Six years ago, the Carolina Hurricanes faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 82 at PNC Arena knowing that a win would earn them a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They then proceeded to go out and lay an egg, spotting the Lightning four goals on their way to a 6-2 laugher that was as close as the Canes have come to the playoffs since 2009.
Despite not having the same stakes, it didn’t take long for Saturday’s game at PNC Arena to prove that it wouldn’t follow the same script.