This Seat's Taken! Carolina Clinches Third Playoff Spot

With their 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres last night, the Canes are the third team to clinch a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They currently sit at number 3 in the overall standings, 4 points behind the Panthers who were actually the first team to clinch a Playoff spot, even though they're second overall with 104 points. Colorado was the second team to clinch and are on top with 106 points.
Carolina does currently lead the Metro Division, but with the Rangers' most recent win over Pittsburgh, they are only 2 points ahead. However, New York has played one more game than the Canes, so they still have a shot at keeping their penthouse spot.
The Sabres didn't make it easy for Carolina, scoring the first 2 goals of the game in the first period, and holding the Canes off until the 2nd. The Sabres even regained their 2 goal lead 30 seconds after Carolina's first goal. But with 3 and a half minutes left in the middle frame, the Canes cut it to 1, and that was it for the Buffalo goals. Two more Carolina goals in the third put them ahead, and an EN (and his second of the night) from Jordan Staal clinched it at 19:05.
The Hurricanes also won the match-up series, two games to one.

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