Recap: Canes Top Bolts in OT in Season Finale

It took 49 seconds of extra time, but the Carolina Hurricanes finished the 2017-18 season with a win, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in overtime.
Elias Lindholm netted the game-winner, a one-time bullet, while Jordan Staal and Justin Williams found the back of the net in regulation.
Here are five takeaway's from tonight's season finale.

One
The conclusion of game No. 82 is a bittersweet one for the Canes. They earned the two points, but this is where it ends for this team this year.
"It's tough for me," Williams said. "You put on a smile for a couple seconds, and then you realize where you are and it instantly turns into a frown, but I am happy with the way the season ended."
"We came into tonight trying to finish the right way. I thought the effort was there all night," Cam Ward said. "It's disappointing, obviously. We wanted to be in the playoffs and were expecting big things out of our hockey club this year and fell short. I think today we can enjoy ending the right way and ending on a good note with a big win."
Two
Not even a minute into 3-on-3 overtime, Ward hit Haydn Fleury with an outlet pass in the neutral zone that caught Tampa Bay changing. Fleury dished the puck off to Teuvo Tervainen, the late guy in the rush, and he drew defenders to him before sliding the puck over to Lindholm for the one-time blast, the game-winning tally.

"Fleury makes a great play. He hasn't played a lot in OT. Makes a great play to find Teravainen late," Peters said. "Then Lindy finished it. Really good way to end."
"I'm happy my son can come in here and create some chaos in the locker room for the last time this year," Ward joked.
Staal got the Canes off and running just 19 seconds into the game when he pass deflected off the skate of Ondrej Palat and in.

Williams stretched the Canes' lead to 2-0 when his tough angle shot found an open net; Tampa challenged this play for goaltender interference, but the situation room in Toronto ruled it a good goal.
"It was a fun game," Staal said. "It's always nice to get a win against a good team. We'll take that."

Three
Prior to tonight's game, Ward, with his family at his side, was given a golden stick in honor of his 300th win, recorded in Vegas in December. Just like the silver stick he received in 2015 after playing in his 500th NHL game, this commemorative golden stick closely resembles his game twigs, even down to his kids' names inscribed near the knob and "Have Fun" etched in near the bottom of the paddle.
The veteran netminder then turned in a 32-save performance and was handed the postgame honor by his teammates after the game.

"Cam played stellar. I thought he's been a rock for us this year, regardless of what people say or what's written about him," Williams said. "He's a rock for us. He's been doing it for this franchise for a long time. I'm happy to see him get a win tonight."

Ward is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, a to-be-determined future with the franchise that drafted him in 2002.
"I'm human. I've been here for 13 years, and it's no secret that my contract is up. The uncertainty and unknown of what's going to happen can be scary at times. I try to control what I can control," Ward said. "It was a different role for me this year. I loved playing with Scott. He's a great guy. We were hoping we were going to be the tandem to get to the playoffs. That didn't happen, and that's disappointing for him and I."
Four
Nicolas Roy became the sixth player to make his NHL debut with the Hurricanes this season. His final stat line: one shot, another shot attempt, two hits and six faceoff win in 10 tries, all in 10:46 of ice time. Not evident on the scoresheet, too, is the fact that he drew two penalties.
"I just tried to work hard and keep it simple," Roy said.
"Pretty good night for his debut," Peters said. "Not a bad debut. And a win. If you look at it … when we win and guys are going to celebrate, he's right there. He's one of the first guys off the bench. The two points, I guarantee you, are the most important things for him. That's a good sign moving forward."
Five
While this is the end of the road for the Hurricanes, their American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, secured their second consecutive Calder Cup Playoff berth with a 7-3 victory tonight.
The Checkers are going to get a boost when Haydn Fleury, Valentin Zykov, Roland McKeown and Roy rejoin the club, and their experience with the Canes should make them that much more poised heading into the AHL postseason.
"It will be an exciting time for them to play playoff hockey. They'll go down there with lots of confidence," Peters said this morning. "We want them to go play at the pace they're playing at now."
Up Next
Thanks for following along and reading all season, everyone. There's plenty more to come in the offseason, beginning with the final media availability on Monday. We'll also be heading down to Charlotte in the coming weeks to bring you the latest from the Calder Cup Playoffs. Gameday coverage will return in September!