Now, not only are they in, they're representing their division as the top seed for a second consecutive year.
"It feels great. It gives you some confidence as a team that you've played well all throughout the entire year," Brady Skjei began after the team closed out a
4-3 victory over the New York Rangers
. "Obviously it was a goal of ours going into the season and to accomplish it means a lot."
Albeit things have taken a few twists and turns over the last six weeks, the proof is in the pudding that the Canes have in fact played well throughout the entire campaign.
In addition to setting a new franchise record with their 53rd win of the season on Tuesday, the team has excelled in numerous defensive categories - pacing the league in both goals against and penalty kill for almost the entire 195 days of the NHL season.
"When you have a good group that buys into what we're trying to accomplish as a team, good things can happen," head coach Rod Brind'Amour offered when looking back on the year to date. "I'm proud of the group because of how they played, how they prepare and how they come to work every day."
That play and preparation have allowed for the group to not miss a beat, even when the aforementioned twists and turns do take place. Whether it's been COVID-19 or injuries, the Canes have found a way to continue pushing forward.
Case in point?
Pyotr Kochetkov, who three months ago may not have even been on the radar as an option to play a game in North America this season. As we've now seen, things change.
"Everyone always talks about it, you have to go through some tough times and grow. This year had been pretty easy breezy for us, when you look at it - until all of this kind of hit at once," Brind'Amour continued. "It shows a lot about our group, but I expected this. I didn't think we were just going to cave because we had all of our goalies out. Our guys are a solid group. We're pleasantly surprised with Pyotr, but that's because we had no idea, right? Nobody did. It's been a good story so far, for sure."
