Courtesy of packpowerfan! THANKS!
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With the super performance by the NC State basketball team against the Seminoles today, I found myself MUCH more interested in keeping up with the Hurricanes game against Tampa Bay. Afterward, I thought it would be nice to post a good write-up of a SUCCESSFUL (!) team in Raleigh, and one that is in contention for postseason honors: the Carolina Hurricanes.
To date, the Canes have played 44 games with 38 left on the docket.
RECORD: 22-16-8
–The Hurricanes have played some of the most maddening hockey that I’ve seen in years. Previously, we’ve seen teams that have performed well, performed okay, performed below average, and performed abysmally. However, each year was a total team. In 2004, we saw a team that was the worst in nearly every statistical category in the NHL. In 2006, we saw a team that was one of the top 3 teams in the entire NHL. In 2009, we saw a team that, despite not having a stellar record, played tough enough to get to the ECF’s. Take all three of those teams…cram them together…and you have this year’s squad. In a 4 game stretch from Nov. 9th to Nov. 17th, the Hurricanes won 7-1, lost 8-1, lost 7-2 and won 7-1. They have six losses in OT or SO, and up until Thursday’s game at Buffalo the Canes had earned a point in 8 straight games; a stretch that included 4 regulation wins, an OT win, a SO win, and 2 OT losses. This team has the capability to play with incredible ferocity and energy, and also has its lapses. Despite this, the Canes have never fallen to under .500 by more than one game, and have come on strong in December and January, going 12-5-3 since December 1st and 5-1-2 in 2011.
–The Hurricanes have played well against the bottom-feeding teams, and had limited success against playoff-caliber teams. However, in a game that is so often decided by single goals, it is more imperative to win the games you SHOULD win, and leave the other games to coin tosses. Beyond the month of November, the Hurricanes have lost by more than one goal only 4 times (4 times alone in November).
–As of tonight, the Hurricanes (50) are a point behind Atlanta (51) for the 8th playoff spot with 3 games in hand.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
–The Hurricanes, though frustrating at times, have at least been exciting. Currently 10th in the NHL in goals scored, the Canes are averaging close to 3 goals a game on the season. They have been shutout on only two occasions (both in October) and have scored 1 goal in only 7 games (all losses, 3 in OT or SO). In 8 games, the Canes have scored 5 goals or more, including tonight’s 6-4 win over Tampa, and 3 games with SEVEN goals during an otherwise gloomy November. What makes this a surprising statistic, is that absent from this high-powered team is a prolific scorer. Sure, Eric Staal has more than 20 goals, but with 22 of the team’s 135 goals, he only amasses 16.3% of them. For those who follow hockey, it usually follows logic that teams with a high amount of goals scored and no clear singular “scorer” tend to be at the top of the heap. Even the Penguins (Sidney Crosby at 22.9%) and Lightning (Steven Stamkos at 25.1%) have more than capable scorers on all lines.
SUPER SKINNER
–About the only good thing out of last season was Carolina taking Jeff Skinner with the 7th pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Like taking Eric Staal, the Skinner pick has turned out to be a fantastic decision. Skinner is at the top of the list for the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year. Skinner is tied with Tuomo Ruutu for second on the team in points with 36 (both behind Eric Staal’s 46) and is in second outright with 15 goals. For all rookies, Skinner leads all rookies in points and assists, and is second in goals. He leads Logan Couture of San Jose with a 0.79 to 0.64 points-per-game ratio DESPITE being 22nd in ice-time-per-game. Look for the 18 year old to continue his impressive play and take home the Calder on the season’s end.
WRAP-UP
–To conclude, for those who have tuned them out voluntarily…it may be time to turn them back on. These Hurricanes have become a consistent contender for the playoffs, and GM Rutherford has all the parts available for the team to make a run if everything can come together.
I’m going to give a final prediction for the season, and say the Hurricanes will finish 42-28-12 with 96 points, and will make the playoffs as division runner-up and the No. 6 seed behind Philadelphia (1), Boston (2), Tampa Bay (3), Pittsburgh (4) and the New York Rangers (5).
Discuss!
