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.