25 Clutch Goals in Carolina Hurricanes History (Part 1: #25-16)

Throughout their 25 seasons in North Carolina, the Carolina Hurricanes have treated us to some fantastic moments. Often, all it takes is saying a date or a situation, and you can take yourself back to when it happened.

This got me thinking about the most significant goals we’ve ever seen scored by the Hurricanes, particularly those that stand out as the most clutch in franchise history. While it’s easier to point to the goals that stand out as being the most iconic, I want to focus on those that are the definition of “clutch.” This list will feature goals that happened so those iconic moments could stand the test of time. Naturally, there will be some overlap in that department because some of the Hurricanes’ most iconic goals are also their most clutch.

Over this three-part series, I want to display the vast history this team has created in a short period, both in the regular season and the postseason. As with all lists, this will be subjective to my taste, and the placement of many goals is largely interchangeable. Hindsight will always be 20/20, so if a goal happens in a playoff series that the team lost, it does hurt its placement. There will be goals here that might not seem significant to the average fan. There will also be some notable omissions that cause people to think I’m crazy. I promise, there is a method to my madness.

#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.

#23: April 7, 2007- Rod Brind’Amour finishes the year on a high note

It became clear that a title defense wasn’t in the cards for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006-07, meaning their season finale against Florida would serve as a celebration of the season before things ended for the summer. The good vibes were not being felt after 40 minutes as the Panthers held a 4-1 lead, with a goal from David Tanabe being the lone bright spot. Tanabe would strike again in the third period on the power play, and Erik Cole brought the Canes within one goal a few minutes later. Eric Staal tied things up on the power play with 4:23 left to force overtime before Rod Brind’Amour got loose on a breakaway in the dying seconds of overtime, beating Alex Auld to complete the comeback. This was not unfamiliar territory for the Canes that season, having beaten the Panthers 6-4 about three months prior by scoring six goals in the third period after trailing 3-0.

#22: March 18, 2023- Martin Necas’ Not-so-brotherly love

Though it might be recency bias, there’s no denying how incredible this goal was. Through two periods, Sebastian Aho was the one everyone was talking about. He’d scored two goals to that point, and the Canes held a slim 3-2 lead with 20 minutes to play against the Flyers. Then, the wheels fell off. Philly took the lead with two goals early in the third and stifled every chance for the Canes to get back even. After drawing their first power play of the game with mere seconds left, Shayne Gostisbehere was denied on a one-timer before the puck found its way to Martin Necas at the front of the net. With fractions of a second left, he buried it into the net to tie the game and force overtime, joining Jeff Skinner in the history books for the latest game-tying goal in franchise history. In overtime, Aho would complete the hat trick by undressing Tony DeAngelo and lifting the puck past Felix Sandstrom 28 seconds into the extra frame.

#21: April 4, 2019- Nino Niederreiter gets the Canes back to the playoffs

With two games left in the regular season, there was a feeling of excitement as the playoff drought felt destined to end. After nearly a decade, the Carolina Hurricanes were on the verge of postseason hockey. All they needed to do was win a game. The Canes didn’t give an inch after the New Jersey Devils scored the game’s first goal. Warren Foegele got the goal back in the first period. In the second period, Justin Faulk gave the Canes the lead on the power play. The reason Nino Niederreiter’s goal is the one I’m choosing to highlight is that it accomplished two big things. First, it provided a cushion. Second, it just made you feel like it was actually about to happen. I know the Canes would win their season finale, which also would’ve clinched a spot, but it led to many awesome moments, including the greatest bench interview moment ever.

#20: May 18, 2022- Sebastian Aho breaks the tie against New York

With each passing season, Sebastian Aho continues to re-write the franchise history books, especially with his play in the postseason. After the Canes and the Rangers competed in tough seven-game series to begin the 2022 postseason, Game 1 felt crucial. The Rangers held the advantage for most of the game, with Igor Shesterkin stopping everything. However, the cracks started to show, especially after Aho and Nino Niederreiter hit iron in the third period. Never one to give up, Aho would finally beat Shesterkin with 2:23 left in regulation, picking up his own rebound in the crease. Game 1 would go to the Hurricanes after Ian Cole’s shot deflected into the net off a defender. The only thing keeping this lower is the result of the series, as the Rangers would prevail in seven games. In that moment, this goal was fantastic, finally giving the Caniacs something to cheer about after a challenging opening game.

#19: May 25, 2021- Martin Necas wraps one up against Nashville

Following consecutive 2OT losses in Nashville, the Canes needed to find something, or they were at risk of falling behind in the series. Enter the clutch gene of Martin Necas. After Nashville scored the opening goal, Necas was there to respond. The Predators regained the lead and held it through most of the third period. That changed when Necas picked up some speed and beat Juuse Saros with a gorgeous wrap-around goal to even things up again. This would send the series to a third straight overtime game, which would be won by the Hurricanes, courtesy of the captain Jordan Staal using his stick like a baseball bat.

#18: May 21, 2002- Jeff O’Neill only needed one eye

After splitting two tight games in Raleigh, the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals moved to Toronto, and Game 3 was equally as tight. Jeff O’Neill took a puck to the eye early in the contest, causing it to swell up and turn purple immediately. The Hurricanes and Maple Leafs traded power-play goals as no resolution was found after 60 minutes. In overtime, black eye and all, O’Neill deposited a loose puck into the back of the net to give the Canes a 2-1 win and a 2-1 series lead. Dubbed the “Eye of the Hurricane,” the team would ride this victory to a six-game series win over the Maple Leafs, advancing to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.