:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12331035/167683605.0.jpg)
The Carolina Hurricanes finished this abbreviated season much like they started it back in January, with a lopsided loss, this time by a score of 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team ended up fifth from the bottom in the league and will have an 8.1% chance to win the draft lottery on Monday night, which would give them the first overall pick in this summer's draft.
For more information on the draft lottery, check out the following link.
(Come join us for our open thread during the draft lottery Monday night)
This was a game most of the Hurricanes will most likely try to forget. The Pens scored five times in the third period, turning a close contest into a rout.
The home team took a 2-0 lead before Kevin Westgarth got the Hurricanes on the board when he jumped on a rebound in the crease. Jiri Tlusty's stick was also there, but Carolina's enforcer got credit for his first goal of the season 12:30 into the second period.
A little over four minutes later, Jussi Jokinen rubbed salt into his former team when he knocked in his own rebound to make it 3-1. Jokinen has 11 points in 10 games since leaving the Canes.
Tuomo Ruutu continued his hot streak and flicked in a loose puck to make it 3-2, then Westgarth scored his second of the game on a shot that bounced in off of a Pittsburgh defenseman to tie it up going into the second intermission.
From that point on it was all Pittsburgh as the depleted Canes suffered one of their worst losses of the season. James Neal had a hat trick and Jokinen scored twice.
Check out Canes PR.com for post game interviews.
The players will pack up their equipment and give their season ending interviews on Monday. Canes Country will begin our offseason analysis and coverage next week. We'll have more information about that soon.