This point in the hockey season provides Carolina Hurricanes fans with something they do not experience often: the excitement of potential playoff hockey.
The Canes have not made the playoffs since the 2008-2009 season, the NHL’s longest active postseason drought. This year, they have a chance to end that drought.
The past two games have put the Canes at an unfamiliar point in their season: a two-game losing streak. The Canes have won 26 games in the new year so far, and have only had two two-game losing streaks in the new year.
Coming off a tough 4-1 loss to division rival Washington, the Canes returned back home last night to take on the Capitals for the second time in two days. Leading after two periods, the Canes were in good position to beat their division rivals for the first time this season after a first period goal from new acquisition Nino Neiderreiter, and a second period goal from Warren Foegele.
But the Caps would not go away so easily, as they rode two third period goals, one from Jakub Vrana and one from Nic Down, on the way to a 3-2 victory in Raleigh, and a 4-0 season sweep of the Canes.
Coming into this game, in order to retain their first spot in the Wild Card race, the Canes needed the Columbus Blue Jackets (43-30-4) to take care of the Montreal Canadiens (41-29-8). And the Blue Jackets did just that with a 6-2 whopping.
On the other side, however, the Hurricanes sit just one point in front of Columbus, who now has the second Wild Card spot, and Montreal, who is currently tied with Columbus in points. This poses a potential danger for the Canes, who have only scored three goals in their past two games, after scoring seven in their previous two against Minnesota and Montreal, respectively.
The Canes will look to get back on track tomorrow afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers (37-32-8), a team that has shot up from last place in the Eastern Conference to eight points out of a playoff spot. This is certainly a game the Canes should win, but if they want to hold off Montreal and Columbus, they will need to beat their Pennsylvania rivals for the third time this season.
The Blue Jackets will look to jump the Canes when they take on the Nashville Predators (43-28-6), a team coming off a close 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild (35-33-9), as the Canadiens will look to do the same when they take on the Winnipeg Jets (45-28-4).
For the first time in forever, the Canes have a great chance to make the playoffs. But it will not be easy. They are fighting two equally hot teams, who are equally as eager to chase the Stanley Cup.
The Flyers provide us an opportunity to get back on the winning track. And in order to do so, we will need to continue to produce on offense at the level we are capable of doing so.
