Before Bryan Bickell said goodbye to the NHL and hung up his skates for good, the Carolina Hurricanes forward had one final moment to remember from his career.

During Sunday’s season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers, Bickell was given the honor of taking Carolina’s first attempt in the shootout. And he buried it helping the Canes to a 4-3 win.

Carolina Hurricanes / Twitter More

(Nice touch by the Flyers to give Bickell fist-bumps after his goal.)

The goal was Bickell’s first ever in the shootout in his second career attempt. “I think the hockey gods stepped up and gave me the opportunity,” he said.

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After the game, he was given the team’s player of the game award by defenseman Noah Hanifin.

"Bicks, it was awesome having you as a teammate this year. You're a great role model for all of us." –@NHanifin to @bbicks29#BickellBrave pic.twitter.com/2xbtW8tjHw — Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 10, 2017





Bickell, who won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, announced this weekend that he’s retiring. In November, the 31-year-old was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

After three months away, he started his comeback with the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate. Earlier this week and after 10 games in Charlotte, he was recalled and Bickell played in Carolina’s final four games of the season.

He may not be going out the way he envisioned it, but Bickell managed to fight his way back to the ice after a life-changing diagnosis just five months ago.

“I think I sweat all the tears out, so I don’t know if I have much left,” Bickell said. “It’s been an emotional week.”

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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