Tuesday night, the Carolina Hurricanes suffered a devastating loss to the Boston Bruins. After holding a 4-1 lead in the third period, the Hurricanes watched helplessly as the Bruins scored five unanswered goals in the final 9:56 of the game.
Many analysts in the preseason picked the Hurricanes to return to the playoffs this year for the first time in nine years, but with the loss to the Bruins, the Hurricanes dropped to eight points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the second and final wildcard spot in the East.
After the game, former Capitals forward Justin Williams, who signed with the Hurricanes during the offseason, sounded off on the frustrating season. The 36-year-old forward has 45 points in 70 games.
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"It's beyond anger…. It's beyond upsetting. But we've got to look at ourselves and know that we're responsible for what we've done to this point," -Justin Williams after tonight's loss to Boston. pic.twitter.com/iWafz9Izlp
— FOX Sports Carolinas (@CanesOnFSCR) March 14, 2018
The team has to [get to the playoffs] before they can do it. I guess, how do you do it?
Justin Williams: Well, I mean, experience I guess. I don’t know.
First 50 minutes you said were very good. There was an edge to this game that we don’t see on a regular basis. Did Boston bring that out or did you unleash that on your own?
Justin Williams: I think probably a little bit of both. They are a team that makes you compete. There is no where to hide out there. And if you don’t answer the bell, you look foolish. [deep sigh] That’s the thing with hockey sometimes. You can play well and think you should win and all of a sudden you lose 6-4.
This team…is something…I mean this is not good for this team. But, what can something like this do? Does it make it angry?
Justin Williams: I mean, it’s beyond anger to be honest. We’ve got thousands of Boston fans cheering for them when we’re at home. It’s a product of what’s happening. It’s beyond upsetting, but we’ve got to look at ourselves and know that we’re responsible for what we’ve done to this point.
The Carolina Hurricanes were supposed to be competitive this season, but in turn have done a free-fall down standings and fired their general manager Ron Francis. After building renovation plans grew stale and two offseason moves failed (goaltender Scott Darling and veteran forward Marcus Kruger), the Canes management had enough.
Carolina’s chances of making the playoffs in a competitive Metropolitan division have diminished over the past month. On January 1st, the Canes had a 50% chance of going to the dance.
Today, their chances are a mere 7%.
Playoff chances, West and East.
Def. no need to panic yet, Flyers fans. pic.twitter.com/N40YECg5QS
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) March 13, 2018
Tuesday was just another bump in an already turbulent season, and you have to feel for Justin Williams.
