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Carolina Hurricanes Playoff Battle – February 21st

By Dean Plunkett |
Feb 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing J.T. Brown (23) carries the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Tampa Bay won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing J.T. Brown (23) carries the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Tampa Bay won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Here is the recap of action in the Eastern Conference playoff battles yesterday, and the current overall status of the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2016 push to the post-season.

The Hurricanes had a day of rest after a very strong showing at home against the San Jose Sharks Friday night. The rest of the Eastern Conference, though, did not get a night off.

Hurricanes Current Status:

When you have a day and night off during most of the regular season you don’t really need to keep track of the game results unless you want to. This time of year, though, the interest in games gets a bit higher as post season fates are determined. If you are the Hurricanes, who are in a tight fight for a playoff spot with seven other teams who are all playing that night, you tend to get even more interested.

When the games were over last night the standings had changed quite a bit since 12:30 when the day’s play began. The Lightning, whom the Hurricanes play in Raleigh on Sunday, had jumped from a wild card spot to 2nd in their division, but were then moved to 3rd when the Bruins spanked the Dallas Stars in the late game.

The 7th place Red Wings, playing 12th place Ottawa Senators, lost in a shootout and stayed where they were, while the Senators gained two points and another spot in the standings. The Flyers needed overtime with the Leafs to earn two points and draw even with the Hurricanes at 68 points, both now just two points behind the Penguins for the final wild card spot. Oh, and the Penguins could’ve been further ahead than that, but they lost to the Lightning in the early game.

Related Story: Carolina Hurricanes Drown the San Jose Sharks

Here are the standings and the game recaps/previews:

Current Standings: Sunday, February 21
New York Rangers – 72 points – 2nd in Metro
Boston Bruins – 70 points – 2nd in Atlantic
New York Islanders – 69 points – 3rd in Metro
Tampa Bay Lightning – 68 points – 3rd in Atlantic
Detroit Red Wings – 68 points – 1st Wild Card
Pittsburgh Penguins – 66 points – 2nd Wild Card
New Jersey Devils – 65 points
Carolina Hurricanes – 64 points
Philadelphia Flyers – 61 points
Ottawa Senators – 62 points
Montreal Canadiens – 60 points

Latest in the Eastern Conference: Saturday, February 20

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 4-2 Final

  • After Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos potted his 300th career goal, the Lightning let the Penguins get back into the game for a good portion of the second and third. They ultimately held off the Pens onslaught, and leapfrogged up the Eastern standings.

Detroit Red Wings @ Ottawa Senators – 2-3 Final (SO)

  • The Red Wings led the Senators until late into the third, when Dion Phanuef tied it up for the home team, and the Wings had to be content with just one point in the standings. The Senators, with two points, kept themselves within shouting distance of the wild card spots.

New Jersey Devils @ Washington Capitals – 3-4 Final

  • The Devils looked destined to gain two points in the standings, holding a two-goal lead late into the third period. Then the Capitals’ league-leading power showed, with T.J. Oshie and Brooks Orpik scoring goals in the final three minutes to pull out the come-from-behind victory.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Toronto Maple Leafs – 5-4 Final (OT)

  • The Flyer’s rookie phenom, Shayne Gostisbehere, once again showed why he is squarely in the discussions for the Calder Trophy this season. He set the record for consecutive games with a point for a defenseman at 15 when he scored the deciding goal in overtime.

Boston Bruins @ Dallas Stars – 7-3 Final

  • The Bruins came out flying, and little flea Brad Marchand was at it again, as Boston dominated the Dallas Stars at home, and moved into second place in the Atlantic Division.

Today in the Eastern Conference: Sunday, February 21

Pittsburgh Penguins @ Buffalo Sabres – 12:30

  • Penguins – 29-20-8 – 66 points – 7-2-1 in last 10 games
  • Sabres – 24-28-7 – 55 points – 5-2-3 in last 10 games

Detroit Red Wings @ New York Rangers – 7:00

  • Red Wings – 29-20-10 – 68 points – 5-4-1 in last 10 games
  • Rangers – 33-19-6 – 72 points – 7-2-1 in last 10 games

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7:00

  • Lightning – 32-22-4 – 68 points – 5-5-0 in last 10 games
  • Hurricanes – 27-22-10 – 64 points – 6-2-2 in last 10 games

Upcoming in the Eastern Conference: Monday, February 22

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Boston Bruins – 7:00

Nashville Predators @ Montreal Canadiens – 7:00

Though there are only three playoff-relevant games in the Eastern conference on Sunday, all three will affect the Hurricanes postseason chances by the end of the day, including their own tilt against the Lightning. The Canes need to play like they did against the San Jose Sharks, and not how they performed in Ottawa.

Stay Tuned. Go Canes!

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