Usually, I save these monthly reviews for the end of the month. However, since we're about to start a new season, I figured it would be worthwhile to talk about the final eight games separately. The final half-month of the season for the Carolina Hurricanes went about as well as they could've imagined, earning them a few more accolades.
The Hurricanes went 6-1-1 to close the year, ensuring a spot in the postseason for the eighth straight season, the Metropolitan Division crown, and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Their 15-point advantage over their division foes is the largest in the league this season. They truly dominated their way to the top, despite the injuries that plagued them early.
Stories of the (Half) Month
Kings of the East: While the Hurricanes have emerged as the Eastern Conference champions twice during the postseason, finishing atop the conference during the regular season was a foreign concept for the team. They'd finished second in the conference four times, but this was the year they finally broke through to the top spot.
The Canes earned the honor by picking up a point in their penultimate game, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Flyers. In doing so, they ensured home ice through the conference finals, should they reach that point. They fought off tough competition from Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and Montreal to do it, finishing with the second-most points in the NHL, behind only the Colorado Avalanche.
Goals, Goals, Goals: The Hurricanes might not have a player who'll score 40 or 50 goals on a regular basis, but they are one of the deepest scoring teams in the league. This season, they showcased exactly how. For the first time since relocation, the team had seven players finish with at least 20 goals. Only the 1986-87 Hartford Whalers had more in franchise history with eight.
Seth Jarvis led the way with 32, while Andrei Svechnikov set a new personal best with 31. Sebastian Aho, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jackson Blake, Logan Stankoven, and Jordan Staal round out the group. All of this culminated in the team setting the franchise record for goals in a season, finishing the year with 291 as a unit, topping the 2005-06 team's previous high of 286.
Best Game: Pure dominance gets Carolina back to the postseason
The Hurricanes and the Blue Jackets became well acquainted in March, and they finished their season series to open April in Raleigh. Two nights before, the Canes dominated in Ohio, dealing a huge blow to Columbus. That Thursday in Raleigh, they went for the knockout. The Canes can't take credit for Columbus' late-season collapse, but they certainly aided in it.
This game was all Carolina. Logan Stankoven scored twice in the opening nine minutes, and Alexander Nikishin scored his first short-handed goal to put the Canes out to an immediate 3-0 lead. The Canes rolled to an easy 5-1 win, allowing a franchise-tying low ten shots to the Blue Jackets and securing their spot in the postseason for the eighth season in a row.
Best Moment: Slavin's 1st goal wins the Metro
In their final home game of the season, the Hurricanes had the chance on their stick to secure the division once and for all against the Boston Bruins. It was a truly insane game, featuring ten goals in regulation, the 30th goal of the season for Andrei Svechnikov, a hat trick for former Hurricane Morgan Geekie, and a goalie change that sparked a comeback for the visitors.
After 60 minutes, nothing had been resolved, with the sides sitting deadlocked at five. The Canes won the draw in overtime, and they'd eventually get the winner. Joonas Korpisalo had been phenomenal after relieving Jeremy Swayman, but Sebastian Aho's pass was in a place only Jaccob Slavin could get to, scoring his first goal of the season to win the division.
Three Stars of the (Half) Month
Third Star: When a Hurricanes' goalie finishes a month with a save percentage above .900, it feels like a cause for celebration, especially this season. All joking aside, these final four starts for Frederik Andersen were critical, and outside of the loss to Ottawa, he was magnificent. He won his other three starts, allowing no more than two goals in each.
He finished all three of his wins with at least a .900 save percentage, including back-to-back outstanding performances against Chicago (23 saves on 25 shots) and Utah (26 saves on 27 shots). His performance against Ottawa stands out like a sore thumb, but everyone on the ice had a rough game against the Senators. His finish to the season was a very good sign as the postseason begins.
Second Star: As a fanbase, I don't think we sing the praises of Sean Walker enough for the work that he did this season. As one of the anchors throughout the injury-riddled start for the team's defense, Walker finally got his chance to rest in the final game, the only game he missed during the regular season. Offensively, he put together a great month, too.
Walker paced the team's defense with seven points, recording at least one point in his last six contests. His +9 was the best on the team. While his seven points were his third-most for a month this season, Walker recorded his seven in April in half the time. Walker trailed only Jaccob Slavin in ice time per game, averaging just under 22 minutes.
First Star: While the top line was rested for the majority of the final games after clinching the division, the Stankoven line was given a lot more ice time. With it, Logan Stankoven put together one of his best stretches of the season. His entire line was hot, with Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall each recording eight points in April.
Stankoven led the Canes with six goals and ten points, tying for the team lead with a pair on the power play and sole possession of first with two game-winners. He recorded at least one point in all seven games that he played, including his first three-point effort with the team in their win over Chicago. He's scorching hot heading into the postseason.
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