Teams rarely win when trailing by multiple goals late into the game. It’s even rarer to see such a comeback accomplished in regulation. Not deterred, the Carolina Hurricanes were the first team in over 30 years to win in regulation after being down two goals with two minutes to play.
With five minutes left, all hope seemed lost in the Lenovo Center. The Canes (33-15-5) were down by two and struggling to generate any offense. It seemed a loss against the newest team — the Utah Mammoth (28-22-4) — was looming. But blink, and you might’ve missed it.
In the final two minutes, the Canes scored three goals to erase the deficit and stun the Mammoth 5-4, completing a comeback that had been done just once since 1932.
Whether it was the retro Hartford Whalers jerseys or the roaring crowd of Caniacs, the energy inside Lenovo Center flipped in the final two minutes as fans rose to their feet to cheer on the historic moment.
“Definitely some momentum, we were riding,” said center Jordan Staal. “The fans got into it and we were kind of riding the wave”
The comeback began with a save by netminder Brandon Bussi to keep the Canes within striking distance. Though he allowed four goals, Bussi kept the Mammoth out of the net in the final 10 minutes and gave the Canes the opportunity they needed to spark the comeback as he secured his 20th win in net — the first NHL goalie with 20 wins in his first 24 games.
A costly penalty from center Barrett Hayton gave Carolina a four-minute powerplay and a chance to cut the lead. The Canes took advantage of this powerplay as winger Andrei Svechnikov scored his second goal of the night to cut the lead to just one.
A little over 30 seconds later, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere buried his second of the night to tie the game, bringing the Caniacs to their feet as Carolina now had all the momentum. Less than a minute later with all the momentum, Staal lit the lamp one last time to put the Hurricanes on top.
Despite the historic comeback, the Canes drew first blood in the opening frame as Svechnikov scored three minutes into the opening period, giving Carolina an early lead.
“I thought he was our best forward, maybe the best on the ice,” said head coach Rod Brind’Amour. “He would attack for the whole night, really driving the play.”
The Mammoth retaliated in the second period with a goal from right wing Kailer Yamamoto after Gostisbehere lost his footing and gave Utah an easy opportunity. Four minutes later, Yamamoto lit the lamp again after a broken stick from Canes defenseman Sean Walker to give the Mammoth a 2-1 lead.
Even still, the Canes continued fighting as Gostisbehere atoned for his earlier mistake with his first goal of the night on a one-timer to tie the game yet again. But the Mammoth remained on the attack, and winger JJ Peterka scored just 20 seconds later to yet again put his team on top.
Multiple giveaways in the third period prevented the Canes from creating any offensive momentum, and the Mammoth capitalized yet again with a wrist shot goal from left winger Michael Carcone to give it a two-goal advantage.
The Canes offense continued to flounder, but winger Nikolaj Ehlers drew a high stick for the fated four-minute power play, and the rest will forever be remembered by hockey fans; the day Carolina completed a near-impossible comeback.
Next up, the Hurricanes head to the nation’s capital to face Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Saturday, Jan. 30. Puck drop at Capital One Arena is set for 5 p.m.