Playing in his first season in Raleigh, Nikolaj Ehlers is doing his part to try to make what can be his first appearance within the Stanley Cup Final a reality.
Ehlers scored twice, including the additional time game-winner, helping the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Montreal Canadiens by a 3-2 final rating on Saturday evening at Lenovo Center. The victory by the Hurricanes tied the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece following what was a shocking blowout win by the Canadiens in Game 1 earlier within the week.
Afterward, Ehlers was still as excited as ever at having played the role of hero for his club while doing a postgame interview with Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas.
“I still feel it, I’m shaking just a little bit,” Ehlers said via Sportsnet on X. “I’ve got goosebumps. To do that, I’ve loved it here since they won, and with the fans here, it’s special.”
Ehlers was also stuffed with praise for the fans of the Hurricanes, who make home games some one in every of the rowdiest atmospheres within the NHL.
“Unreal, you recognize, coming from Winnipeg, where the fans are unbelievable within the playoffs, it’s incredible to listen to,” he said. “I could not have asked for far more.”
Ehlers was taken by the Jets in the primary round (ninth overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, and would play the primary several seasons of his profession in Manitoba. But he signed a six-year, $51 million contract with the Hurricanes this past July, and scored 26 goals with 45 assists in 82 regular-season games in his first yr with the club.
Playing in his first season in Raleigh, Nikolaj Ehlers is doing his part to try to make what can be his first appearance within the Stanley Cup Final a reality. Ehlers scored twice, including the additional time game-winner, helping the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Montreal Canadiens by a 3-2 final rating on Saturday evening at Lenovo Center.