Two of the three teams in Metropolitan Division playoff spots meet on Monday night when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Hurricanes (52-22-6, 110 points) have clinched the division title, while the Flyers (41-27-12, 94 points) are in third. With two games to play, they lead the Washington Capitals by one point, the Columbus Blue Jackets by two, and the New York Islanders by three. The Flyers have a game in hand on Washington.
Philadelphia has taken four of its last five after a 7-1 win over the host Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
This had been considered a rebuilding season for the Flyers earlier in the campaign under first-year coach Rick Tocchet.
“It’s just that belief, that trust in this room,” said Noah Cates, who had a goal and two assists in Saturday’s victory. “Everyone’s going, everyone’s playing their best hockey, everyone’s playing for the crest, is kind of what it feels like. And it’s been a ton of fun. Just no passengers, we’re playing hard, and like I said, we have huge games next week and we just got to keep playing, playing the right way. Everyone playing to their identity and to our team identity.”
Sean Couturier produced two goals and an assist, and Matvei Michkov had a goal and an assist. Porter Martone also scored to stretch his point streak to four games (three goals, three assists).
“I think we’re playing the right way,” Couturier said. “We’re not giving up a whole lot defensively, so that’s good. It’s hard for opposing teams to play us. Special teams, PK especially, stepped up (Saturday), bounced back from a tough game last game in Detroit (a 6-3 road loss on Thursday). That’s encouraging, and we’ve just got to keep going.”
The Hurricanes beat the host Utah Mammoth 4-1 on Saturday, have won six of their last seven and have a 12-point lead on the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins as they prepare for the playoffs.
Captain Jordan Staal had a goal and an assist on Saturday to reach the 20-goal mark for the first time since 2015-16.
“I’m not necessarily known for my offensive skills, but I always want to chip in that way and it’s always nice to score goals,” Staal said. “… It always feels good and I’ll take it.”
Staal directed credit to Frederik Andersen and his 26 saves.
“I thought it was a good effort,” Staal said. “There was a little lull in our game, probably in the second. Freddie (Andersen) came up big and he made some big saves throughout the whole game, but he was really good in the second for us to keep it at bay. Then the boys grinded in third.”
The win came despite a slew of scratches for apparent load management. Logan Stankoven, William Carrier, Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, Mark Jankowski, and defensemen Jalen Chatfield and K’Andre Miller all sat out.
“I thought in the third period, we increased our effort level,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “You look at the little things, (Staal) winning all the faceoffs, getting a big goal by (Sebastian Aho) there and then (Andersen) made some big saves. That’s the end of the day. That’s the game.”
