2023-24 Regular Season, Game 81: Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks (Postgame)

In the penultimate game of the season, the Carolina Hurricanes ventured to Chicago to face rookie sensation Connor Bedard in the Blackhawks' home finale. With Chicago well outside of anything meaningful, they looked to be a spoiler as the Canes continued to push for the top spot in the division and the conference. 

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CHI (10:05)- Frank Nazar (1) (assisted by Seth Jones (23))

2nd Period

CAR (4:10)- Jordan Staal (10) (assisted by Jordan Martinook (18) & Andrei Svechnikov (32))

3rd Period

CHI (1:54)- Andreas Athanasiou (2) (assisted by Lukas Reichel (11) & Ryan Donato (17))

CAR (6:24)- Seth Jarvis (32) PP (unassisted)

CAR (16:27)- Seth Jarvis (33) PP (assisted by Brent Burns (31) & Andrei Svechnikov (33))

CAR (17:54)- Sebastian Aho (36) EN (assisted by Jake Guentzel (47))

My Thoughts

This was just about the type of game I expected tonight. Chicago was going to be juiced for its home finale, while the Hurricanes would need to weather the storm against a team with nothing to lose. The Canes were the stronger team through and through tonight, but Petr Mrazek was the great equalizer. He made some incredible stops throughout the game to keep Chicago in it. It was the Hurricanes' special teams that proved to be the difference. Chicago had the 3-0 advantage in power plays before the Canes earned their first early in the third period. Once they got it, Chicago didn't stand a chance. Seth Jarvis scored twice just over ten minutes apart with the man advantage, winning the game for Carolina. There wasn't much glitz and glamor for this one. It was a hard-working win on a night in which the Canes could've easily taken their foot off the gas. 

In many ways, this game had some similarities to the St. Louis game on Friday night. The Canes played from behind for a little longer, but the top line took control of the game, especially in the third period. Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, and Jake Guentzel had plenty of chances in the first two periods. Guentzel had one especially great chance alone against Mrazek that Chicago's netminder flashed the leather on. The third period is their domain. Both of Jarvis' power-play goals came in the final 20 minutes before Aho scored into the empty net with some help from Guentzel. Good on Jarvis for going all out to get back onside before Aho scored. They were far superior to Chicago's top group, with Connor Bedard failing to record a shot after his three-point performance in Raleigh earlier in the season.

Coming into the game, I said there wasn't anything that this group could teach me about themselves tonight, and I meant it. This team is ready for Saturday or Sunday when the postseason begins. They've matched the desperation of every group they've faced over the last few weeks while their spot in the playoffs was locked up. They've beaten the teams they needed to, with only one or two slip-ups along the way. Both goalies are playing excellent hockey at the moment, though Frederik Andersen likely has the edge to be the Game 1 starter. The top line is one of the hottest lines in the league. The defense has proven that it runs at least seven deep. It would be reckless to guarantee postseason success at this juncture, especially with how wild the Stanley Cup Playoffs can get, but this is the most faith I've had in a Hurricanes team in a while. 

My Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star- Brent Burns- 1 assist

If not for "own goal" rules that negate any assists leading up to an own goal, Burns would've finished with a multi-point night. Still, he factored in on both power-play goals, picking up the primary assist on the game-winner. Even on the one he won't get credit on, Burns made a great play at the line to stay in the zone as he spun away from a defender, eventually leading to Jarvis' first goal.

2nd Star- Jordan Staal- 1 goal

This was the captain's best game in a while, playing like a much younger man than we've seen him play like this season. Staal finished with five shots in the game, second-most on the team, picking up the important goal early in the second period to tie it. He also got in on a short-handed breakaway that was stopped. It was a nice return to form as he reached double digits once again.

1st Star- Seth Jarvis- 2 goals (on 1 shot...figure that one out)

As we all expected, Jarvis wasn't satisfied with scoring just 30 goals. Since reaching the 30-goal marker on Tuesday, he has scored three more times, including twice tonight. His goals tonight were especially timely, serving as the tying and winning goals for the Canes. He also only did it on one shot. I shutter at the incredible contract he's about the earn in the offseason. Hopefully, it keeps him in Raleigh for a long time.

Postseason Watch- The direction of their season finale will be determined on Monday night by the Rangers when they host the Senators. Right now, the Hurricanes trail the Rangers by one point with each side playing 81 games to this point. However, the Canes hold the all-important first tiebreaker, which is regulation wins. Tonight's win for Carolina was their 44th, which is two more than New York's 42. Any result in which the Canes tie the Rangers in points gives the advantage to Carolina. None of that matters if the Rangers win on Monday. 

As for their opponent, that's hard to predict, regardless of whether the Canes win the division or not. Currently, the Islanders hold the third spot in the division, while the Capitals are the second team in the Wild Card, though they're tied with Detroit and Philadelphia with 87 points. Washington (vs. Boston), Detroit (vs. Montreal), and New York (at New Jersey) all play tomorrow, with Washington playing Philadelphia and Detroit playing in Montreal on Tuesday to conclude their seasons. A win for New York on Monday locks them into third in the Metro, making their finale on Wednesday moot.

Up Next- The regular season will come to an end on Tuesday night as the Hurricanes travel to Columbus to play game #82. I'd expect even more regulars to be out of the lineup to ensure everyone is healthy for Game 1 this weekend, assuming the Rangers handle business on Monday.