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Carolina Hurricanes: Three memorable moments from a wild, wacky campaign

By Todd McGee

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 01: A Bunch of Jerks celebrate at center ice after a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on March 1, 2019. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 01: A Bunch of Jerks celebrate at center ice after a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on March 1, 2019. (Photo by Greg Thompson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 19: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes comes out of the crease to make a save on a shoot out attempt by Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL game on March 19, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 19: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes comes out of the crease to make a save on a shoot out attempt by Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL game on March 19, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Legend of Poke-Czech Petr

The Eastern Conference was in full playoff mode after the Feb. 25 trade deadline. When the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers went into overtime on March 2, a crucial point was up for grabs.

Carolina tried its darndest to give the point away in overtime, allowing the Panthers three breakaways on goalie Petr Mrazek in the first 100 seconds of the extra session. But like a modern-day Wyatt Earp staring down a group of bank robbers, Mrazek stood tall between the pipes.

He stoned Vincent Trocheck 20 seconds in. He made a memorable poke check on Mike Matheson, who caught the Canes making a change, then stymied Jonathan Huberdeau on yet another breakaway 10 seconds later after a careless pass by Aho.

After the final save, Aho gathered the loose puck, fed it to Nino Neiderreiter and raced up the ice to put away Neiderreiter’s centering pass for a scintillating 4-3 victory that demoralized the Panthers and kept the Canes’ playoff hopes afloat. And helped grow the legend of Poke-Czech Petr.

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