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by Jeff H
2008-09 NHL Eastern Conference Spotlight team: Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a team on a mission after missing the playoffs in 2007-08 for the second consecutive season. It's not like the Hurricanes (43-33-6, 92 points) were a bad team but key injuries caused a late season collapse that cost them the 8th and final seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes needed to win two of their final four games to secure a playoff berth, but just couldn't get it done. As it turned out, the Hurricanes dropped four of their final six games, including two against the Caps. As a result, the Hurricanes became the first team ever to miss the playoffs two seasons in a row after winning the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes always do a good job of winning games in their own division as they went 19-11-2 vs. teams in the Southeast. NHL teams only play 10 Interconference games per season. They went 4-6 vs. the West which is not too bad considering how good the West was last year. The Penguins went 8-1-1 vs. the West last year and they ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals.
For Carolina is starts with their rising star in Goalie Cam Ward. Cam Ward, the first goalie since Patrick Roy (1986) to win the Stanley Cup in his rookie year, completed his third full season with the Hurricanes in 2007-08, finishing tied for fourth in the NHL with 37 wins and ninth with four shutouts. He established career-bests for games played (69), minutes (3,930), goals-against average (2.75), saves (1,690) and save percentage (.904).
The Canes are so loaded up front with the likes of Rod Brind'Amour, Matt Cullen, Ray Whitney, and Justin Williams, they had no problem trading away Eric Cole to Edmonton for Defenseman Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) will certainly add size and an offensive spark from the Blueline. Joe Corvo returns after being acquired from Ottawa in the middle of last season. Corvo scored seven goals and 21 points in 23 games with his new team. For the season, he had 35 assists and 48 points while finishing tied for the overall team lead with a plus-17 rating.
The knee injuries to Brind'Amour and Williams last season were particularly tough to overcome as they left Carolina's penalty-killing unit undermanned and slow. The Canes were ranked 26th on the Penalty Kill last season but with a bulked up defense, along with a healthy Brind'Amour and Willimas, they will be much improved. If the Canes can stay healthy they can score goals and play "D" with just about any team in Hockey.
Jeff's Projected 2008-09 record: 44-31-7 (95 points, 5th seed in the East)