Last night the Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu bought his team some breathing room by scoring with 27 seconds left in regulation to tie the Chicago Blackhawks at 2. It was a bit of poetic justice for Ruutu for several reasons. Most obviously because Ruutu was traded from Chicago to Carolina at least years trade deadline, but more immediately because he had been called for a 4 minute highsticking penalty earlier in the period, that not only negated a Carolina powerplay, but lead to Troy Brower’s go-ahead powerplay goal. The game was won by Chicago in a shootout, but Ruutu’s redemptive goal, bought them at least two more days in the top 8. By turning the game into yet another three point affair, Carolina tied Pittsburgh with 78. Here are the what if’s that make the one point HUGE. If Carolina loses to Dallas tonight and the Rangers win, the teams would tie at 78, but Carolina stays in the top 8 by Virtue of wins. If Ruutu would not have secured the one point, and the same scenario plays out the Canes would drop from 7th to 9th. Given that the Rangers have two games in hand, falling behind them is not an option.
Is this one point thing crazy enough for you? Well buckle in because there is a month left, and with both conferences as tight as they are, every shift could determine a team's playoff life.
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