The Carolina Hurricanes did not have a good month of February going 6-5-2 and sitting three points out of a playoff spot. Here are a few unanswered questions.
Three. As of writing this article that is the number of points that the Carolina Hurricanes are out of a playoff spot by. It is also the number of games in hand they have on the second wild card team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Considering they left 12 whole points on the table this month, 14 since the All-Star Break, they should count themselves lucky.
Let us be frank, home ice in the playoffs is a dream for next season at this point. That said, they are still only 11 points out of division lead with a game in hand. But let’s focus on the main target, the closest one, simply making the playoffs in back to back years. Something that hasn’t happened for this franchise since the Bush administration first took office.
The entire fanbase is conflicted right now. There are a few fans who think that Rod Brind’amour isn’t doing enough to help this team win while others point to the injuries and perhaps even Don Waddell.
There are others who think that it’s on the offense that could and should be scoring more. Some fans would point to the injury list, now featuring five players, including both netminders and three defenders as the reason for the lackluster performance.
There are those that will point out the defense, once touted as the best in the league, is continuously leaving high danger shots uncontended.
There are those who naturally are drawn to the fact that our last winning netminder was an Emergency Backup Goalie and 42 year old Zamboni Driver and that the Canes should have addressed the position with a trade.
Regardless of which camp you belong to, we all can agree that this season, which started with a winning mentality out the gate, has gone off the rails.
But luckily, it is still salvageable. It can still be turned around. The season can be saved and a ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs can still be punched. The final stretch of hockey is upon us and the Hurricanes are in a good position to own their own destiny. It starts with the answers to these five questions.