Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild Honor Eric Staal

Carolina Hurricanes begin the night with just a glimmer of hope for the playoffs.

This game started out with a lot of energy from both teams from the start.  Both the Hurricanes and Wild started out fast with six goals in the first period.  Even though the Hurricanes ended the first period tied, they were fighting back at all times.  Carolina’s front man, Jeff Skinner carried the Canes most of the game.  Many of the Hurricanes young team just didn’t respond like Skinner.  There was a great effort from Brian Bickell in his first game back from IR. Bickell in his return played 12:35 minutes.  Bickell did have one really good chance in the third but it hit the post. Carolina,at times, couldn’t stop the Minnesota Wild top players, Eric Staal and Nino Neiderreiter offensively.

The Game

Minnesota Wild come out with a lot of energy and especially the line of Parise, Staal and Niederreiter.  Before you know it, Parise gets an unselfish pass from Eric Staal right in front of the net.  Wild take the early lead.

Carolina returns the favor, Jeff Skinner splits two defenders with a great pass to Lee Stempniak who puts it in.

The Wild keep the pressure on Cam Ward, Minnesota’s forth line chips in to help with a goal by Jordan Schroeder.

The Hurricanes respond well by none other than Jeff Skinner on their first power play of the game.

But Minnesota comes right back after an icing and tired Canes forth line.  Nino Niederreiter finds an empty side of the net to light the lamp for the Wild.

At this point both teams just wanted the period to end except for Carolina’s Jeff Skinner.  Skinner putting in the extra effort goes to a pile of players to find the puck.  He gathers the puck in and scores one heck of a blue collar goal to even the game.

Second Period Action

Second Period starts out with both teams pushing the puck down ice.  Hurricanes get some good looks but its Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle who breaks the ice.

Canes have a great PP but come up with nothing.  With the Wild threatening, Cam Ward makes the save of the game.

Third Period Action

In the late stages of the game with the Hurricanes not really mounting much of a charge.  Nino Niederreiter puts the Wild up by two with another assist by Eric Staal.

Final Words

Tonight even with a great effort the final nail was put into the Hurricanes coffin. Before the second period ended the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated from the playoffs.  For this writer, I don’t define the Hurricanes season by what has happened in the past couple of game.  Tonight’s game was a microcosm of many of this year’s Carolina games.   When you look at the team and the effort, I don’t think any fan can doubt the team’s integrity.  The Carolina Hurricanes have played hard every game and the coaching staff has done their best.  Many parts of this young team are learning and growing right in front of us, instead of in the AHL.  Sure it’s another season of not going to the playoffs.  But if you’re a real Caniac and see all the positives with these young prospects, you know our time is coming.