The Carolina Hurricanes have a very simple objective tonight: win and they will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, lose and they will be done for the season. After the New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 5-2, at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, Carolina will need two points. In their final game of the season, they take on the Tampa Bay Lightining - who are locked into the fifth seed - at the RBC Center in Raleigh.
Tampa Bay Lightning Vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina Wins and They’re In
The Hurricanes won on Friday night in Atlanta to give them a shot at controlling their playoff destiny. Six different 'Canes struck in a 6-1 Carolina victory. Eric Cole scored the game winner and Cam Ward made 18 saves, holding a shutout through 59:21 of play. The Lightning, similarly, had a relatively easy time as well, getting a home win over their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, 4-2. Vincent Lecavalier scored twice, including the game winner, and Dwayne Roloson made 23 saves. The Lightning can do no better and no worse than the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Carolina is led in all categories by their captain, Eric Stall, with 33 goals, 42 assists and 75 points. Joe Corvo leads all defensemen on the team with 11 goals and 40 points. Cam Ward will once again start, making his league-leading 74th appearance and 74th start. He is looking for his 38th victory, which would tie Roberto Luongo for the NHL lead in wins.
Tampa Bay has been lead by another great season for Martin St. Louis, with 66 assists and 96 points. Steven Stamkos is always dangerous with 44 goals, though he has slowed down the stretch. Stamkos has gone largely unseen since the All-Star break, with just six goals in 30 games. Ryan Malone will sit out for the Lightning, while back-up Mike Smith will get the nod in goal over Dwayne Roloson, in shades of Scott Clemmenson getting a start over Martin Brodeur for the New Jersey Devils in April of 2007, when the New York Islanders needed a victory to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs on the season's final day. The Islanders won in a shootout over Clemmenson and the Devils.
I’ll be here all night, updating this post after each period, and then both here and in the playoff picture stream after the game to keep you up to date on the remaining playoff battles. Canes Country is the place to be for the nervous Hurricanes and their fans, while the slightly less nervous folks at Raw Charge keep tabs on the Lightning. Join us all for what should be an intense, playoff-like atmosphere.
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