Carolina Hurricanes: The magic of the postseason Canes

Carolina has a tendency to make a lot of noise when they make the playoffs, but just to what extent is it truly magical?

The Carolina Hurricanes have a tendency to make a lot of noise when they reach game 83 of the NHL season. Their issue is getting to game 83 for most seasons. Carolina came into existence in 1997, and since have made the playoffs 6 times.

It’s not the most flattering of stats. What is a flattering stat is they’ve made the Eastern Conference Finals 4 times. From just 6 appearances, it’s an impressive stat.

Another fun stat is that since being relocated from Hartford in 1997, the Carolina Hurricanes have only lost in round 1 twice. They have not lost in round 1 since 2001. In 2002, Carolina found themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals. In 2009 and 2019, they played in the Eastern Conference Finals, and in 2006 they won everything. It’s remarkable what this franchise does when it makes it to game 83.

Yet, Carolina has not made the playoffs in back to back years since 2000-01 and 2001-02. It is in fact the only time since relocation the Canes have had playoff appearances in back to back years. This raises the question… why? What happens to this team in April that just doesn’t affect them for the other 6 months of the season?

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what changes, but something does. When the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs, it seems to feel like they just will not lose. It feels like they’re always going to make noise because everyone seems to be playing at their best. If you want an example from last year, look at Warren Foegele and what he did.

If this season resumes, there is a lot of questions regarding the playoff format and would Carolina be in it, and so on and so forth. Under normal circumstances, Carolina would be in the playoffs right now, and this would be the first time in 18 years they made the playoffs in back to back years. It would be the first time in the salary cap era that it happened.

So, what goes on with Carolina in the playoffs?

Who knows. But when playoff hockey comes to Raleigh, the Hurricanes always seem to be able to progress to play against the best of the best. It’s the opposite of the Washington Capitals in a sense. Washington made the playoffs for years but couldn’t win in round 2. Carolina has never lost in round 2, always round 1 or 3 and beyond. Talk about boom or bust.