‘Canes trying to blow way into playoffs

By Bud L. Ellis

Four games ago, the Carolina Hurricanes began what they hope will be the finishing kick they need to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Hurricanes have won three of their past four, starting with a 1-0 victory over Buffalo on March 15. The Sabres currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. ( Read More…)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 8:48 pm by bud

Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes news, Carolina Hurricanes schedule, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, National Hockey League, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals

Hurricanes blow big lead, win in shootout

By Bud L. Ellis

A 5-2 lead disappeared Tuesday night in a span of 10 minutes, but the Carolina Hurricanes were well served by youth in the shootout.

Jeff Skinner, who at 18 years old is the youngest player in the NHL, scored the only goal of the shootout round, as the Hurricanes beat Calgary 6-5 in Raleigh, N.C. ( Read More…)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 12:20 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes news, Carolina Hurricanes schedule, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, Curtis Glencross, Eric Staal, Erik Cole, Jarome Iginla, Jay Bouwmeester, Jeff Skinner, Jussi Jokinen, Montreal Canadiens, National Hockey League, Niklas Hagman, Rene Bourgue, Tuomo Ruutu

Canes seek to carry good second half into new season

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

Hurricanes try to weather 12-game losing streak

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.

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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

‘Canes hit road looking to jumpstart offense

By Bud L. Ellis

For a team that’s averaged 97 points the past four seasons, having just six points through eight games and sitting in fourth place in the division is a strange feeling.

The Carolina Hurricanes will look to find themselves and start a winning streak when they hit the road for a Midwestern weekend swing at Colorado and Minnesota this weekend.

The Canes need something to jump start their 2009-10 season, one which has began with lackluster performances and disappointment. The  stumble came Wednesday, when Carolina lost 4-3 to a New York Islanders’ team that was winless on the season entering the matchup.

Offensive woes have kept Carolina from hitting its stride so far this season, Carolina having scored just 18 goals in eight games. And while the Canes are 2-1 in the Southeast Division, they already are six points behind two-time defending division champion Washington.

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Friday, October 23, 2009 at 9:47 pm by bud

Tags: Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals

Canes snag first win of season in shootout

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.

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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