With three games left in the 2008-09 regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes knew they were on their way to the postseason. In Game #79, Anton Babchuk scored in overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, helping the Canes clinch their first playoff berth since 2006. Not only did they clinch, but the Canes extended their win streak to eight games, putting them one game away from tying the franchise mark.
Their opponent on April 9, 2009, was the New York Islanders, who were well on their way to being the worst team in the league. It would become painfully evident once the puck dropped in this game. Yann Denis, the team's best goalie that season, drew the unfortunate assignment against Cam Ward, who looked to make history of his own in his 22nd straight start.
Less than three minutes into the game, Dennis Seidenberg's wrister from the point found the back of the net. Before the halfway point, Eric Staal snuck a shot through Denis' pads to double the advantage. In the final minute, Scott Walker outworked the entire Islanders team, winning a race to his rebound and popping it off the upper part of the net to make it 3-0 before the break.
Joey MacDonald would relieve Denis to begin the second period. Life wouldn't be any easier for him. Staal scored his second of the night by working around MacDonald and tucking a backhander home. The captain joined the fun on the power play as Rod Brind'Amour finished a beautiful pass from Jussi Jokinen. Staal completed his hat trick late in the middle frame, receiving a pass from Erik Cole before snapping it home to put the Canes up 6-0.
The Hurricanes' power play finished the job in the third period, scoring three times. Tuomo Ruutu was responsible for two of the goals, with Frantisek Kaberle getting his first goal of the season between them. When it was all said and done, the Canes routed the Islanders 9-0, helping to set several impressive marks in the process. Staal, Cole, and Babchuk finished the game with four points each, while Ward only faced 12 shots.
Along with tying the Hurricanes record with their ninth straight victory, the team tied the record for the most goals in a game, which they'd set by scoring the same number against the Lightning a month earlier. They also set the record for the most lopsided shutout in franchise history. By stopping all 12 shots he faced, Cam Ward set the new benchmark for wins in a single season, passing 2005-06 teammate Martin Gerber with his 39th win. He also recorded his sixth shutout, tying him for the most in a season.
The Islanders, who finished with a league-worst 61 points, went on to win the draft lottery, selecting John Tavares with the first pick. The Canes would drop their final two games, finishing the season with 97 points and the sixth seed in the conference. They upset the Devils and the Bruins in seven games before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.