Comeback Canes clinch postseason spot

The red hot Carolina Hurricanes broke a two-year playoff drought as defenseman Anton Babchuk buried home a game-winning overtime goal only 1:11 into the extra period to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2.

Before meeting the Penguins, Carolina had been on a ruthless winning streak, as it won eight consecutive games and boasted an 11-game home winning streak.

Hosting the Penguins, the Hurricanes knew they had the chance to clinch a playoff berth, but Sidney Crosby and the Pens did not allow that win to come easy.

Both teams play a similar style of hockey: fast paced offensive.

The Eastern Conference showdown pitted Carolina's Eric Staal against brother Jordan who plays for Pittsburgh; both Staals' scored a goal.

The ultimate factor in Saturday's matchup was the stellar performance by Hurricanes' netminder Cam Ward and his supporting cast of rough and tough defensemen.

Ward, who stopped 33 shots on goal, including an Evgeni Malkin penalty shot, has gone 17-6-2 in his last 25 consecutive starts. Malkin, the NHL's scoring leader, galloped in on his free trip, attempted to fire a wrist shot past Ward but was stoned stick side.

In addition to superhuman goaltending, the Canes' blue liners proved that endorsements and publicity do not win hockey games, as they stood impenetrable against the NHL's so-called biggest star, Crosby.

The Hurricanes' physical yet intelligent defense left both Crosby and Malkin pointless through the entire game.

Due to Carolina's outstanding finish, the RBC Center has been a hotbed of premier games as of late and has already taken on the blood-pounding, adrenaline-fueled atmosphere of playoff style hockey.

In one fell swoop, Babchuk loaded the gun and the RBC Center erupted with the deafening roar of 19,000 postseason depraved Caniacs.

The Hurricanes brought Lord Stanley's Cup to the Old North State in the 2005-2006 season. The reigning champs followed their magical season with two disappointing seasons, including a missed play off berth by just one point due to a loss in their final regular season game last year.

The most impressive aspect of the Hurricanes' remarkable finish is how drastically different of a team this has become in the last month of play.

The Hurricanes battled the adversity as head coach Peter Laviolette, who led them to the Cup, was fired in early December. To add to the controversy, management brought in previous head coach Paul Maurice. With both inconsistencies on the ice and in the locker-room, the Hurricanes never seemed to tap into their powder keg of potential.

Carolina, at its lowest point this season--through January and February--endured a five-game losing streak following a four-game winning streak and experienced some of the most disappointing let downs in franchise history.

One such loss on Feb. 17 was a 2-1 game that became a 5-1 collapse in the last period against the Boston Bruins on the night honoring Hurricanes' great Glen Wesley.

The fans and local media had already written the 2008-2009 season off as another early summer, but thanks to the savvy dealings of General Manger Jim Rutherford, the Canes acquired shootout specialist Jussi Jokinen from Tampa Bay in early February.

The most profitable transaction during the heat of the trade deadline was what sparked the Hurricanes' newfound chemistry as they reacquired long time Hurricane fan favorite Erik Cole from Edmonton.

Cole returned to Raleigh March 6 for his first game in red this season against the Calgary Flames and scored the third of six goals in a 6-1 rout over the Flames.

Since the return of Cole, all facets of the team have continued to drastically improve. Cole plays the supporting role for which Staal had been lacking all season and allowed the onslaught of Canes' offense to begin. Carolina, with Cole, in the last month of play has gone 12-1-2.

Most of the East's best teams have not played Carolina since its drastic turnaround, meaning the Canes could be a sleeper team poised for a deep run in the upcoming playoffs.

The Hurricanes are used to being taken lightly and have capitalized on that weakness in previous playoff runs as they made two Cup appearances in just 11 seasons in North Carolina, with one victory.

Carolina's most probable first round opponent will be the physical Philadelphia Flyers. The key to winning the first round is to keep up their high-powered playing style and not fall into penalty trouble against the undisciplined Flyers.

The Hurricanes are hot at the right time and looking to make some waves in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The focus on one game at a time will be necessary as the Hurricanes finish up their last two games of the season against Buffalo and New Jersey and then head into the playoffs.

Inside the Hurricanes' locker room, just above the door that leads out to the ice, is a quote that personifies this team's mentality and work ethic: "It is not about me, it is about the guy in front of me."

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.