The Carolina Hurricanes are on the verge of doing something they have not done in nearly a decade. They are about to make the NHL playoffs. Of course, there are still games to be played, but the team is arguably in its best position to secure a playoff spot than it has been in a good long while. These “Bunch of Jerks” might just do it.
Hurricanes in Good Standing
Here is the lay of the land as of Tuesday afternoon, Mar. 18. The Hurricanes are in the first wild-card spot with 85 points and 11 games left to play. They trail the Pittsburgh Penguins, who they’ll play in Raleigh on Tuesday night. The Pens have 88 points. Above the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division are the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals, both with 91 points.
Carolina Hurricanes Trevor van Riemsdyk, Dougie Hamilton and Petr Mrazek (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Behind the Hurricanes are the Columbus Blue Jackets with 84 points and trying to move in from the outside are the Montreal Canadiens with 81 points. To say the ‘Canes are on the verge of securing a playoff spot is underpinned by the reality that anything can happen. It will be best to put a playoff ribbon on this season only after it’s a done deal.
Related: Canadiens’ Playoff Push Needs Drouin
Earlier today, Steve Silverman posted a story on the Bleacher Report noting the latest Stanley Cup odds and wild-card predictions. Silverman wrote this about the Hurricanes: “The Hurricanes have been playing excellent hockey and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. They should be able to hold onto the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.” His confidence is nice to hear for a team that has been scratching and clawing for a second wild-card spot only to “almost” get there season after season.
Silverman went on to summarize the rest of the Eastern Conference’s wild-card situation as he sees it: “The Blue Jackets have not been as good, going 5-4-1 in their last 10. The Canadiens are struggling to put the puck in the net and don’t look like they have enough firepower to make it into the postseason. The Flyers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and playing well, but they appear to have too much ground to make up. Look for Carolina and Columbus to earn the Eastern Conference wild-card spots.”
Carolina Hurricanes Dougie Hamilton congratulates Curtis McElhinney (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
There you have it. Take it to the bank, right? As ESPN’s college football analyst says, “Not so fast.” The “Missouri skeptic” in all of us had better be cautious and say, “Show me,” before we take the Hurricanes making the playoffs to the bank. Yes, all things being equal, they should make the playoffs.
Hurricanes “95 Percent and a Dollar”
According to sportsclubstats.com, the Hurricanes have a 95 percent chance of making the playoffs. Once again, those words are like a sirloin to a starving dog, ready to be consumed. The fans are hungry, they are starving for their team to make the playoffs.
To say the ‘Canes have a 95 percent chance of ending the playoff void that has been growing for the past nine seasons is like sweet music, a ray of sunshine and the sound of early morning waves lapping at the ocean’s edge all at one time. They are the sweetest sound Hurricanes fans can hope to hear.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour. (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
We’ve all heard the phrase, “That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.” (Yes, today it’s more like five dollars). But, the point is that 95 percent is nice, but that is all it is until they actually suit up, lace their skates and go out and win the requisite games needed to keep the Habs and/or the Flyers from catching them.
Captain Williams Front & Center
Justin Williams is the ace up the team’s sleeve. He has won the Stanley Cup three times, including once in 2006 with the Hurricanes. He is the team captain and the one factor that will push the Hurricanes over the playoff finish line. Stephen Lorenzo wrote at NBC Sports yesterday about the Hurricanes and the fact that Williams is the culture change agent that this team desperately needed. Lorenzo reminded readers of Williams’ comments when he arrived in Raleigh in 2017:
You have to go through trying years and failure before you get to your goal. We’re done losing. It’s time to climb the ladder and get relevant.
It did not happen in his first season with the ‘Canes, but it’s happening now. The team is relevant and there is no question that they believe they will reach their goal of making the playoffs. These “bunch of jerks” might just be playing in the postseason and if they are, percentages go out the window. Anything can happen. Until then, to use another known phrase, they must play “one game at a time.”
Can you imagine the “Storm Surge” if they clinch a playoff berth with a win at home?
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