With the NHL playoffs approaching, the Carolina Hurricanes look poised to make a title run this year. The Canes improved play this season has definitely shown up in the standings, as the Canes have the highest win percentage in the NHL. Led by the Finnish duo of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Terravinen, the Canes rank third for goal differential in the NHL and are taking advantage of the opportunities that other teams give them, sporting a 26.4% power-play percentage. Carolina does not have a big star player that every casual hockey fan knows, i.e. Sidney Crosby, but the lineup is filled at all positions with talented players, including Jacob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton, and goalie Peter Mrazek. Senior Wil Jurney believes the Canes will win it all this year, but need to keep up the good work come playoff time: “The Canes are for sure winning the Cup this year. They need to keep succeeding on the power play closing out games as they have been doing.” Wil also praised the Hurricane’s moves during the trade deadline, as the team traded Haydn Fleury to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Jani Hakanpaa and a future pick: “I think we did well picking up Hakanpaa because it’s going to bring a more physical game to Carolina that should help in a heated playoff series.”
The Stanley Cup-winning team from over a decade ago remains to be the franchise’s crowning achievement and produced the most notable championship team Raleigh has ever seen. The 2006 championship team gradually fell apart in the ensuing years, from players signing elsewhere, as well as the team not being able to afford keeping all of their star players. Then came a long period of mediocrity, with the team failing to qualify for the playoffs for nine straight years from 2010-2018. But after stockpiling draft picks that yielded a plethora of young talent including former second overall pick Andrei Svechnikov, the Canes are poised to win now. In fact, Vegas oddsmakers agree, as the Hurricanes are tied for the third-highest odds to win the championship this year. Although the Triangle will always be known for its college basketball fandom, the Canes being our city’s only professional sports team makes it that much more special when they succeed. Let’s hope the Canes can keep up the good work and bring the Stanley Cup (and confetti) back to the streets of downtown Raleigh this year. Go Canes!