Carolina Hurricanes fall to the Blues on Day Bryan Bickell announces Retirement

Carolina Hurricanes Last Home Game of the Season

The last home game of this season wasn’t about the Carolina Hurricanes it was about something more important.  Saturday started for the Carolina by coming out and supporting Bryan Bickell and his continued efforts to support his local charity. Bickell who we all know is battling multiple sclerosis (MS) started the day announcing his retirement effective at the end of the season.  The Hurricanes team responded by showing up for his charity event supporting him.

The Pregame Commentary

The last couple of days for the Carolina Hurricanes have been emotional to say the least.  The Hurricanes come into the game with their priorities not so much on the team but on the player and friend Bryan Bickell.  For some odd reason the St. Louis Blues head coach didn’t seem to care or notice.  Besides acknowledgement from the Blues Vladimir Tarasenko who gives Bickell a nice pat on the back before the game. The Blues Coach Mike Yeo brought out his 1^st line against Carolina’s 4^th line, who includes Bryan Bickell.  Where one team shows class the other used it to take advantage of an emotional moment.  As described below in my game recap St. Louis scores right away.  I just would like to make my opinion known that as a fan of the NHL, Coach Yeo’s decision is disrespectful and was uncalled for.

The Game

The Carolina Hurricanes start the game giving Bryan Bickell and his fourth line teammates the start.  The St. Louis Blues decide to start their 1^st line.  Doesn’t take long for the Blues to take advantage of the mismatch and Ivan Barbashev scores the game first goal.

The Hurricanes shake off the early disappointment and a failed attempt on the power play.  Klas Dahlbeck finds a nice opening off of a screened Carter Hutton and evens it up at one. Klas with his second goal of the season.

Carolina keeps up with the pressure down the stretch of the 1^st period.  That’s when Jeff Skinner gets a juicy rebound from Brett Pesce shot.  Skinner sees nothing but net and puts it home for the lead.

Second Period

Carolina starts the second down a man due a late penalty by Jordan Staal with 9 seconds left in 1^st.

St Louis really dominates the power play (PP) with really good possession style offense but can’t find the net.

The Blues get their second power play when Dahlbeck is called for tripping.  St. Louis continued with the possession style PP, when Alexander Steen gets one past Ward, ties it at 2.

Carolina’s 3^rd line of Nordstrom, Tolchinsky & Rask show off their passing skills to find Nordstrom to regain the lead.

After falling behind again, St Louis really starts to dictate the play.  After the Canes defended off some really good chances by the Blues, Ryan Reaves scores. All even again.

Third Period

Canes start the period with some fast play.  Elias Lindholm draws a hooking penalty for a Hurricanes’ PP.  Carolina starts the PP really pushing play which gives up a breakaway to Scottie Upshall for a shorthand goal.

After the goal, the Hurricanes really turn up the play.  With the Canes pushing hard, Jeff Skinner, from behind the net, scores to even it up again.

Carolina plays like a team on the mission for the rest of the third period but come up short.  At the end of three Canes & Blues are even at four.

OT

Hurricanes start another 3 on 3 taking it to the visiting team.  This time Carolina gets a break when Sebastian Aho charging the net gets hooked for an overtime power play.

With less than a minute left, Jordan Staal who at times does seem to be able to keep up gets caught tripping Colton Parayko. Carolina tightens up and make it to the shootout.

The Shootout

Hurricanes start out great with Lee Stempniak scoring first on Carter Hutton.  But that’s when the storybook end came to an end, with goals from Patrik Berglund.  Going into extra shooter Sebastian Aho fails to give the Canes the lead. That leaves St Louis Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko to finish it for the Blues. Canes lose the shootout 2-1 and the game 5-4.

The Final Home Game

The Hurricanes organization’s Redvolution homegrown series comes to a successful end.  This is something as a Caniac I hope continues next season.  The game itself, starts and finishes with a lot of disappointment.  The Hurricanes’ Jeff Skinner led the team down the stretch.  At key points of the game, Skinner was the key player that kept the Canes in the game. In the team’s defense, Cam Ward, who might have played his last game in Carolina, didn’t step up when needed (including the shootout).  For Carolina they hit the road for one last game to hopefully end the season with a win.  After a great March, Carolina could end the season with a six game losing streak in April.