'We Have To Have That Killer Instinct': Rod Brind'Amour, Jesperi Kotkaniemi On Shootout Loss In Columbus

The Carolina Hurricanes closed out 2024 on a less than positive note as they lost 4-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena.

The Canes overcame deficits twice to eventually take the lead, but too many gifted goals allowed the Jackets to remain in the game where it eventually came down to a shootout.

After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Jesperi Kotkaniemi spoke with the media in Columbus. Here's what they had to say:

Rod Brind'Amour

On the game: The first two goals [against], it was just kind of weird. We break a stick and then go to the bench to get one and that leaves the guy wide open. Just unfortunate. The second one, we just run our goalie over. So you give them two goals essentially and that's tough to make up. And we did come back. Had a lead and then we took a bad penalty and then they bank one in off our foot. Like it was just some weird goals tonight that cost us.

On Jack Roslovic and his line: They've been fairly dynamic and we need them on the score sheet so that was a real nice goal. Obviously the talent was there on that one. I mean, he's been good all year.

On getting back on track: It's obviously tougher to play on the road because you don't get quite the same matchups and whatever, but tonight, three tough goals that never happen in a regular game normally. We just got some bad bounces. Could we be better? Yeah. I didn't love the power play after we scored the one. It was a little too stagnant. We have to have that killer instinct there to put the game away when we had the opportunity.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

On the game: I think we were a little sloppy early on. First period wasn't great from us. That's not the way we want to come out in these road games. We just need to figure out what's going on on the road games right now. Like I said, we need a good start every game and it was a pretty bad first.

On the road struggles: It's hard to say at the moment. It's been happening for a while now. I think we just have to find a way out of it and have the same mindset we have in the home games. Play hard and keep it simple. I think that's going to be the key for our team.

On regrouping for next game against Florida: I think we were really bad the last two games against them. We have to fix that and like I said, come out really hard and show what kind of team we are.

On his goal: I think [Eric Robinson] was doing a great job there hunting the puck and it was a good bounce to go in.