Carolina entered this game on a franchise-record 12 game point streak (8-0-4) while Columbus was trying to keep pace in the President’s Trophy race.
In an attempt to recharge the offense, Torts returned to the “streak lines,” that is the four lines used during the 16 game win streak. Markus Nutivaara returned to the lineup, finally (and played well) and Joonas Korpisalo was in goal.
The game started well, with all 4 lines driving possession and keeping the puck in the Carolina zone. The game tilted the other way in the latter half of the period thanks to a couple penalties.