RALEIGH, NC. - Before we start to unpack this most maddening of Carolina Hurricanes seasons and all the many emotions fans endured from an epic start to the season on through the gut-wrenching 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the second round, we'll start here.

Not long after the Washington Capitals were once again vanquished by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, my pal Pierre LeBrun and I were in Buffalo for the draft combine and we happened on Washington GM Brian MacLellan.

The three of us sat, had a beer, and shot the breeze about all kinds of hockey stuff. But what sticks out even now was that even though his team had been eliminated some weeks before, time had done little to blunt the disappointment of that playoff loss for MacLellan.

The Caps had been knocking on the door for a number of years at that point. They had been built seemingly for the playoffs. They seemed on every level ready to take that next step. And it turned out not to be the case. MacLellan seemed to me to be equal parts disconsolate and puzzled.

How could this have happened and more to the point, what now?

I thought of that chance meeting in Buffalo and MacLellan's feelings of despair after watching the Hurricanes slowly leave the PNC Arena ice after being dispatched by the Rangers. It was the team's first home-ice loss of the playoffs. They had been outscored 11-4 after taking a 3-2 series lead.

This will sting. As it should.

RALEIGH, NC. - The Carolina Hurricanes season came to a close Monday, falling to the New York Rangers by a score of 6-2 in Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

RALEIGH, NC. - Although Rod Brind'Amour shuffled two of his forward lines during Saturday's Game 6 loss, it looks like he'll be going back to the lineup that his team has utilized for the majority of the series against the New York Rangers.

RALEIGH, NC. - By the end of the day Monday one of either the Carolina Hurricanes or New York Rangers will be advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. The other will be beginning their offseason.

It's Game 7, win or go home.

RALEIGH, NC. - For the second time in just over two weeks the Carolina Hurricanes find themselves in a win or go home situation.

The continuation of their run in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs hangs in the balance of a Game 7 against the New York Rangers, set for Monday night at 8 p.m.

NEW YORK, NY. - The second round series between Carolina and New York will come down to Monday night in Raleigh, as the Rangers earned a 5-2 victory in Saturday's Game 6.

NEW YORK, NY. - The Carolina Hurricanes will be sticking with their same lineup from their Game 5 victory, carrying it into tonight's potential series-closing contest at Madison Square Garden.

NEW YORK, NY. - The Carolina Hurricanes are back in The Big Apple, this time with their sights set on advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals by earning a fourth a final victory over the New York Rangers.

RALEIGH, NC. - Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Caniacs.

Lest we not forget the meaning of the day, before we go about our business. With that in mind, hopefully it's a long weekend for those reading and everyone is excited for Saturday's Game 6 at Madison Square Garden. In case you missed it, the NHL announced at 1:10 a.m. that the start time will be 8 p.m.

Why'd they wait so late? Because if Edmonton and Calgary had needed a Game 6 for their series, the Canes and Rangers would have started earlier than 8 p.m., being that the Battle of Alberta's tentative contest was already locked in for a 9:30 EST puck drop.

Instead, as we know now, the Eastern Conference series will be the only NHL contest on national television (ESPN), kicking off what will be a trend until the Stanley Cup is awarded.

Now that you're all up to speed, let's get to some questions.

RALEIGH, NC. - The Carolina Hurricanes continued their winning ways on home ice Thursday, taking a Game 5 victory over the New York Rangers by a score of 3-1.