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What’s the key to the Hurricanes turnaround?

Image (1) Canes-thumb-200x300-6664.jpg for post 128

Yesterday one of our faithful readers asked why the Carolina Hurricanes weren’t getting much attention, despite being the hottest team in the NHL over the past month. Since we are doing our best to give equal love all around, we’ll oblige that request.

After enjoying something of a Cinderella run before being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was hopeful that the Hurricanes would take the next step this season. They won just three of their first 20 games, putting themselves in a hole that is nearly impossible to pull out of in just the first part of the season. Now the Hurricanes are 13-3-0 since January 21st, and have started to pull away from the worst start imaginable for a team that had high hopes coming off a playoff year. They have an outside shot -- still near impossible, but not unthinkable, 7 points back with 19 games remaining -- of making the playoffs.

Even if they don’t complete a magical comeback, their latest streak combined with stellar all-around team play still makes for a remarkable story on the season. What is that changed, what happened with the Hurricanes to take them from worst in the NHL to a team that none want to face right now?

I decided to ask the experts. I turned to Bob H. Waeghe of CanesCountry.com to get his take on what’s been the key to the Hurricanes’ turnaround.

While the Carolina Hurricanes are presently riding a seven game winning streak, the successful stretch is really just an extension of much improved play since the first of the year. What is the club doing differently now than they were before? For one thing, the leader of the team is finally healthy.

It’s probably no secret that the Hurricanes go as Eric Staal goes. The center started out the season with a bad groin issue and things deteriorated from there. He eventually had to sit out 10 games, ruining a period of over three years where he hadn’t missed a game. When he returned to the lineup, he still was not 100% and had to be moved to winger because he was unable to take faceoffs. But on January 21st, that all changed.

Staal was named team Captain, he moved back to center, and he went on a career best 11 game point streak. Since that fateful day when Staal was given the captaincy, the Canes are 12-3-0 and have out-scored their opponents 51-29. The center has 19 points, (10G 9A), during that 15 game span.

Of course hockey is a team sport and it takes more than one man to be successful. The entire team has picked up their energy. The defense has improved, the goaltending has been solid, (even without an injured Cam Ward), and the special team play has been excellent. There are several heroes who have contributed.

The Canes have gone from being dead last in the league to being within sight of an eighth place playoff spot. The odds certainly indicate that they will not make it, but they have not given up. Their new Captain won’t let them.

It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Hurricanes, and they’ll have to find some way to continue this incredible streak to even get close to a playoff spot. Even if they can’t, it’s still could be one heck of a wild ride to the finish.

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