The Carolina Hurricanes just erased 10 years of misery.
It was a game I just couldn’t turn off. The Hurricanes continued their reappearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs after missing out since 2009 and consequently fading from much of the general public’s consciousness. Then, they did the near-impossible in bringing hockey back to life in Raleigh and the state of North Carolina.
Trailing defending Cup champion Washington two games to none, the Canes came back to win games three and four at home, and tied the series in front of a crazed PNC Arena crowd that inspired comparison to the atmosphere at game seven of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
This game seven became a microcosm of the entire series, with the Canes falling behind 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 midway through the second before scoring twice late in the game — deflating the Caps crowd that had been ready to party.
In the first sudden-death period, the Canes dominated – out-shooting Washington 10-4 and missing some golden opportunities around the net to win. The Capitals had every advantage in the second overtime, having afforded their 33-year-old star Alex Ovechkin and the regulars who had played longer shifts during the first extra period some rest.
If you know as little about hockey as I do, the Hurricanes in their visiting white jerseys clearly looked the hungrier team than the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Hockey is a tough game to watch on television because the puck is hard to follow and the near misses around the goal can be frustrating and heart-stopping. But, guaranteed, the television audience grew as viewers who tuned in to check the score stayed for the intensity — despite long breaks between periods.
Before last night, the only Justin Williams I knew was the husband of WCHL general manager Aubrey Williams. I know much better now. The hockey Justin, the 37-year-old Canes captain and a veteran in his second stint with Carolina, fired a loose puck from the right side across the goal mouth, where Brock McGinn knocked it into the net. Williams had stunned the Capitals team he had played on for two seasons.
It happened when the game seemed destined for a third overtime; instead, the Hurricanes are moving on to Brooklyn to face the Islanders in the second round of the playoffs Friday night. Without the home-ice advantage again, don’t count out this wild card entry anymore.
With no other major sport playing in the Carolinas, the Hurricanes have regained center stage. And after ten years, they are wearing it well.
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