Hurricanes Pull Off One for the Ages in Whalers Night Comeback
Thursday night in Raleigh had all the ingredients of a classic-nostalgia, drama, and a jaw-dropping finish that will be talked about for years. On Whalers Night, with the retro green and blue jerseys in full display and the crowd buzzing, the Carolina Hurricanes delivered a comeback so improbable, it etched their names into NHL history.
Down 4-2 to the Utah Mammoth with less than two minutes left in regulation, the Canes looked dead in the water. But if we’ve learned anything about this team over the last few seasons, it’s that you never count them out. Not with this group.
The Final 120 Seconds That Shook the League
Let’s set the stage. The clock read 1:59 when Andrei Svechnikov found the back of the net, slicing the Mammoth lead to one.
That goal alone gave the building a jolt. But what came next was pure chaos.
Just 32 seconds later, Shayne Gostisbehere fired one home to tie it up. The roof nearly came off PNC Arena.
And before fans could even catch their breath, Jordan Staal-yes, the captain-put the finishing touch on the rally with a go-ahead goal with just 29.4 seconds left. Three goals in 90 seconds.
Game over. Canes win, 5-4.
Regulation.
It wasn’t just a wild win-it was historic. According to the NHL’s PR team, Carolina became just the third team in league history to win a game in regulation after trailing by multiple goals in the final two minutes.
The first to do it in the salary cap era. The last time this happened?
The Dallas Stars pulled it off more than 30 years ago. Before that, the Montreal Maroons did it in 24 seconds.
We’re talking about a once-in-a-generation kind of finish.
A Pattern of Late-Game Magic
If this felt familiar, it should. The Hurricanes have developed a bit of a reputation for late-game dramatics.
Almost exactly three years ago-January 27, 2023-they were down 4-2 to the San Jose Sharks with under two minutes to go. That night, it was Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas who scored in quick succession to force overtime, with Necas sealing it in the extra frame.
And then there was Game 2 of the 2024 playoffs against the Islanders, when Carolina erased a three-goal deficit thanks to two goals just nine seconds apart. That kind of resilience doesn’t happen by accident. It’s part of the team’s DNA.
But Thursday night? That was something else.
This time, there was no overtime needed. No extra frame.
Just a furious, relentless push that flipped the script in real time. It was a reminder that this Hurricanes team doesn’t just believe they can win-they expect to, no matter the clock.
What’s Next
Sure, Rod Brind’Amour and the coaching staff would probably prefer a full 60-minute effort without the need for late-game heroics. But when it ends with two points and a moment fans will never forget, it’s hard to complain.
Now, it’s on to the next challenge. The Hurricanes hit the road for a weekend back-to-back starting Saturday in Washington, D.C. But the echoes of Whalers Night-and one of the wildest finishes the NHL has seen in decades-will stick with this team and its fans for a long, long time.