On May 16, 2019, the Carolina Hurricanes got swept out of the Eastern Conference Final by the Boston Bruins, ending a season unlike any other in the history of the franchise in Raleigh that ended a nine-season playoff drought.
“Not being there, to know how hard it is, it takes that little bit extra,” then-rookie head coach Rod Brind’Amour said of their unceremonious exit at the hands of the Bruins. “We found out how hard it is. We played a team that knows it, and they said, ‘thank you very much.’ Everyone has to be that much better.