Bryan Bickell scores in shootout, Hurricanes win

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryan Bickell got to score a goal on the last shot of his NHL career.
Bickell, in his final game, scored in the first round of the shootout and the Carolina Hurricanes closed their season with a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
"It does feel good when you think about it," he said. "It was special. First time I lifted the [Stanley] Cup was in Philly [in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks]. To end it here was nice. Kind of think of all the memories and all the support and people that helped, it's really a moment that rushes in at once."

WATCH: All Hurricanes vs. Flyers highlights
Bickell, 31, said Saturday that he would retire from the NHL after the game Sunday. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November and recovered well enough to play the final four games of the season.
"I think I sweated all the tears out so I don't have much left," he said. "It's been an emotional week leading into this day. Seeing my family here, all the people that supported me through it all, just happy."
Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said he was happy he got another chance to use Bickell in a shootout. He missed an opportunity in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
"We talked about it on the flight, [general manager Ron Francis] and I, and I said if it happens tomorrow I said I'm putting him in and he said one, no questions asked. It was good."

Brock McGinn scored two goals, and snapped a shot from the hashmarks past Anthony Stolarz in the third round of the shootout to win it.
Sebastian Aho also scored for Carolina (36-31-15), which ended a five-game losing streak (0-4-1). Eddie Lack made 41 saves and two in the shootout.
Like his teammates, Lack was happy to get the win for Bickell.
"Probably the best teammate I've ever played with," he said. "Just the presence he has in the locker room and the positivity he brings. We really wanted to win for him."
Dale Weise had two goals and Wayne Simmonds also scored for Philadelphia (39-33-10). Stolarz made 32 saves.

The Flyers will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third time in five seasons.
"It was very frustrating," said Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who scored in the shootout. "Some games during the year we had a lot of confidence playing our game and if we would have played like that the whole year we would have been more successful than we are right now."
Aho's power-play goal at 14:50 of the third period tied it 3-3 after the Flyers took a 3-2 lead on goals by Weise and Simmonds 1:07 apart.
The Hurricanes took a 2-1 lead at 8:39 of the third on McGinn's second goal of the game.
McGinn scored at 5:42 of the first to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead, and then Weise tied it at 8:46 of the second period. The goal was Weise's 100th NHL point.

Goal of the game

Simmonds took a pass on the right side from Shayne Gostisbehere, cut to the net, switched the puck to his backhand and scored from in close at 12:05 of the third period.

Save of the game

At 5:54 of the second period Giroux split two defenders and drove to the net but Lack made a right pad save and covered the rebound.

Highlight of the game

Bickell snapped a shot off the crossbar and down across the goal line in the shootout, then was mobbed by his teammates at the bench.

Unsung performance of the game

The Hurricanes blocked 21 shots, including four each by Brett Pesce and Matt Tennyson.

They said it

"We played some really, really good hockey at the end there and if we could just have done that earlier in the season we probably would start the [Stanley Cup Playoffs] next week. There is a really bright future for this team. I am looking forward to seeing what this team can do next year." -- Hurricanes goaltender Eddie Lack
"Was nice to see no question our fans acknowledge and give their respect that way, and the players on the ice. It's a special situation. Everybody has an awful lot of respect for him and what he's been able to accomplish in the game, but also the person that he is and as he moves forward into his future." -- Flyers coach Dave Hakstol on the standing ovation given to Hurricanes forward Bryan Bickell during a first-period stoppage in play

Need to know

Bickell had two shots on goal and was plus-1 in 13:32 of ice time. … Defenseman Robert Hagg led the Flyers with five shots on goal and four hits in 21:19 of ice time in his NHL debut. … Flyers rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov played all 82 games. He's the first Flyers rookie to play every game of a season since defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich in 1993-94.

What's next

Blue Jackets: Season over
Flyers: Season over