Jeff Carter, who played in the NHL since 2005, ended his long career in the hockey league. His career ended when Pittsburgh missed the regular season this season.
Pertti Lappalainen,
STT Sports
Two-time Stanley Cup winner Jeff Carter ended his long NHL career early Thursday morning Finnish time. Pittsburgh’s center forward left the rinks despite the loss with a smile on his face as a scorer.
Carter scored his team’s 4–4 tie against the New York Islanders in the final inning. The home team Islanders won the battle 5–4.
Carter played a whopping 1321 games in the world’s best hockey league. The center forward scored a respectable 442+409=851 power points.
After the game, the home team players shook Carter’s hand. The home crowd showed their appreciation for the away team’s veteran player as he left the ice.
After the match, a moved but smiling Konkar was seen in the locker room.
– I knew going into the year that this would probably be my last season and the feeling only got stronger. Now is the time, Carter told the background of his decision.
39-year-old Carter revealed that he didn’t get much sleep before the match. The Konkari player had been feeling strange throughout the day, but he was looking forward to the game very much. Especially the arrival of the family warmed Carter.
The family got a big smile on the face of the former player. Next, he plans to spend time at home with his children.
– Now I’m going to be a father. As a player, you lose a lot when you’re traveling and even when you’re at home, you’re not really present. All families of hockey players sacrifice a lot so that the players can live their dreams, Carter emphasized.
He started his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2005–2006 season. After a short stint in Columbus, Carter moved to the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. He won two championships with the club and became one of the most important key players.
From Kings, the journey continued to Pittsburgh for the last few years. Carter spoke warmly of his time in the Penguins jersey.
– I think these four years gave me a bit more time in my career. It’s been incredible to be a teammate of those I fought against for years, Carter incensed.
Naturally, he also recounted the last goal of his career in the interview. That put a big grin on the Canadian’s face again.
– It was nice to finish. When “Sully” (coach Mike Sullivan) put me on the ice with the upper hand, I knew I wasn’t going to leave the goal line. A special moment that I will definitely remember, Carter said.
After the match, the Islander awarded the player who ended his career with the triple star of the match. The away team’s players are not often named as the stars of the match.
Also in the match is Pittsburgh Valtteri Puustinen scored a goal that gave the team a 3–2 lead in the second period. For Puustis, the goal was a treat, because the Finn has skated without a point in the last five games in a row. The previous goal was from March 16.
Nikita Kucherov’s 100th assist of the season
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 in a high-scoring match. Playing on their home field, Tampa already took a 2–0 lead when the match had been played for just under seven minutes. The goal scorers were Nicholas Paul and Nikita Kucherov.
Tampa slammed into Toronto’s net as many as three goals in the second period of Anthony Dunclair, of Brayden Point and by Brandon Hagel of rackets. Kucherov assisted on Point’s 4–1 goal, becoming the fifth player in league history to reach 100 assists in a single season.
Edmonton’s superstar this season too Connor McDavid has knocked down 100 service points.
In the third period, Toronto scored three goals in Tampa’s net in the last ten minutes. They succeeded as authors TJ Brodie, Pontius Holmberg and John Tavares. However, Kiri was not enough.