Carolina Hurricanes: Three Takeaways from the PLAYOFF CLINCHING WIN over New Jersey
By Bryan Walsh
In game 81, ten years to the day from when Anton Babchuk scored in overtime against the Penguins to clinch the 2009 NHL playoffs, another defenseman, Justin Faulk, scored the game winning goal with a slapshot, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since.
If you haven’t heard yet, I am humbled to have the privilege to inform you that the Carolina Hurricanes have clinched a spot in the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is their first playoff appearance since the 2008-2009 NHL season.
The Hurricanes beat the Devils 3-1 and the Capitals beat the Canadiens 2-1. Both results were needed for the Hurricanes to clinch last night. We still have one regular season game left, Saturday at Philadelphia, which still matters. We know that the second wild card spot means a matchup with Tampa Bay, so winning tomorrow could go a long way in extending the season even further.
But we are in. Things are about to get very emotional in this recap. Buckle up.
In the Spring of 2009, life was simple. I was a freshman in high school, in suburban New Jersey. The Hurricanes were gearing up to play the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was an amazing series.
In Game 2, Tim Gleason scored his first goal of the season in overtime to tie the series 1-1. In Game 4, after a 3-0 lead turned into a 3-3 game, Jussi Jokinen scored with .04 seconds left to tie the series 2-2. With under 90 seconds left in period three of Game 7, Gleason dove to keep in the puck in the zone, passed it to Joni Pitkanen who “sets up Jokinen” who scored. Eric Staal scored seconds later to give the Hurricanes the series win.
In the second round, after the Bruins came back down 3-1 in the series, Scott Walker scored the game winning goal in overtime of Game 7. The run ended unceremoniously, with the Hurricanes getting swept in four games by Jordan Staal and the Penguins.
I remember it literally like it was yesterday. I can hear John Forslund’s voice in the calls of every goal. I can see the expressions on the faces of Cam Ward, Eric Staal, Jussi Jokinen, and everyone else. I can remember it so vividly, because it hasn’t happened since. No playoff memories have populated my mind since those three series.
In 2012, I graduated high school and went to college at NC State. I immediately got a season ticket package for the Hurricanes. The NHL quickly locked out the players and half the season was canceled. The next four years, I saw some of the worst hockey I hope to have ever seen in my life. The Hurricanes were dreadful.
They changed their uniforms and got rid of the warning stripe. We eventually got it back but only on the red one. I think we’ll get it back on the whites next year.
I have since moved to Miami and started, and nearly finished law school. I have yet to see another Hurricanes playoff game. From a dumb 14 year old kid, to a 24 year old almost law school graduate. Zero playoff games.
This is a glimpse into how long it has been for me. Each and every one of you, every Hurricanes fan. Every Hurricanes player. Every person even briefly associated with the organization has a similar story. We drafted Jeff Skinner, who played here for a long time, then traded him. And never made the playoffs.
But that is old news. We don’t live there anymore. We are in.