A game that started well for the Carolina Hurricanes ended in a blowout, as the team fell 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night at PNC Arena.

The loss mathematically eliminates the Hurricanes (34-29-16) from playoff contention. It was also the team’s first loss this season to division-rival Columbus (31-39-8).

The Canes roared out of the gate, firing the first seven shots on goal and cashing in about nine minutes into the period, as forward Jeff Skinner continued his torrid stretch with a beautiful goal. Skinner collected a loose puck at the offensive blue line, deked out a defender and fired a snap wrister past Korpisalo for his team-leading 28th of the season.

Unfortunately for Carolina, Columbus made good on its second shot of the game. A turnover at the offensive blue line by forward Jay McClement led to a breakaway goal for Blue Jackets Saad with about five and a half minutes left in the period. The Canes continued to push and ended up outshooting Columbus 16-6 for the period, but Jackets netminder Joonas Korpisalo was excellent, and the teams headed to intermission tied at one.

The Jackets came out of the first intermission playing much better. Columbus took the lead about seven minutes in, as rookie forward Sonny Milano showed off his skill on a beautiful set up to Saad for his second of the game.

Columbus extended its lead to two late in the period as Saad completed the hat trick, beating Canes defenseman Justin Faulk to the front of the net and getting a tip-in goal to push it to 3-1.

A plethora of penalties in the final minutes of the period hurt the Canes. Columbus forward Boone Jenner tapped in a rebound with .1 seconds remaining in the period with the Jackets on a two-man advantage for a 4-1. Columbus led heading into the second intermission after a nightmare second period for the Canes. Carolina was outshot 13-2 by Columbus in the second period.

The Canes were unable to muster a miracle comeback in the third. Columbus tacked on yet another goal when forward Oliver Bjorkstrand fought off a defender and scored from a tough angle to make it 5-1 about halfway through the period. That would be the final score, as the Hurricanes’ improbable second-half playoff push came to an end.