Carolina Hurricanes: 5 Things Learned Against the Wild

Carolina Hurricanes triumph over the Minnesota Wild tonight 3-1

This was a game built on endurance.  Not on each team’s physical endurance, but the endurance of the fan to watch this lifeless game between a tired Wild team and an injury hampered Carolina Hurricanes.  One bit of good news was the return of Brock McGinn to the lineup although he was pretty much ineffective the entire game.

Both Teams scored early in the first, but after that, it was a hard slog of uninspired hockey.  Neither team really had great chances the entire second period.  It almost seemed like each team was ready to settle for overtime at the end of the game.  Until Victor Rask pulled a power move reminiscent of Jordan Staal and put the puck past Devan Dubnyk five hole.

Related Story: Is Eric Staal the Greatest Hurricane?

But the Carolina Hurricanes emerged with two points in regulation against one of the best teams in the NHL.  The Canes basically need to win out to have any chance at the playoffs.  Even if the team does win out they probably need some help from other teams as well.

With the win tonight, Carolina improves to 20-10-4 at home.  Quite the impressive record and comparable to other playoff caliber teams.  The road record though is something else.  The Canes are tied with the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche for only nine wins on the road for a record of 9-17-8.

If the team can improve that road record to just hockey .500 the Hurricanes would have a playoff spot.  In fact, they would be tied with Toronto with 78 points.  Hopefully, things will even out next season.

More from Cardiac Cane

• 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
• Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
• Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
• The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
• Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes

5 Things Learned Tonight

• Lucas Wallmark continues to play solid hockey, and he hasn’t gotten injured yet either.  Always a plus when trying to evaluate young talent.  He had a really nifty play here that shows his offensive vision.  If he can keep improving the Canes will have a great depth center that could be better than what they currently have.
• So Eddie Lack might have remembered how to play goalie. In his last six starts since the return from a concussion, he has posted a .948 save percentage.  Also, the Swede was standing on his head all night tonight as Minnesota started to push in the third period.  Just look at some of these saves he made to keep the score tied.
• Former captain Eric Staal was held off the scoresheet tonight against his former team.  He had a golden opportunity in the third but the noted play of Lack kept the puck out of the net.  It’s still nice to see him have a good season in Minnesota as he plans on going to the playoffs for only the third time in his career
• So is this team actively trying to ruin their draft chances?  You would think that with someone like Eric Tulsky on the staff he would be screaming at them to lose as many games as possible down the stretch.  This middling .500 hockey is hurting the long-term plans of the team.  Just look at this graph of sadness created by Micah Blake McCurdy.  Every win this time of year just increases the chances of maximum sadness.

Next: Will Ryan Murphy be Exposed in Expansion Draft?

• Sebastian Aho is just a treat, isn’t he?  Just look at this breakaway by him on the Wild.  There is talk that he may move to center in the future.  Not to say that I couldn’t see him playing center I just think his offensive talents will be maximized on the wing.  This just means that he’ll move to center next year and score 40 goals. Sometimes it’s good to be wrong right?