25 Clutch Goals in Carolina Hurricanes History (Part 1: #25-16)
By Ben Huffman
#25: March 8, 2016- Jeff Skinner ties it up with less than 1 second left
In the final few weeks of the 2015-16 season, the Carolina Hurricanes were mathematically alive. Their opponent on this night, the Ottawa Senators, was too. After digging themselves into an early hole, goals by Jeff Skinner and Jay McClement brought them back even. Ottawa would regain the lead late in the second period and look poised to earn two points on the road until Skinner wound up and fired a loose puck past Andrew Hammond to tie the game with 0.2 seconds left in regulation. After a scoreless overtime, the game would be decided in a shootout, with the game-deciding goal coming from then-21-year-old Jaccob Slavin. Ultimately, the Canes would fall short of the postseason, missing out by ten points. Skinner’s goal was the latest game-tying goal in franchise history until it was matched this past season (more on that soon).
#24: October 13, 2006- Ray Whitney prevents a collapse in the knick of time
The defense of the Stanley Cup didn’t start well for the Canes during the 2006-07 season. In their first four games, the team was 0-3-1, including three regulation losses by three or more goals. During their third stop on a long road trip, the group decided early that enough was enough. Two goals by Craig Adams and a third by Eric Staal planted the Canes to a 3-0 lead after the first period. The Thrashers wouldn’t go away quietly. Jon Sim scored twice in the second period, and Bobby Holik tied the game with 5:21 left in the third as Atlanta eyed a comeback. Overtime seemed to be on the horizon until a redirection from Ray Whitney beat Kari Lehtonen with less than a second left to earn the Canes their first win of the campaign.