Heading into the last week in March, it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes had returned to the form that earned them the title “Defending Stanley Cup Champion.”  During the previous three weeks, they played up-tempo, grinding, physical hockey and posted a 6-2-1 record, their best stretch of the season.     During that run they beat the Washington Capitals twice and dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks. Even their 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on March 15 seemed to only harden their resolve. Two nights later, they skated into New Jersey and drove Martin Brodeur from the net with a 7-2 victory.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Vincent Lecavalier right, celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammate Dan Boyle (22) as Carolina Hurricanes' Frantisek Kaberle (5), of the Czech Republic, Mike Commodore (22) and Dennis Seidenberg (4) sit on the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 30, 2007, in Raleigh, N.C. The Lightning won 4-2. (AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker)

At that point, the Hurricanes controlled their playoff destiny. Keep racking up points and it won’t matter what happens in the rest of the conference. Get enough points and they just might overtake the Atlanta Thrashers for first place in the Southeastern Division.

The Hurricanes held the eighth and final playoff spot going into the last week in March. Then, the wheels came off. Against Toronto, the Hurricanes came out flat. The Maple Leafs scored a soft goal on Cam Ward in the opening minute and skated to a 6-1 win. 

The ’Canes fared no better against the lowly Philadelphia Flyers, losing 5-1. Still only two points behind Tampa Bay and seven back of Atlanta, the Hurricanes fell to the Lightning 4-2 on the 30th.

“We’re not out of it yet,” said defenseman Mike Commodore. “Until it’s mathematically impossible, we’re still in it. We’ve got to stay positive. The frustrating part is I thought we played pretty well.”

The Hurricanes entered April out of the playoffs with only four games left in the regular season    

Hurricanes Jump Into Youth Hockey

Peter Karmanos Jr, owner/governor and CEO of the Hurricanes, has 30 years of experience supporting youth hockey in his hometown of Detroit. His junior club, the Plymouth Whalers, was the first American club to play in the Ontario Hockey League. Eric Lindros, Mike Modano and Kevin Hatcher are all products of Karmanos’ Compuware hockey programs. 

Now, Karmanos has decided to increase his youth hockey support in the Raleigh area, home to the Hurricanes. 

In partnership with the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association (RYHA), Karmanos has formed Canes Youth and Amateur Hockey (CYAH), which will sponsor the top teams in the RYHA in some of the biggest tournaments in North America.

The affiliation with the Hurricanes, coupled with the presence of director of player development Ron Francis, a future Hockey Hall of Famer, is certain to boost hockey in North Carolina.

“That is, for me, a very exciting time,” Francis said, “because Peter Karmanos has done this many, many years in Detroit and in junior hockey. And to bring that expertise to the (Raleigh) area is only going to be great for the kids in the area.”

For Francis, the importance of youth hockey programs transcends the results on the ice. For him, the character-building experience is the greatest benefit the youngsters will receive.
 “It’s great.” Francis said. “I was one of the fortunate ones to play youth hockey and make it to the NHL, but a lot of kids don’t have that opportunity. If you provide them with the right environment and give them the opportunity to experience the game, and give them valuable life lessons, it may not be the NHL, but whatever profession they so choose, they’ll have these lessons to take with them the rest of their life.”

The Hurricanes will outfit the Tier 1 teams with Carolina Hurricanes jerseys and strengthen youth programs such as the Street Stormers, in-school programs, college hockey, clinics and summer camps.

As if a 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers on March 11 wasn’t bad enough, Rangers forward Brad Isbister slid skates first into Cam Ward in the second period and sliced the starting goaltender’ leg above the knee.

The injury required 11 stitches and was expected to sideline Ward for at least a week     The ’Canes have had a full roster of players on the ice for only 39 minutes this season.

The injury to Ward gave backup goalie John Grahame a chance to show his stuff, much the way Ward did subbing for Martin Gerber last season before making his startling playoff run.

“If you’re asking me, I won a championship with John Grahame,” said head coach Peter Laviolette. “I have a lot of confidence in him. Laviolette won an AHL title in 1999 with Grahame in net.

“I’ve said it all along, and I speak from experience, that Johnny is a pressure goaltender,” said Laviolette. “The bigger the game, the more he rises up. He likes that.”

Grahame played well in his first game after Ward’s injury.  He stopped 26 Florida Panthers shots in a 3-1 Hurricanes win and almost had a crack at an empty net goal himself with about 20 seconds left to play.

“I was looking,” Grahame said. “We’re up. I wouldn’t do it with a one-goal lead, but why not? I knew I’d be able to get it up over their guys and our guys are streaking anyway, so it would be a race for the puck. Sometimes you have to take some chances, and we were pretty successful tonight.”

Ward returned to action on March 22 after Grahame was driven from the net in the third period by the Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin.
 
“There wasn’t a lot of work for Johnny. He had been playing so well for us when Cam has been out,” said Laviolette. “Some of those (Capitals) goals were nice goals, but I just wanted to change it up and get Cam into a game to see if it doesn’t change the outcome of where we were going. It was a tough call.”

After suffering the home loss against the Devils on March, Carolina knew it would be tough playing in New Jersey two nights later. Surprisingly, the match-up turned out to be a breakout game of sorts for the ’Canes.

Chad Larose, switched to center by Laviolette, opened the scoring against Brodeur, lifting the puck above the goaltender’s leg.   
 
“That first goal was kind of lucky,” said Larose. “But it was fun playing center.  I’ve got a lot of stuff to work on.”  According to Larose, the last time he played center was “maybe back in squirts.”

Lucky or not, the goal by Larose triggered markers by Joseph Vasicek, Ray Whitney and Rod Brind’Amour in less than five minutes in the second period to send Brodeur to the bench in favor of backup Scott Clemmensen. 

Larose scored on Clemmensen with 3:02 left in the second period to make it 5-0.  Larose and linemates Scott Walker and Andrew Ladd contributed five points in the 7-1 rout. 

 “I’ve counted on Rosie before to do certain things,” Laviolette said, “and he always seems to come through.  He came in and provided the spark.”

The Hurricanes went proceeded to beat the Capitals 4-3 and the San Jose Sharks 6-4. “With nine (games) to go,” said Whitney, “I don’t think it’s time for anyone to relax.”
    

Unlike players acquired for a playoff run, Anson Carter and Dennis Seidenberg were brought in as insurance for injuries. But with the team close to full strength again, it was hard for either to crack the lineup on a regular basis. Seidenberg and Carter were healthy scratches for four consecutive games in March.  

 “I've been in the game 11 years,” Carter said. “In a situation like this, when the team is healthy, especially after winning the Stanley Cup the year before, you’re going to look to those guys. It’s up to me to stay sharp in practice until I get my shot again...”

“I look at it as a positive.” Carter said. “It was a difficult transition coming in here not really knowing the guys. This gives me a chance to get to know every one, get to know the practices and watch a few games to get a sense of what we’re trying to do on the ice.”

Canes Talk
“I’ve only got one of these pretty pink sticks and tell them to quit slashing it because it’s for charity.” – Eric Cole, talking to the referee about Devils players picking on him for his pink stick during the Tribute to Hockey Moms fundraiser for breast cancer research.

“We had lots of chances. The opportunities were there, but that doesn't mean anything.”-- c oach Peter Laviolette on the March 4 Atlanta loss.

“Well, it was a pooper today.  But the break gives you a mental rest in a way, and also obviously a physical one. It gives you a little break to let some guys see their families and have a normal life for just a second. But we realize at the end of the day that we've got a job to do and that break should help us. -- Tim Gleason, on the Wednesday skate during the team’s first four-day break in March.

“We had him in our heads from the last game. We figured if we keep shooting the puck, it'll find the back of the net.” -- Chad LaRose, on the performance that drove Martin Brodeur from the net on March 17.
 
Hurricane Stats Leaders

Points
Whitney 79
Brind’Amour 76
Staal 66

Goals
Williams 33
Whitney 30
Staal 29

Assists
Brind’Amour 53
Whitney 49
Staal 37