Zach Werenski scores twice as Blue Jackets beat playoff
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Zach Werenski had two goals and two assists, Jet Greaves made 38 saves and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat a diminished version of the playoff-bound Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 on Tuesday night.
The Hurricanes, who finished second in the Metropolitan Division, rested eight regulars in the meaningless regular-season finale.
Carolina finished with 111 points at 52-23-7, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference behind the division champion New York Rangers. The Hurricanes reached the postseason for the sixth straight year.
“Now we turn the page,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “This is what we wanted to play for all year, and we’re going to get an opportunity to do that.”
At least it wasn’t another loss for last-place Columbus, which had another season marred by injuries that sidelined top players, including two goaltenders. The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season.