The Carolina Hurricanes inched two points closer to their first postseason berth in almost a decade while pushing the Philadelphia Flyers out of contention in front of a massive audience of close to 18,000.
It was an early saturday matinée game. The first of a back to back against Metro Division opponents each competing for post season positioning. In front of a rowdier audience of almost 18 thousand fans, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers competed, each fighting for their seasons not to end come April 6th.
After sixty minutes of play the Carolina Hurricanes came up on top by a score of 5-2. That’s the short version of this story. It’s the version you know by now. It’s not the version you are here to read about. No, this version is about what they drew from this game that can be administered in the future, and what should be shied away from.
This game was filled with ups and down. Luckily for the Carolina Hurricanes There were more ups than downs. When the Flyers struck, the Carolina Hurricanes struck back twice in quick fashion. There was no time given to allow the opponent to settle in on hostile ice. This is why this team will not be a pushover when it starts playing past April 6th while the other team is setting up tee times.
There were moments when it looked like the collapse that allowed both the Lightning and the Capitals (Twice) to come storming back in the third was imminent, the Carolina Hurricanes shut the door like it was the old team from February when it was sunshine and rainbows. When it as all said and done, even old friends came out for one last time:
https://twitter.com/NHLCanes/status/1112085238732197889
While seeing the OG Storm Surge brought us many tears, the face that the last home game of March was a meaningful game is so much more important. But where do we go from here. It starts with figuring out how to replicate last night’s complete win against the Flyers a team grasping for points, in what would have been a fruitless attempt as they were going to be eliminated regardless.