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Carolina Hurricanes Keep Another Team’s Playoff Hopes Alive

By Eric D. Cox

Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack (31) makes a glove save on the tip attempt by New York Islanders forward Anders Lee (27) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie Eddie Lack (31) makes a glove save on the tip attempt by New York Islanders forward Anders Lee (27) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Hurricanes looked more focused on the offseason than tonight’s game

Well its official, The Carolina Hurricanes off season has begun.  Carolina with just two home games left and one on the road entertained the New York Islanders Thursday night.  New York is actually still alive in the playoff picture, if and only if Toronto loses out. Carolina since losing to Dallas just doesn’t seem to have the motivation to play hard.  This game from the beginning showed that.  The results was another goose egg on the scoreboard for the Canes.

The Game

This game starts out in all the wrong ways for Carolina.  Hurricanes start the game flat and New York came to win.  During the first three minutes, the Islanders treated Eddie Lack like the practice goalie.  Although the first goal was kind of a fluke, Islanders gets an “A” for the effort against the Canes 4th Line.

https://twitter.com/NYIslanders/status/850124595160109057

No sooner than the puck hitting the ice, New York goes back on the offensive.  During the next 2 minutes, Carolina’s Eddie Lack feels like a goalie piñata.  Unenthused Hurricanes go down two goals quick.

Carolina finally wakes up late in the 1st period and get a chance with a power play but come up empty. Late in the 1st Victor Rask high stick to Brock Nelson earns him a four-minute penalty.

New York starts the 2nd period still on the power play, that’s when former Cane Andrew Ladd scores 32 seconds in.

https://twitter.com/NYIslanders/status/850137525301776385

Third Period

The Carolina Hurricanes finish the game really pushing the play in the 3rd but nothing comes from their effort.  Even though the Canes finally woke up from a two-period slumber the final conclusion to me was the team’s lack of effort.  In the end, there was very little fight left in this young team.

The Real Story

The aftermath of this game was hard to watch.  All Carolina fans and the rest of the hockey nation know the story of Brian Bickell and his personal battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).  The Hurricanes made the decision to bring Bickell back up (from the AHL) for the remainder of the season.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great story.

Bryan Bickell

What this writer witnessed tonight in the post game was hard to swallow. While many were interviewing Brian Bickell. This player/human being with a lot of pride emotionally was coming to grips with his reality and disease.  If you had any resemblance of a heart, you could tell this was a hard time for him.

Many remember the great streak during the Stanley Cup playoffs that he had. Others remember his hard work and dedication to his former team.   Tonight though in the end, it was about him coming to terms with his situation.  I personally don’t know what it’s like to be in his shoes but I do wonder was it the right time for this team to bring him back?

I understand the swan song thingy but even he knows that his play is not up to par.  And that’s where I find it hard to swallow.  Did the team exploit the situation or did they try to do what’s right and giving him the storybook ending?  Either way, the ending to this really bad game by the Carolina Hurricanes ended worse than the score indicated.

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