The Hurricanes earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
Carolina's 5-2 victory reflected their underlying dominance—they controlled 58% of 5v5 expected goals (4.78–3.42)—but the decisive margin was amplified by Columbus's variance. The Blue Jackets underperformed their expected goals by 1.42, scoring 2 goals on 3.42 xG, which transformed a competitive game into a clear decision.
The game's structure was balanced in spots. Columbus held 43% of shot attempts and generated 6 high-danger chances to Carolina's 10, suggesting a closer affair than the scoreboard indicated. What separated the teams was execution and efficiency: Carolina was lethal off the rush, converting 3 goals from 35 chances, while Columbus managed only 1 goal from 4 rebound opportunities despite crashing the net.
B. Bussi's goaltending was decisive. He stopped 23 of 25 shots (0.920 SV%) and outperformed expected by 1.42 goals—exactly the separation the scoreline demanded. J. Greaves steadied Columbus where possible, maintaining a 0.875 SV% and defending high-danger looks at 90%, though the overall deficit never narrowed.
Carolina's power play delivered the knockout blow: 3 goals on 15 shots (1.14 xG), a conversion rate that overwhelmed Columbus's penalty discipline. That ruthlessness on the advantage, combined with Columbus's inability to finish their chances, explained the decisive result on a relatively open game.