By Bud L. Ellis
If ever there was a team that seeks to carry momentum from the final three months of a hockey season, it indeed is the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes missed the playoffs by eight points in 2009-10. But the sheer face the Canes made it that close to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference is a testament to the team’s play after an absolutely horrid start to the season. ( Read More…)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 9:12 pm by bud
Tags: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes news, Carolina Hurricanes schedule, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, Eric Staal, Minnesota Wild, National Hockey League, Rod Brind’Amour
By Bud L. Ellis
Remember when the Carolina Hurricanes reached the Eastern Conference finals last spring?
That happened just six months ago, but it might as well happened six centuries ago after what the Hurricanes have endured through the first month of the NHL season.
Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Columbus extended Carolina’s losing streak to 12 games, and its 2-11-3 mark is the worst in the NHL. What’s even worse is goalie Cam Ward suffered a leg injury when he was cut with a skate and will miss the next four weeks. Carolina carried the lead into the third period but could not hold on against the Blue Jackets.
Carolina signed veteran netminder Manny Legace, who was playing for the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago, to try and bridge the gap until Ward returns. But in reality, a victory — anyway, anyhow — would be a nice salve for a team that truly is scuffling right now.
Monday marked one full month since the Hurricanes’ last victory, and their seven points puts Carolina a remarkable 17 points behind Southeast Division leader Washington. After losing by five, four and three goals last week, Carolina dropped a pair of one-goal decisions last weekend and still have not won a game away from home.
The Hurricanes hope to finally break their franchise-record skid Wednesday when they play host to Los Angeles. Friday, Carolina plays host to the Islanders.
–30–
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 3:15 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Manny Legace, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
It took five extra minutes of overtime and a shootout, but the Carolina Hurricanes finally found their way into the victory column.
Sergei Samsonov and Tuomo Ruutu scored in the shootout, and goalie Cam Ward made 29 saves as the Hurricanes snapped a season-opening two-game losing streak Tuesday, beating Tampa Bay 2-1 in Raleigh for the Canes’ first victory of the season.
For a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals a year ago, the victory erased some of the angst from two ugly season-opening losses last weekend, games Carolina lost by a combined 9-2 score.
But Carolina got it done Tuesday, opening a key early stretch of Southeast Division contest with a victory.
Jussi Jokinen scored for Carolina in the first period, converting on a power play. Tampa Bay tied the game in the second period, but the Canes’ defense held the Lightning at bay the rest of the way.
–30–
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 9:56 pm by bud
Tags: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Jussi Jokinen, National Hockey League, Sergei Samsonov, Southeast Division, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuomo Ruutu
