Carolina Hurricanes: Win Streak Ends at the Hands of Tampa Bay
By Bryan Walsh
The Carolina Hurricanes lost a sloppy game filled with unfortunate penalties taken against the best team in the NHL. The rest of the Metro Division did not behave as we would have liked and the Hurricanes’ lead on the non-playoff teams has narrowed.
It wasn’t a game we needed to win, but it would have been nice. We’ve been in a playoff spot for a while now and we’ve all gotten comfortable in that position. All the analytics websites you can find give the Carolina Hurricanes about a 94%-96% chance to make the playoffs. We are currently only three points ahead of Columbus who sits in ninth place in the Conference. We have not clinched anything yet.
1. Missed Opportunity to Steal One
I’ll be honest.
I did not expect to win this game. The Tampa Bay Lightning are really good. Like really good.
But the Carolina Hurricanes had two separate leads in this game and entered the third period with a chance to win. The Lightning played an overtime game in DC last night, so they weren’t exactly fresh. But the Hurricanes let this one slip away.
This wasn’t a game that the Carolina Hurricanes had to win. We had more important games leading up to this and we have more important games coming up. The Lightning are in the Atlantic Division and have locked up the President’s Trophy. If there’s a game you have to lose in March, it’d be this one.
But they were so close.
This would have continued the winning streak on the homestand and would have kept pace with everyone else that won last night. Note: we’re not in yet, folks. The Canadiens beat the Islanders, which, at first glance, may seem like a good thing. However, we are pretty close to being on the outside looking in. I’d rather be in than out, even if that means four games against the team were talking about now. The Hurricanes need to keep the foot on the gas from here on out.
It was a game the Carolina Hurricanes could have won, they were sloppy in the third period with penalties, see below, and the energy just wasn’t there. Curtis McElhinney was probably better than the score indicated but it wasn’t anybody’s best night.