If the 2021 COVID-era division format is indeed a one off, the Carolina Hurricanes will go down in NHL history as the lone champion in this iteration of the Central Division.
Following the Dallas Stars’ 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night, the Hurricanes have clinched the top spot in the Central, their first division championship since winning the Southeast Division in the 2005-06 season.
Coming into this season, few pegged the Hurricanes as division champs in a group of eight that featured both of last year’s Stanley Cup finalists (who, ironically, played each other in the game that sealed the Hurricanes’ fate).