“Canes Killers”: A History of Players Terrorizing the Carolina Hurricanes

If you’re like me, you’ve seen the Carolina Hurricanes play a lot of games against every team in the NHL. No matter who they’re playing, there’s always one or two guys that always have fun making our lives as fans miserable. We call those players “Canes Killers.”

Canes Killers can come in different forms, but the easiest to spot is a player who scores a lot of goals or points whenever they play the Hurricanes. If they’re on the ice, they will have their fingerprints all over a game. Goalies can meet the criteria, too. Plenty of goalies in history have made careers out of giving the Hurricanes fits when they have the puck.

The most interesting Canes Killers are the ones that aren’t superstars. However, the fact remains the best players in the league are the most likely Canes Killers. Alex Ovechkin has more goals (47) and points (99) against the Hurricanes than any player since the team relocated to North Carolina. He’s had the second-most games to do so and is the second-leading scorer in NHL history, so that makes plenty of sense. It also helps that he used to play against the Hurricanes eight times a year when the Southeast Division was around. While he’s a Canes Killer, he’s far from the most interesting case.

While talking about the great things the Hurricanes do is much more fun, there’s a level of self-awareness we need to have. Times aren’t always good, so it’s wrong to pretend they are. That’s why looking at these players who play well against the Canes is essential. To be very clear, I won’t cover every single one because there are plenty to choose from. These are just some of the most notable. Here’s the story of some of history’s biggest Canes Killers.

Alex Ovechkin (47-52-99 in 86 games) & Nicklas Backstrom (15-47-62 in 66 games)

If St. Louis and Lecavalier were the early duo of Canes Killers, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are the modern version. Ovechkin’s numbers have already been mentioned. He’ll surpass Lecavalier this season for most games against the Hurricanes, and his next point will be his 100th. The most incredible part about his run is that he only has one hat trick against the Canes, and it didn’t come until 2018. Backstrom has been Ovechkin’s right-hand man for 17 seasons, but he’s been just as lethal. He’s fifth in assists and sixth in points. Their success extends to the postseason, combining for nine goals and 17 points in the 1st Round in 2019.

Sidney Crosby (20-40-60 in 55 games)

Entering the league at the same time as Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby has been a pillar of consistency for the Penguins organization. His 60 points in 55 games are the seventh-most of any player, while his 40 assists are sixth. There are several other Penguins that could’ve been included, namely Evgeni Malkin. Crosby’s success also reaches into the postseason, scoring seven points during Pittsburgh’s four-game sweep of the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009.

John Tavares (28-26-54 in 45 games)

While John Tavares spent plenty of seasons with the Islanders, there wasn’t a single moment I could point to as being noteworthy. Then, I looked at his year-by-year breakdown against Carolina. During his third season in 2011-12, Tavares scored 12 points in four games against the Canes, scoring at least two points in all four, including three multi-goal performances. While he’s 11th in points, Tavares has the fifth-most goals with 28. Even with the Maple Leafs, he’s been a point-per-game player against Carolina.

Mika Zibanejad (15-22-37 in 33 games)

A newer addition to the list, Mika Zibanejad earned his title as a Canes Killer once he joined the New York Rangers. Zibanejad has 29 points in 20 games since being traded to the Rangers, the most points of any player since the start of the 2016-17 season. Most of his success has come on the power play, with 16 of his 29 points coming with the man advantage. Zibanejad was also crucial in New York’s seven-game win over the Canes in the 2nd Round in 2022.

Henrik Lundqvist (33-12-1, .934 SV%, 2.00 GAA in 46 games)

For all of the incredible scorers in NHL history, the king of all the Canes Killers is the king himself. While he was another player to terrorize the entire league, the Hurricanes were his favorite. He’s tied for the most wins against the Canes with 33, while his .934 save percentage is the best of any goalie with 15+ starts. His numbers were even scarier at Madison Square Garden, allowing 45 goals in 25 starts, 19 of which he won. It was never a fun night when Lundqvist took the net for the Rangers.

Braden Holtby (17-7-1, .933 SV%, 2.12 GAA in 25 games)

For 16 seasons, the Capitals had a goalie named Olaf Kolzig, who played well against the Canes. A few years later, Braden Holtby entered the mix, and he was just as successful. The 2016 Vezina winner played some impressive games against the Hurricanes. He’s finished with a save percentage of .940 or better and a GAA of less than 2.00 in six of the ten seasons he’s faced the Canes. He couldn’t turn it into success in the postseason, losing in seven games in 2019, but it doesn’t take away from his status as a Canes Killer.

Patrick Lalime (10-4-3-1, .930 SV%, 1.84 GAA in 19 games)

I can see many people looking at this name with some confusion. Some of you might not know who Patrick Lalime is. That should be a good indication that he was solid against the Canes. Lalime’s best years were spent with the Ottawa Senators early in his career, finishing 5th in the Vezina race in 2002-03. Ironically, that was the only season his GAA against the Canes wasn’t below 1.71. Otherwise, Lalime was nearly unbeatable. He was outstanding on the road. His 1.86 GAA on the road was the best of all goalies, with at least ten road starts in Raleigh.

There is one notable omission from this group, so now might be a good time to address it. Martin Brodeur seems like an obvious name to include. His 33 wins are tied with Lundqvist. He recorded six shutouts with an outstanding 2.21 GAA. Brodeur also scored a goal against the Canes. He has solid numbers, but I wouldn’t put him on the level of the other goalies mentioned. First, his .913 save percentage is average by comparison. Also, he didn’t have much success in the playoffs against the Canes, losing three of the four postseason meetings. Brodeur is outstanding, and his resume is undeniable, but I struggle to call him a Canes Killer based on the evidence provided.

There were plenty of players who had excellent careers against the Carolina Hurricanes. Here are some extra Canes Killers that put together statlines I didn’t expect.

Thomas Vanek (18-21-39 in 39 games)

While by no means a superstar, Thomas Vanek put together an outstanding 14-year career. Some Caniacs might remember Vanek from the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals when the Hurricanes beat the Buffalo Sabres in seven games. He only scored one goal during that series, but he was a point-per-game player against the Canes for the rest of his career.

Jozef Stumpel (11-19-30 in 31 games)

Early in his career, Josef Stumpel didn’t produce much against the Canes. He was a bit of a late bloomer. In the final three seasons of his career, Stumpel scored eight goals and 17 points in 19 games with the Florida Panthers.

Ray Emery (5-1-1, .962 SV%, 1.14 GAA in 7 games)

The late Ray Emery didn’t allow a goal to the Carolina Hurricanes until his fourth start, granted he left one after facing only one shot. The final start of Emery’s career was against the Canes, a 3-1 win for Carolina in April 2015.

Mika Noronen (4-2-0, .948 GAA, 1.58 GAA in 7 games)

Only playing in the NHL for five years, Mika Noronen didn’t have a glamourous career, but he certainly enjoyed facing the Canes. Noronen finished his career with 23 wins, four of which came against Carolina, including a 2-1-0 record with a .969 save percentage and a 1.01 GAA in 2003-04.

Many former Hurricanes made careers out of beating Carolina before and after joining the team. Jeff Skinner has six goals and 12 points in ten games since being traded to Buffalo. Cory Stillman scored 15 of his 31 career points against the Hurricanes after winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. Before signing a huge contract with the Canes, Alexander Semin scored 27 goals in 41 games with the Capitals. Eric Staal may only have nine points in 12 games since he was traded, but he got the last laugh in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. In the net, former Hurricanes Eddie Lack and Dan Ellis never lost when on the other side, and Martin Gerber held a 1.93 GAA in 11 games. There are plenty of current Hurricanes that could be Canes Killers in the making once they leave the team.

The term “Canes Killers” may come across as a little harsh, but it certainly has a ring to it. There will always be players that make our lives miserable as fans and the team’s lives tough on the ice. This will be the case until the end of time. There’s nothing we can do except cheer for our team and hope not to get burnt by Canes Killers every time.