Game 2, Round 1, 1999
In reality, there was nothing special that happened in the 1998-1999 post season. Carolina, winners of the Southeast Division, were the worst team in the NHL playoffs and were matched up with the heavily favored Boston Bruins. Carolina was knocked out in a quick six games.
Carolina didn’t even score a goal in game one at home, but April 24, 1999 – game 2 – provided two things that the state of North Carolina had never experienced before; playoff overtime hockey and the franchise’s first playoff win. To say it shouldn’t be on this list is to ignore the first times that lead to the good times.
Carolina and Boston traded second period goals before Steve Heinze gave Boston the lead halfway through the third. Robert Kron would score with just over 5 minutes left to send the game to overtime for the first time in Carolina Hurricanes Playoff history.
The Bruins and the Hurricanes traded blows back and forth in overtime with neither able to solve the other’s puzzle. That was until Ray Shepard took a pass from Martin Gelinas and scored to give the Hurricanes their first ever playoff win. Everything has humble beginnings.