Hurricanes clinch playoff berth for third straight year despite OT loss to Stars
The Carolina Hurricanes made some history Monday, even if they didn’t win.
The Canes were beaten 4-3 in overtime by the Dallas Stars, but are headed to the Stanley Cup playoffs for a third straight season, a first since the franchise relocated to North Carolina in 1997.
Jamie Benn was the overtime hero for the Stars, winning it at 2:44 of the OT. Benn also had three assists as the Stars (21-15-12) continued to make their own playoff push in the Central Division.
The Canes (31-10-7) needed one point to clinch a third consecutive berth, and got it. With 69 points, they maintained their lead the division over the Florida Panthers, who lost Monday to the Nashville Predators and are two points behind Carolina..
“I feel like we’re on a mission here,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Guys were upset for losing the game which they should be, but we have bigger and better things that we’re trying to accomplish here. I’m just really proud of this group.
“We’ve got eight games left and we’re in the playoffs? Let’s go. That’s pretty impressive.”
Trailing 3-2 in the third, the Canes tied the score as defenseman Jani Hakanpaa first won a puck battle in the neutral zone, then took a pass from Morgan Geekie and blasted a long shot with 4:14 left in regulation. That proved to be the goal that earned the Canes the point.
“It’s always fun to get one in the back of the net and especially now that it sends us to the playoff,” Hakanpaa said.
Joe Pavelski’s power-play goal and an even-strength score by Jason Dickson gave the Stars a 2-0 lead in the first. Fourth-line forward Max McCormick scored in the second period, batting a shot past goalie Jake Oettinger for his first of the season, and defenseman Jaccob Slavin tied it 2-2.
Having stolen the momentum, the Canes then lost it. The Stars’ Denis Gurianov scored at 17:04 of the second after a Canes turnover for a 3-2 lead. But Hakanpaa stepped up and tied it with his second of the season.
Benn’s overtime goal made for a bittersweet celebration for the Canes. Jason Robertson knocked down the Canes’ Vincent Trocheck in the Stars zone and claimed the puck, then passed to Benn for the winner in transition,
“It was a little mixed,” Hakanpaa said of the postgame mood. “We were happy about clinching but at the same time you always want to win. The boys wanted to get those two points but I guess it’s really nice to get that playoff spot.”
Oettinger, a big man in net at 6-foot-5, finished with 29 saves. James Reimer, in just his second start for the Canes since April 1, had 27 stops.
“We dug in, we got a point that got us in and we’re not done,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s a good accomplishment for this group.”
Brind’Amour decided to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen, dropping forward Drew Shore from the lineup and bringing back defenseman Jake Bean.
McCormick also stayed in the lineup and the Canes’ fourth line got the first goal. Geekie made a shortside pass from behind the goal, the puck bouncing up and being swatted out of the air by McCormick.
Slavin then tied it 2-2, catching Andrew Cogliano without a stick and firing shot past Oettinger.
Injury update
None of the Canes’ injured players returned for the game.
Forward Jesper Fast (lower-body injury) took part in Monday’s morning skate at American Airlines Center but did not play for the second straight game. Goalie Petr Mrazek was sidelined for a third game with a lower-body concern. Also missing were defenseman Brady Skjei (concussion), forward Jordan Martinook (lower body) and Teuvo Teravainen (concussion).
The Canes dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, with defenseman Joakim Ryan getting another game and Jake Bean rejoining the lineup.
Brind’Amour said injured forward Brock McGinn (upper body), who did not make the road trip and has missed 10 games, was “getting better,” but was not sure when he might return and play.
This story was originally published April 26, 2021 at 7:05 PM.
