This Day in Canes History: April 6

On this day in Canes history ...

April 6, 2001

The Hurricanes clinch their second trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three years after a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at home.

Ron Francis, Bates Battaglia and Martin Gelinas tallied goals for the Canes in their 81st game of the 2000-01 season. The win was their fifth in six games against the Thrashers that season (5-0-1-0).

The victory brought the Stanley Cup Playoffs to what was then the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena for the first time ever. The Canes had previously made an appearance in the postseason in the 1998-99 season, their last in Greensboro, and bowed out to the Boston Bruins after six games in the first round.

In 2001, the Canes fell in a 3-0 series hole to the New Jersey Devils before fighting back to win Games 4 and 5. Carolina was then eliminated in Game 6, with the crowd at the ESA giving the team a standing ovation as the clock ticked down in the third period of a 5-1 loss.

The Canes, of course, would return to the playoffs the following season and get revenge on the Devils in the first round, en route to an unforgettable run to the Stanley Cup Finals.