The Carolina Hurricanes simply wouldn't go away Saturday night, stunning the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4.

Martin Necas tied the contest with under one second remaining in regulation, banging home a loose puck on the doorstep of the goal.

Necas is no stranger to late-game heroics this season. This was his third final-minute game-tying goal of the campaign, matching the NHL record, according to Sportsnet Stats.

Carolina wasted no time ending the game in overtime. Sebastian Aho went end-to-end, dangling past Tony DeAngelo en route to completing his hat trick and sealing the victory in highlight-reel fashion.

The swift turn of events puts the Hurricanes three points clear of the New Jersey Devils for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.

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San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer won't wear the team's Pride jersey in warmups for Saturday night's game against the New York Islanders.

Reimer won't participate in warmups and will dress as the team's backup for the contest, according to SJ Hockey Now's Sheng Peng.

"For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian - not just in title, but in how I choose to live my life daily," Reimer said in an official statement.

He added, "In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in my life.

"I strongly believe that every person has value and worth, and the LGBTQIA+ community, like all others, should be welcomed in all aspects of the game of hockey."

The Sharks emphasized their "values and dedication to an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for all guests" in an official statement addressing Reimer's decision.

"We also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic," the statement continues. "As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and (will) continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship."

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov refused to wear his team's Pride jersey during warmups in January.

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We have a jam-packed day of action ahead of us Saturday, with 26 of the NHL's 32 teams in action.

Let's take a closer look at a couple worth backing.

Jets (-140) @ Predators (+120)
March 18, 2 p.m. ET

Despite their recent success, I've been extremely bearish on the Predators. They simply don't have the finishing talent or depth to keep winning games while posting such pedestrian underlying numbers.

They showed us firsthand how lows the lows can be Thursday against the Blackhawks, getting blanked by a bare-bones roster in a must-win game at home.

I think that's the tip of the iceberg for what we'll see from them down the stretch. Hats off to the Predators for staying afloat with the personnel at hand, but it just isn't good enough.

It showed against Chicago, and I expect that will be the case again Saturday versus the Jets.

The Jets are frustratingly inconsistent but have a dynamic top six, which will only be aided by the expected return of Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Their defensive metrics have also been above average since the deadline. When they do suffer breakdowns, they have a probable Vezina finalist in Connor Hellebuyck there to clean up.

I expect the desperate and more talented Jets to control the run of play and generate chances in bulk, as they usually do against the Predators. (They've averaged 39 shots over the past four meetings.) If that's the case, it probably won't even matter that Juuse Saros is at the other end.

Bet: Jets (-140)

Bruins (-165) @ Wild (+140)
Mar. 18, 2 p.m. ET

If you like offense, you'll probably want to go ahead and skip this game. The defenses and goaltenders are simply too good.

The Bruins have conceded five-on-five goals at a lower rate than anybody this season. They also grade out in the top five when it comes to suppressing chances.

They didn't have Charlie McAvoy to start the year and only recently acquired stout two-way defenseman Dmitry Orlov. This version of the Bruins - especially defensively - is better than the one we've seen all season, which is a scary thought.

Then there's the Wild. They rank third in goals against per 60 at five-on-five and fourth in expected goals against. They really don't give their opponents much.

Getting creating quality looks against these defenses is difficult enough, but the forwards have to finish those chances efficiently.

I don't see that happening too often in a likely goaltending duel between Linus Ullmark and Filip Gustavsson.

Ullmark owns a .935 save percentage for the season, leads the league in goals saved above expected, and is the odds-on favorite to bring home the Vezina.

He's expected to square off against the only goaltender who has kept him company in most categories. Gustavsson has a .931 save percentage through 31 appearances and, on a per start basis, ranks only behind Ullmark in GSAE.

Gustavsson has conceded two goals or fewer in 14 of his last 18 games. Given the level he's playing at and the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, you can bet the Wild be doing their best to suck the life out of the game and let their goalie do the rest.

I think this is going to be a tight checking, low-event game that features arguably the NHL's two best netminders this season. We're unlikely to see many goals as a result.

Bet: Under 5.5 (Even)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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EDMONTON - For nearly 20 years, Jim Cuddy's made an annual tradition out of what many have dreamed of but few will experience: he laces up his skates and steps onto the ice with the who's who of the hockey world.

The frontman for legendary Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo has organized a charity game since 2004 called the JUNO Cup, which pits musicians against hockey's elite, including Paul Coffey, Sarah Nurse, and Brad Dalgarno. As one of the rare annual events that brings together elite performers from such different public spheres, it shows both sides the similarities in their careers.

"The greatest part is the overlap of the disciplines - how much discipline it takes to do it, and how effortlessly you have to make it seem," said Cuddy, who's racked up 15 platinum and gold albums in Canada since his band formed in 1984.

Cuddy's aware that a charity game doesn't bring out the athletic best in the hockey players, and even at half strength, there's a staggering gulf between the pros and his team of musicians.

"The difference between Paul Coffey and even the most inspired amateur - there is no connection," Cuddy says.

It was this vast difference that prompted Cuddy to one day ask Coffey just why he was so much faster than anyone else - what made him great?

"He gave a little explanation, but it wasn't much of an explanation," Cuddy said. "It was just something he knew how to do naturally."

Cuddy said he's had similar conversations with some of the best musicians he knows.

"If you ask a lot of musicians how they do what they do, they couldn't really tell you," he said.

Cuddy's been amazed over the years at the mutual fascination between hockey players and musicians. It might be because they both have a profession, lifestyle, and identity built on some intangible talent that sets them apart from the general public.

"The thing I've found the most interesting is how much the hockey players admire musicians and how much the musicians only want to hear about hockey," he said.

As part of the annual event, Cuddy hosts a private jam session for musicians and athletes.

"There's the same gulf between their (athletes') campfire skills and the professional musicians in the room," he said, although he did note that Delgarno can do a decent rendition of "The Fisherman's Blues."

"I'm a passionate guitar player, so this weekend and getting to know musicians, it's like my fantasy camp," said Delgarno, who spent 10 years playing for the New York Islanders before retiring in 1996.

Cuddy added: "When I sing that song around Jim and the boys, they do the harmony and backups."

For Delgarno, music provided an escape that sports couldn't offer him.

"A lot of years, difficult years in the NHL, it saved me in terms of having a place or helping me get through some stuff," he said.

While both disciplines require a certain amount of technical mastery on the path to greatness, turning pro in either discipline can also make for some similar challenges.

"When we do concerts, when we listen to music, it's a novel experience for us," retired NHL goalie Ben Scrivens said. "But musicians are kind of washing, rinsing, and repeating. It's largely the same set list night after night.

"That's really not too different from what my lifestyle was like in the NHL. You go on the road for four games, you're trying to execute the same game plan night after night. It can feel a bit like "Groundhog Day," especially on Game 62."

But during each night, whether it's on ice or on stage, Scrivens says the pressure is on for both groups to show up and be ready to perform.

"The person who's watching that night, that might be their only chance to see you," he said.

But with all the similarities, there's one major difference that Cuddy likes to point out every year to his hockey friends.

"I always bug my NHL friends by saying, ‘You happened to pick the trade that you had to stop by the time you're 40. Look at Willie Nelson. We can keep going until we're 90. You picked the wrong door,'" he said.

Jolene Latimer is a feature writer and video producer for theScore.

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