Cardiac Cane
Fansided

Revisiting the 1998-99 Carolina Hurricanes

By Jeb Bohn

19 Nov 1998: Goalie Arturs Irbe #1 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares to make a stop during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport
19 Nov 1998: Goalie Arturs Irbe #1 of the Carolina Hurricanes prepares to make a stop during a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport /
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Carolina Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe
18 Dec 1998: Goaltender Arturs Irbe #1 of the Carolina Hurricanes in action during the game against the Ottawa Senators at Corel Centre in Ottawa, Canada. The Senators defeated the Hurricanes 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport /

The Goaltending

Trevor Kidd had a strong season with the Hurricanes in 1997-98, setting career marks in goals-against-average (2.17) and save percentage (.922).  He had been the most consistent goaltender for the team, prompting the only other NHL-proven options (Sean Burke, Kirk McLean) to be moved for other assets.

Needing serviceable depth in goal, Rutherford signed Arturs Irbe, who was coming off of a solid season with the Vancouver Canucks.  Irbe had established himself as a folk hero in San Jose, a fighter who had led the underdog Sharks to a 7 game upset of the Detroit Red Wings in 1994.  After a 5 year stint in the Bay Area, Irbe spent one season each with the Dallas Stars and the Canucks.

When he landed with the Hurricanes, Irbe had shown himself to be a gifted but inconsistent goalie.  The diminutive Latvian set about earning his place, setting career-highs in goals-against-average (2.22), save percentage (.923), and shutouts (6, which he duplicated in 00-01).

Kidd, meanwhile, appeared in on 25 games, posting a 7-10-6 record.  His goals-against went up and his save percentage went down though, to be fair, neither number was horrendous (2.69; .905).  Kidd also notched 2 shutouts, stopping 36 shots in each.

Irbe’s arrival stabilized the Hurricanes’ goaltending situation, a far cry from the carousel that we saw during the first season.  This also marked the beginning of Irbe adding to his lore:

Like wall, indeed.

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