team is improved from what it was last year. A lot depends on the strength of the division this season.

What are some things that Carolina needs to work on if they want to compete with and beat the very best in the NHL this year?

Keep up the good habits of outshooting opponents like they did in the first two games of the year. Goaltending has to be better and the defense has to be as strong, if not stronger than it was last season.

Next: CBJ are 3rd in Metro through opening week of play

It was reported by The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline that there were only 7,892 fans in attendance Tuesday. PNC Arena can seat over 18,000. Do you believe there is an attendance problem in Carolina and do you see relocation in the team’s future?

I tackled this subject in an article today. It’s a big problem but for a team located in a smaller market in the south of the United States that is going on the longest playoff drought of any team in the NHL, and it does make sense as to why this is happening.

We’ll see you again on Nov. 10. What will your guys’ record be then?

Overtime continues to be common in the Canes immediate future. I’m going with 6-4-3 by then.

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