In Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes moved closer to third place in the Metro Division with a big win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon.
The win improved the Canes to 43-28-7 and eliminated the Flyers from post season contention.
Teuvo Teravainen had a goal for Carolina – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“It’s exciting to be in the playoff race, and it’s exciting to play meaningful games,” Justin Williams said. “This is what we love to do. It’s an important game (Sunday against the Penguins) and probably a bigger one the next game after that.”
Both Teuvo Teravainen and Brock McGinn scored once and added assists for the Canes.
“The first two periods were really good,” Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I wished we were up by another one because it was a little too close for comfort. It was a pretty good game all the way.”
Petr Mrazek made 30 saves to and moved to 9-2-0 in his last 11 starts.
“The defense did a great job,” Mrazek said. “The offensive guys supported them in the (defensive) zone, getting pucks in and out. It makes life easier.”
Claude Giroux and Oskar Lindblom scored for the Flyers.
“The poor start is the reason we’re in this position,” Giroux said. “Every year, it feels like it’s the same story. We need to figure it out.”
Teravainen and Dougie Hamilton erased a 1-0 early deficit with goals just 21 seconds apart.
“A lot of times, it’s just trying to get open for the four of them and hoping that they find you,” Hamilton said. “A strong part of my game is joining the rush. I pride myself on that.”
Justin Faulk also scored for the Canes and Jaccob Slavin and Brock McGinn added empty-net markers late.
“Right now, we’re in a position obviously that we’re not making the playoffs,” Flyers head coach Scott Gordon, who replaced Dave Hakstol on Dec. 17 said. We’ve got to find a way to play the game the right way and finish the year out doing the right things.”
[WATCH: All Flyers vs. Hurricanes highlights]
Cam Talbot made 27 saves in the loss.
“When you look at most teams that are in the playoffs, it’s two or three goalies, max. How many points were lost just because of that being unsettled? You’d like to think (with) a healthy (Michael Neuvirth and Brian Elliott) from the start of the year to the end, that’s a pretty good combo,” Gordon said. “No one’s to blame.
“That more than anything is the difference in not being in the playoffs.”
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