The Carolina Hurricanes overcame a two-goal deficit and defeated the flagging Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 in Raleigh last night. Carolina’s win blocked the Florida Panthers path to first place in the Discover Central Division, as the best the Cats could do now is tie the Hurricanes at 79 points, but what they can’t do is match their 27 regulation wins. What a bunch of jerks, indeed!
That result all but ensures the first-ever playoff meeting between the Panthers and their cross-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts can still pass the Hurricanes and swipe first place, setting up a Panthers - Carolina first round series, but currently down six points with four games remaining, the odds of that happening are slim to none.