Since joining the Cardiac Cane team over a year ago, my self-proclaimed role has been as the Hurricanes historian, hoping to provide insight to new fans and nostalgia to longtime fans. With the action done for the season, I've taken it upon myself to start a new series that looks into some of the biggest moments and games, providing context to some of the greatest moments in the team's history. The aim is to provide perspective for some of the more exciting moments we have been fortunate enough to experience as Hurricanes fans.
The Background
Heading into their penultimate season game, the Hurricanes were in a position they hadn't been in for almost a decade. They were on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. Postseason hockey hadn't been played in Raleigh since the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Canes lost in four games to Boston. After nine long years and a huge shakeup in the offseason, it was all about to change.
Under first-year head coach Rod Brind'Amour, the Canes had gotten off to another slow start, sitting 15-17-5 right before the new year. However, a scorching three-month stretch had them back in the hunt. The Canes occupied the first Wild Card spot, leading both Columbus and Montreal by one point, needing a win and a Montreal loss to the Capitals to get the job done.
For their final home game, the New Jersey Devils were in town. The Devils were well out of the hunt at this point, sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and looking forward to a high lottery pick in the upcoming draft. Despite their positioning, the Devils had won two of the three meetings in the season series, with the home team winning every game to that point. Cory Schneider and Petr Mrazek faced off between the pipes.
Meanwhile, almost 300 miles away, the division-leading Washington Capitals were trying to handle their own business by clinching their fourth straight division title against a Montreal Canadiens team desperate to snag one of the final two spots. With fewer regulation wins than both Carolina and Columbus, Montreal needed not only to win but also to make sure they gained ground in the points column against the teams they were chasing.