Carolina Hurricanes: Assessing the chances in the Metropolitan Division

RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 6: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Valtteri Filuppa #51 of the Philadelphia Flyers battle to control the puck during an NHL game on February 6, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 6: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Valtteri Filuppa #51 of the Philadelphia Flyers battle to control the puck during an NHL game on February 6, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 9: Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes congratulates teammate Scott Darling #33 on his win against the Vancouver Canucks following an NHL game on February 9, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 9: Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes congratulates teammate Scott Darling #33 on his win against the Vancouver Canucks following an NHL game on February 9, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Goaltending Situation

Carolina’s goaltending is coming through at the right time. We all were hoping for Scott Darling to find his way with starting goalie Cam Ward playing great for a good portion of the last three months. Darling led the Canes to the Feb. 9 win over Vancouver.

Ward then follow Darling’s solid outing with a good performance of his own, also allowing just a single goal in the 3-1 win over Colorado. If both Ward and Darling continue to play this way, the Canes are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs also.

Up to this point, Ward is still the goaltender with the best stat line with his 16-7-3 record, .913 save percentage, and 2.59 goals against average. Darling is improving his stat line though with a 10-14-6 record, .899 save percentage, and 2.99 goals against average.

Ward is on pace for his best save percentage since the 2011-12 season. He’s also the Canes only goalie with any shutouts this year. In his last five starts, Ward has allowed just seven goals, and only lost one of those starts in regulation. He’s the goalie the Canes need right now.

Schedule