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10 reasons Carolina Hurricanes can win Stanley Cup in 2017-18

By Andrew Miller

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: A general view of the Stanley Cup trophy is seen being displayed at the Park Theater Retail Store at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: A general view of the Stanley Cup trophy is seen being displayed at the Park Theater Retail Store at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes gets a drink of water duing a time out of an NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 11, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 11: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes gets a drink of water duing a time out of an NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks on November 11, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

5. Scott Darling brings playoff experience to the locker room

It’s not been the start that Scott Darling was hoping for in his tenure with the Canes. He owns a record of 7-6-5, and a save percentage lower than that of Cam Ward’s. Yet, Darling did perform admirably in the last two starts, both resulting in shootouts.

One of the most valuable things that Darling brought to the Carolina locker room was the overall playoff experience from Chicago. Darling got to see a multiple Stanley Cup winning starting goalie with the Hawks in Corey Crawford.

Now, Darling gets to play with another goalie that played a huge part in winning their team a Stanley Cup. Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy back in 2006 and knows what it takes to get on a path to success with this team.

It just seems like Ward is not able to find that same success himself in the better part of the last five seasons. If Darling can start to feed of Ward’s reliable presence as a backup and find some consistent confidence, he’ll establish himself as a true starting quality goalie in the NHL.

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