Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal help Hurricanes beat Sabres to earn playoff spot

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The Carolina Hurricanes were happy to talk about playoff hockey after their latest accomplishment.

Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal each scored two goals and the Hurricanes rallied from a pair of two-goal deficits to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 and clinch a playoff berth Thursday night.

"That’s what we need coming down the stretch (and) in the playoffs, too," Aho said of the ability to raise their performance level.

This marks the fourth season in a row that Carolina will be in the postseason. That’s the longest string since the franchise relocated from Hartford, Connecticut, to North Carolina.

"Isn’t that cool?" rookie forward Seth Jarvis said of the chance to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

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Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Now, core members of the team are becoming playoff veterans.

"That’s the whole point why you play hockey – to be in the playoffs," Aho said. "We are very proud that we’re heading to the playoffs."

Aho’s go-ahead goal came with 8:21 remaining, propelling the Hurricanes to the 100-point mark (46-17-8) for the just the second time in franchise history. They have 11 games remaining.

"It’s a huge accomplishment. We grinded all year," coach Rod Brind’Amour said. "Obviously, we know there are bigger and better things we want to accomplish, but you have to get there first. To get there with 11 games to go says a lot about the group. Normally, you’re sweating it out to try to get in."

The Hurricanes snapped a