They cheered, loudly, for Jeff Skinner.
They cheered even louder for Bryan Bickell.
In the Carolina Hurricanes’ last home game of the season, Skinner scored twice and Bickell took a final bow as Canes fans roared. Bickell, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, will retire after the season.
The Canes didn’t win it. The St. Louis Blues won 5-4 in a shootout, with Vladimir Tarasenko getting with deciding goal.
Skinner, continuing to sizzle late in the season, pushed his career high to 37 goals. His second, at 9:14 of the third, tied the score 4-4 and was Skinner at his elusive best.