The Carolina Hurricanes were victorious against the Utah Mammoth yesterday. Both teams had previously clenched playoff spots, so neither team was using their typical rosters.
Carolina featured members of their AHL team, the Chicago Wolves, including Skyler Brind'Amour, Charles Alexis Legault, and Bradly Nadeau, with Jackson Blake, William Carrier, Jalen Chatfield, Taylor Hall, Mark Jankowski, K'Andre Miller, and Logan Stankoven scratched for undisclosed reasons.
Frederik Andersen was in the goal tonight; his second time in two games.
A Power Play Goal from Andrei Svechnikov, his 31st of the season and a career high for him, started the game off at 04:25 of the First Period.
Captain Jordan Staal achieved his 20th goal of the regular season, making him the seventh player on the Canes roster to reach that milestone this season. That’s the most that the Hurricanes have had since they were relocated from Hartford, and is the second-most since the 1986-1987 season, where they had 8.
With Carolina’s win, they just need one more point across two remaining games to clinch the Eastern Conference and ensure home-ice advantage through to the Stanley Cup Finals. Based on the standings now, they would be second-only to the Colorado Avalanche, who have already clinched the Western Conference.
Around the League
The Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights each clinched a playoff spot. The Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Seattle Kraken were eliminated from contention.
And, though not strictly “around the League,” the University of Denver Pioneers won their 11th NCAA Division I championship. Congratulations to them!