The Columbus Blue Jackets have been engaged in one nail-biter after another as they compete for a playoff position. Coming into their battle with the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday at Nationwide Arena, they were still outside looking in at one of the top three spots in the Metro Division and one of two wildcard positions.

The Blue Jackets had recorded standings points in their last nine games, in 16 of their last 17. Their problem has been the equally hot play of the teams that are just above them.

Tuesday’s game against Carolina, the top team in the NHL’s Eastern Division, was not only important for its post-season implications, but also for assessing the Jackets’ current level of play.

Simply put, Columbus excelled at every stage of the contest against the ‘Canes, winning 5-1 in commanding style. It started in the first period when the Blue Jackets established a 2-0 lead with power play goals from Mason Marchment and Charlie Coyle. 

The second period saw Carolina halve the lead with a goal from Andrei Svechnikov at the 14:05 mark, but the Jackets responded with two more goals. As the stanza wound down, Danton Heinen and Denton Mateychuk scored within 34 seconds of each other.

The other big event of the middle frame was the fight between heavyweight vets Mathieu Olivier and Nicolas Deslauriers. It appeared to have been arranged during a conversation at mid-ice prior to the game, a tilt born of respect, not spite. Both gave and got to the excitement of the crowd and both benches.

Columbus added a tally in the third period as Olivier finished a rush with his 13th goal of the season. The primary assist went to Coyle, his third helper of the night in addition to his first period goal. He was the first star of the game.

Blue Jacket goalie Jet Greaves earned the win, stopping 27 of 28 shots (.964). Greaves is now 22-12-8 this season with a goals against average of 2.60 and a save percentage of .909.

Columbus plays the second game of its three-game homestand Thursday as the New York Rangers come to Nationwide Arena. The puck is slated to drop at 7:00 p.m.