After closing out preseason play with a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Carolina Hurricanes have their roster set for opening night. Here’s a look at who made the cut, who didn’t, and what we can expect from the Hurricanes this season.
Preseason play started off on a positive note for the Carolina Hurricanes. James Reimer and Anton Forsberg shared a shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first exhibition game.
The following night brought a rematch, a change of venue (shifting arenas from Amalie to PNC), but the same defensive result. Petr Mrazek and Alex Nedeljkovic combined to post the second Carolina shutout in as many games and things were looking pretty good.
Then came a 3-2 loss to the Capitals. The biggest swing took place against the Nashville Predators in a 3-0 loss on September 25. Despite allowing 3 goals, Forsberg looked excellent at times, making 37 saves, several of the spectacular variety.
The bad news came following the second period’s opening faceoff when offseason acquisition Ryan Dzingel left the game with a lower-body injury.
So, with the Hurricanes closing out a 2-3-1 preseason schedule and nursing a few bumps and bruises, what are we looking at with the regular season knocking at the door? Let’s start with a look at the roster, starting with the forwards.