Finally Some Winning...... But is it Too Late?!?!?

Caniac's Still Waiting 

2015 has been a complete turn around for the Carolina Hurricanes; they are starting to look like a team that should have showed up back in September. The Carolina Hurricanes are currently in 28th place in the league with 37 points and hold a record of 16-25-5. At the current pace the Hurricanes are on pace to get roughly 65 or less points on the whole season which will not get you into the
playoffs once again. To put that number into perspective; Anaheim has played 46 games (same as the Hurricanes) and has 66 points that is leading the whole league.

When the calendar flipped and the key pieces returned to the line-up so did the Hurricanes, for the month of January they hold a record of 6-2-1. For many long-term fans this is not usual; they are a team that is always playing better hockey in the second half of the season. This season is one of those unique ones that it doesn't matter what the team does in the spring because they had such a horrible first half that they cant dig out and go for that playoff push like previous season.

The Hurricanes are just trying to salvage some part of the season; players are really starting to click and make themselves look good for other teams that might need them for a spot into the summer. Some players that have found a stride in the month of January are Eric and Jordan Staal, Brad Malone, Jay McClemet, Patrick Dwyer, and Anton Khudobin.

Brad Malone 

With Jordan Staal returning to the line-up on December 29th it has sparked not just team but his brother Eric as well. Eric Staal has found his confidence and scoring touch that everyone has known for the past 10 season. With both Staal's on a line that makes Carolina a bigger and stronger team. The 4th line of Brad Malone- Jay McClement- Patrick Dwyer are the strongest of this team and the only line that has not been touched since they found their scoring touch. Brad Malone came over from Colorado and brought a physical game with him. Once he got that first goal the flood gates opened, he has 3 goals now and is piling on the assists.

The goal tending is the one things that has not been called into question this season for the Hurricanes; both Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin have been amazing. It took Dobby a little longer to get his first win of the season but since then he has won 5 of his last starts in net. We might be seeing some players leave to head to a playoff contender but that is part of the business and Ron Francis has already said that he will only made the trade if it makes our team better.

With the All-Star break upon us now, this gives the Hurricanes some time to heal up and get ready to continue playing good team hockey. Hurricanes return from break with a 7:30 start at PNC against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Regular Season Game 3: Coyotes Vs. Hurricanes

Justin Faulk 

CANES WIN!!! For this 1st time in the 2014-2015 NHL season the Hurricanes get a win and its the first win since April 13, 2014! Coming off a rough road trip; the Hurricanes returned home for the first time since hosting Buffalo on October 14th. After a couple days of rest the Hurricanes welcomed Patrick Dwyer and Nathan Gerbe back to the lineup and saw Alexander Semin as a healthy extra when they hosted Arizona for the 3rd home game of the season.

Right from puck drop the Hurricanes were playing like they had something to prove and looked like a different team and the message from the coaching staff on performance was well received. Hurricanes put a total of 35 shots on goal, had an effective penalty kill and power play, as well as a huge net presence on the offense and defense ends. Elias Lindholm got his first 2 goals of the season and Juri Tlusty got a power play goal to make the 3-0 and that was also his 6th of the season and team leading goal.

Cam Ward #1 Star

Cam Ward looked like the Cam Ward of old; stopping all 25 shots and getting his first shutout since March 2012. This was a big confidence booster not only for Ward but for the team as a whole. Another standout performance tonight was that of Justin Faulk; tonight was one of his better nights of the season. He finished the game with 2 assists and 4 takeaways. That was after take a puck to the chin;


going to the dressing room to get repairs and coming back with a full cage.

Quick turn around the Hurricanes will host the Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings in a back-to-back situation tomorrow at 5pm.

Elias Lindholm

Three Stars of the Night
1. Cam Ward - Shutout
2. Elias Lindholm - 2 goals
3. Justin Faulk - 2 Assist

Hurricanes Scoring
1st Period:  Elias Lindholm (1) ASST Bellemore (1) Gerbe (1)
Elias Lindholm (2) ASST Nash (4) Faulk (3)
2nd Period: Juri Tlusty (6) ASST E. Staal (3) Faulk (4)
3rd Period: None

Carolina Hurricanes 2014-2015 Season Preview

The ice is down at PNC Arena and Opening Night vs the New York Islanders is right around the corner on October 10th at 7pm. As the Canes take the ice for training camp on September 19 there will be faces missing and some new ones.

Some key departures that happened this off-season were those of Manny Malholtra (Montreal), Justin Peters ( Washington), and Drayson Bowman (Try-Out Montreal). Some new faces that come to town ready for a fresh start are those of Jay McClement (Toronto) and Brad Malone (Colorado). Tim Gleason and Chad LaRose also signed back with the Hurricanes organization after both taking a year away from the franchise.

Bill Peters and Ron Francis 

With a new GM in Ron Francis and a new head coach in Bill Peters the horizon for the Hurricanes looks to be bright and make them a contender for the playoffs once again. Both Francis and Peters believe in the core group of talented players that are already within the system and believe there is a contending team in the locker room. Some of the key things that need to be fixed and will be looked at this season is the Power Play, Penalty Kill, Offensive  Scoring and Leadership within the locker room.  One of things that Coach Peters has spoke about this summer is that he is not afraid to replace a player with someone else who is working harder and deserves the spot.

We know that the top three scoring lines will looking something like this and leave the 4th line to be determined in Training Camp:

Tlusty- Eric Staal- Skinner

Gerbe- Jordan Staal- Semin

Lindholm- Nash- Dwyer

Eric Staal

We know that the top three Defensive pairings will looking something like this and leave the 4th pairing to be determined in Training Camp:

Faulk- Sekera

Harrison- Gleason

Hainsey-Murphy

Justin Faulk

There will also be a goal-tending competition in camp that will determine the Opening Night goalie as either Cam Ward or Anton Khudobin.

Anton Khudobin

Some key dates that fans need to keep in mind for beginning of the season:

• September 19th: Opening of Training Camp
• September 21st: Preseason Game vs. Blue Jackets
• September 26th: Canes Carnival
• October 5th: Preseason Game Vs. Saber
• October 10th: OPENING NIGHT vs. Islanders
• October 14th: Game vs. Sabers (National TV)

Thanks for reading the season preview and cant wait for the season of start! The motto we will stick with this season is one that the Canes used back in the 2006 playoffs when they won the Stanley Cup.. Whatever It Takes!!!!

~Julie