Carolina Hurricanes
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CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 27, 2021 Just making the playoffs isn’t enough for the Hurricanes. Their sights are higher By Luke DeCock were merely happy to be there, especially as the Boston series went sideways. We have not yet reached the point where making the playoffs can be taken for granted, although the Carolina There hasn’t been any of that this season, and there Hurricanes have done it this season with such relative ease. shouldn’t be any of that in the playoffs, and there can’t be The fact that reaching the postseason three years in a row is any of it now. The stakes are just as high over the final eight a post-relocation first is a pointed reminder that those very games as they were over the first 48. In this division, with dark days aren’t all that far behind. three heavyweights slugging it out at the top, finishing first means more than hanging a banner. A franchise that has struggled with prosperity over the course of its history is now awash in it after clinching another With the obvious and perennial caveat that every playoff trip to the playoffs with the point earned in Monday night’s 4- series is its own miniature universe, the odds will lean 3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, and such an heavily toward the team among the Carolina-Tampa-Florida accomplishment should not be taken lightly. There were too trio that doesn’t have to play one of the other two in the first many years when the Hurricanes fell short by the finest of round. That 2-3 semifinal series in the Central Division has margins (and just as many when the margins were all too the potential to be an absolute slog, every bit as difficult as wide). the division final will be. No disrespect to Dallas or Nashville, but the gap between the top three and the rest of the division Even if this team was expected to be in this position at this is tangible and significant. There’s a reward for finishing point, between COVID and injuries and the quality of strong, and the Hurricanes control their own destiny to claim opponents like Tampa Bay and Florida, there was no it. shortage of potholes and hurdles to be dodged and cleared along the way. Closing out the season the right way and claiming the division title would be a statement of intent from a team that So it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the diligence has shown its Stanley Cup window is as open as anyone’s. with which this group has approached the regular season the There are 12 players on this team who participated in the past three years, as well as the motivational and technical first-round win over the Washington Capitals in 2019. That skill of Rod Brind’Amour and his coaching staff. These have core is as experienced in the postseason as it is going to get. not just been three seasons worth continuing in the With the addition of Vincent Trocheck, Brady Skjei, Martin postseason; they have been three seasons of continuous Necas, Jesper Fast and Alex Nedeljkovic to that group, their improvement, even if the playoff results didn’t proceed along time has come and it has come now. the same upward slope. The Hurricanes may not win the Stanley Cup, but the team And ... the moment’s over. that wins this division is going to have as good a chance to Because this team expected no less than this, and because win it as anyone. They’re right in that mix. They have earned it has indeed elevated its game from last season and the entry to the postseason. Now they have to finish the regular season before, this can’t be enough. Amid the disruption of season on the right note, in the right way, for all the right last season and the stifling uncomfortability of the playoff reasons. bubble, there were times when it seemed like the Hurricanes They have already made history of a sort, but that can’t be all. CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 27, 2021 Hurricanes clinch playoff berth for third straight year despite OT loss to Stars By Chip Alexander Benn’s overtime goal made for a bittersweet celebration for the Canes. Jason Robertson knocked down the Canes’ The Carolina Hurricanes made some history Monday, even if Vincent Trocheck in the Stars zone and claimed the puck, they didn’t win. then passed to Benn for the winner in transition, The Canes were beaten 4-3 in overtime by the Dallas Stars, “It was a little mixed,” Hakanpaa said of the postgame mood. but are headed to the Stanley Cup playoffs for a third straight “We were happy about clinching but at the same time you season, a first since the franchise relocated to North Carolina always want to win. The boys wanted to get those two points in 1997. but I guess it’s really nice to get that playoff spot.” Jamie Benn was the overtime hero for the Stars, winning it at Oettinger, a big man in net at 6-foot-5, finished with 29 2:44 of the OT. Benn also had three assists as the Stars (21- saves. James Reimer, in just his second start for the Canes 15-12) continued to make their own playoff push in the since April 1, had 27 stops. Central Division. “We dug in, we got a point that got us in and we’re not done,” The Canes (31-10-7) needed one point to clinch a third Brind’Amour said. “It’s a good accomplishment for this consecutive berth, and got it. With 69 points, they maintained group.” their lead the division over the Florida Panthers, who lost Monday to the Nashville Predators and are two points behind Brind’Amour decided to dress 11 forwards and seven Carolina.. defensemen, dropping forward Drew Shore from the lineup and bringing back defenseman Jake Bean. “I feel like we’re on a mission here,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Guys were upset for losing the game McCormick also stayed in the lineup and the Canes’ fourth which they should be, but we have bigger and better things line got the first goal. Geekie made a shortside pass from that we’re trying to accomplish here. I’m just really proud of behind the goal, the puck bouncing up and being swatted out this group. of the air by McCormick. “We’ve got eight games left and we’re in the playoffs? Let’s Slavin then tied it 2-2, catching Andrew Cogliano without a go. That’s pretty impressive.” stick and firing shot past Oettinger. Trailing 3-2 in the third, the Canes tied the score as Injury update defenseman Jani Hakanpaa first won a puck battle in the neutral zone, then took a pass from Morgan Geekie and None of the Canes’ injured players returned for the game. blasted a long shot with 4:14 left in regulation. That proved to Forward Jesper Fast (lower-body injury) took part in be the goal that earned the Canes the point. Monday’s morning skate at American Airlines Center but did “It’s always fun to get one in the back of the net and not play for the second straight game. Goalie Petr Mrazek especially now that it sends us to the playoff,” Hakanpaa was sidelined for a third game with a lower-body concern. said. Also missing were defenseman Brady Skjei (concussion), forward Jordan Martinook (lower body) and Teuvo Joe Pavelski’s power-play goal and an even-strength score Teravainen (concussion). by Jason Dickson gave the Stars a 2-0 lead in the first. Fourth-line forward Max McCormick scored in the second The Canes dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, period, batting a shot past goalie Jake Oettinger for his first with defenseman Joakim Ryan getting another game and of the season, and defenseman Jaccob Slavin tied it 2-2. Jake Bean rejoining the lineup. Having stolen the momentum, the Canes then lost it. The Brind’Amour said injured forward Brock McGinn (upper Stars’ Denis Gurianov scored at 17:04 of the second after a body), who did not make the road trip and has missed 10 Canes turnover for a 3-2 lead. But Hakanpaa stepped up and games, was “getting better,” but was not sure when he might tied it with his second of the season. return and play. CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 27, 2021 Hurricanes clinch third consecutive playoff berth despite losing in OT By Sara Civian But these are the Carolina Hurricanes, not the Hartford Whalers, and it’s time to take some pride in that. If you told me at the beginning of the year that the Hurricanes would clinch a playoff berth this season, of “We’ve had some good years, but then it’s been kind of one course I would’ve believed you. I would’ve been slightly more and done,” Brind’Amour said. “We don’t want to be that. I confused upon glancing at the scoresheet to see Jani think it’s important to be consistent and be relevant year in Hakanpaa and Max McCormick solidifying this berth. and year out. That’s what we’re trying to be, and I think we’re getting there, clearly. That says a lot about the organization But, in a way, Hakanpaa’s goal with 4 minutes, 14 seconds and the players that we have.