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The Carolina Hurricanes Five Best Comeback Victories
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- The Carolina Hurricanes Five Best Comeback Victories
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"Experience Carolina Hurricanes hockey."
It has been a half joke, half motto used by Caniacs for quite some time – blurted out anytime any game, in any league, turns to chaos…for better or worse. The Hurricanes really know how to keep you on the edge of your seat, and frankly, that's what puts butts in seats; that's one of the reasons they've been able to build such a passionate fanbase.
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They don't call them the 'Cardiac Canes' for nothing.
And so, here at Carolina Hockey Now, we looked back at those crazy moments where they flipped games on their head and took the win. Here is the ranking of our top five favorite comebacks in Hurricanes history.
Whalers Magic
Our fifth best comeback is actually the only one in this list which did not come in the postseason.
On January 29, 2026, the Hurricanes – or rather, the Hartford Whalers – faced the Utah Mammoth in Lenovo Center for their annual Whalers Night . The nostalgic duds have had a knack for bringing good luck, with the record in Whalers uniforms prior to that chilly January night having been 7-1-3.
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As they went into the third period against the Mammoth, they trailed 3-2 to the visitors before forward Michael Carcone extended the lead to a brutal 4-2. Considering that the Hurricanes had taken their first regulation loss in Whalers colors just earlier that month when the Quebec Nordique-flavored Colorado Avalanche came to town, it seemed like the luck of the uniforms had worn out.
However, it appeared that there was still some juice left. With just 1:59 left in the game, Andrei Svechnikov brought Carolina back to life with a power play goal, which was soon followed just 32 seconds later by Shayne Gostisbehere, and less than a minute after that by Jordan Staal – both of which were even strength goals.
With the Hurricanes overcoming a two-goal deficit to win in regulation with less than two minutes left, it was the first time such a feat had been accomplished since 1995 – and just the third time it had happened in NHL history .
The Molson Miracle
Long before the Hurricanes had a single championship banner hanging in their home arena, they were a scrappy team fighting for a chance to drink champagne from Lord Stanley's finest silver chalice.
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In 2002, they were so close to that dream that they could taste the bottles of bubbly – but ultimately fell short in the Stanley Cup Final, as the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings swept them. However, before that, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, they staged one of the greatest comebacks in team history as they changed the tide of a tough series against the Montreal Canadiens.
On May 9, 2002, they played their third game against the Habs. The series was already in Montreal's favor, leading them two games to one, but Carolina kept the fire burning.
Playing Game 3 at what was then called the Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, the match had slipped away from the Hurricanes quickly, with the Canadiens scoring two goals less than a minute apart midway through the first period, and yet another in the second frame.
By the time the third period came, the Hurricanes were staring down a three-goal deficit and potentially an elimination game in the next three days.
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However, in the early third period, a series of penalties ranging from roughing, cross-checking, and abuse of officials left the Hurricanes with the man-advantage, which paved the way for a power play goal from Sean Hill. After that, both Bates Battaglia and Erik Cole struck to tie the game.
Then, just 3:14 into overtime, Niclas Wallin scored the beautiful wrister to win the game and tie the series. After that, the Hurricanes won two more in a row to advance to the Eastern Conference Final against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which they also won in six games.
Shock at the Rock
2009 is a season many Caniacs look back on with bittersweet memories. After taking both of the first two rounds in a pair of thrilling seven-game series, they were inevitably steamrolled by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. To rub salt into the wound, it was a defeat that ached for a decade, as the Hurricanes wouldn't return to playoff hockey until 2019, with only two core members of that old team present in Justin Williams, who held the captaincy, and Rod Brind'Amour, who'd become head coach.
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Nonetheless, one of the most iconic moments in Hurricanes history came from those 2009 playoffs.
On April 28, 2009, the Hurricanes faced the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of Round One. Down 3-2 in the Prudential Center, things looked bleak for the visiting Hurricanes as the clock continued to tick down. Then, with 1:20 left in the game, Jussi Jokinen found the back of the net to tie the game.
But that wasn't all.
Less than a minute later, with just 32 seconds left in regulation, Eric Staal blasted a shot past Martin Brodeur to give the Hurricanes the coveted lead, and ultimately, the victory .
(As a clip-creator myself, I have to give a shoutout for the footage linked below. It was posted just two days after that game concluded and is one of the most 2009-ish things I've seen in a while. It's like a little time capsule and still has great quality despite the digital hurdles of that era. You can clearly hear John Forslund's iconic "hey hey whaddaya say" and Tripp Tracy's squeaks of excitement as Staal scores the game-winner. Absolute gem of a video.)
Wiping Smiles Off the Isles
On April 22, 2024, the Hurricanes staged one heck of a comeback in Game 2 of Round One against the New York Islanders.
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The first half of the game was all Isles as they took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Canes in what was then PNC Arena. Teuvo Teravainen managed to get one back before the second period ended, but Carolina was still staring down a two-goal deficit.
Midway through the third period, Seth Jarvis was able to bring the game within one, and what happened after is what gives the game a legendary status.
With 2:15 left and the Hurricanes' own net empty, Sebastian Aho tipped-in a shot from Svechnikov to tie the game…then Jordan Martinook scored a wraparound goal just nine seconds later to attain the lead.
With 56 seconds left on the clock, Jake Guentzel scored the empty net goal to give the Hurricanes a final score of 5-3 .
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For the full experience, one must check out the highlights of the Islanders watch party at Borrelli's Italian Restaurant in East Meadow, New York. (Language warning, though!)
Tarps Off Victory
Ranking as Carolina Hockey Now's top comeback win for the Hurricanes is none other than the ' Tarps Off Victory ' versus the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
June 4, 2026, it was what felt like a must-win Game 2 for Carolina. Unfortunately, it wasn't going their way for the majority of the game. A pair of Brett Howden goals put the Hurricanes down 2-0, and it seemed as though they just couldn't generate any real chances.
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However, after the halfway mark of the third period, things changed as fans went 'tarps off for the boys' – turning shirts into rally towels to try and create some energy.
Logan Stankoven was booted from the offensive zone's faceoff circle, with Taylor Hall taking the draw instead. However, the puck went into the Golden Knights' possession as Rasmus Andersson secured it behind the net.
Then Stankoven threw the body around, knocking him off the puck and becoming a one-man show, driving it clean into the net.
A couple of minutes later, Mark Jankowski entered the zone and snapped a magnificent shot on a brilliant pass from William Carrier at the blue line to tie the game. Vegas' then-head coach, John Tortorella, challenged the goal for being offside, but was ultimately unsuccessful, as Jeremy Lauzon had kicked the puck into the zone with his own skate amidst his essential tackling of Carrier.
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On that power play the Hurricanes were given from the failed Golden Knights challenge, Jordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal.
While the Golden Knights got one back to tie the game and send it to overtime, Jarvis nailed a one-timer past Carter Hart for the game-winning goal.
Tying the series , it was the turning point of the Stanley Cup Final for Carolina, who lost only one more game (in double overtime, mind you) before raising the Cup for the second time in franchise history, 20 years after they first won it.
Honorable Mention
They say that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but it doesn't mean it can't still be incredibly entertaining. While it did not end with the Hurricanes in the win column, Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final saw a comeback never seen before.
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On June 6, 2026, the Golden Knights took a four-goal lead going into the third period, with six pucks having found the back of Frederik Andersen's net (two being taken off the board), and Mitch Marner getting a hat-trick.
It was all but certain that the Hurricanes wouldn't be able to push the Golden Knights much further that night, with the Hurricanes' owner Tom Dundon even leaving the arena before the third frame.
When the third period began, Brandon Bussi had taken over the Hurricanes' net, and his team mounted a historic comeback . 7:03 into the frame, Martinook got Carolina their first goal of the game, and was then followed by Hall and Staal to bring the game within one. All three goals were scored in a 39-second span – the only time such a thing had been accomplished in Stanley Cup Final history.
With 1:42 left in the game, on the power play and with an extra attacker, the Hurricanes tied the game thanks to an effort from Svechnikov.
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The game went to double overtime, and with a shot from the point, and lucky bounces off the back wall and Martinook, the puck crossed into the Hurricanes' net – Shea Theodore playing the overtime hero.
It was the Golden Knights' final win of the series, though, as the Hurricanes won three straight to hoist the Stanley Cup just eight days later.
Also Read:: WATCH: Jordan Staal Wins Conn Smythe Trophy, Carolina Hurricanes Hoist Stanley Cup
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