Preseason Wrap Up

For the Carolina Hurricanes, the last preseason game seemed more like a minor league contest instead of a NHL game. A half dozen fights, more then 40 penalties and a shoot out that went nine rounds. The best thing out of the contest might have been the performance of goalie Cam Ward who stopped 38 of 39 shots in regulation and another four in overtime. He then stepped it up even more with stoning all nine of the Blue Jackets shooters in the shootout. Or the best thing could have been how the Canes stood up for each other from Ryan Bayda who is all of 5’10” standing up to Columbus enforcer Tommy Sestito who stands a mere 6’4” to Ray Whitney who took exception on a hit suffered by team captain Rod Brind'Amour.
For this preseason, the Canes went 4-1-1. The bright spots for Carolina in the preseason in my opinion:
Two of the four wins were in either overtime or a shootout
Two of the Canes wins were shutouts
Cam Ward against Nashville Predators
John Grahame against Columbus Blue Jackets

Canes go 4-1-1 in six games
Defensive prospects – Carolina’s defense should be a lot better with the prospects that are now working out in Albany of the AHL
Carolina went roughly 98% on the Penalty Kill during the preseason

With all the positives, there are still a few concerns for me with this 2007-08 Hurricane team:
Carolina out shooting opponents and coming up on the wrong side of the win column
Hurricanes out shoot Nashville 40-30, only get one goal and lose 4-1
Carolina out shoots Washington and loses in overtime to divisional foes from up North

Power play is still a major concern for me. In the Nashville game from point 1, the only Carolina was with the man advantage, but they also gave up a shorty as well. Carolina went 0-3 in the first period of their final preseason game and something like 6 for 35.

Other than those two concerns, I cannot see how the “hockey experts” and “hockey bloggers” are picking Carolina to miss the playoffs for the second straight year. I can see that Carolina might not win the Southeast divisional title, but I do see this squad making the playoffs and going deep this season. Here is my prediction for the Southeast:
Florida Panthers – goaltending should be greatly improved
Carolina Hurricanes – shoot performance will be better; Cam Ward will be better between the pipes
Tampa Bay – with Richards, St. Louis and Lecavalier this team is always in the hunt
Washington Capitals – time for Ovechkin and Semin to step up
Atlanta Thrashers – the whoring out of GM Don Waddell for Keith Tkachuk for a playoff run then not resigning him I see the team really lacking the umph. I would not be surprised if Waddell does not make it through the 07-08 season as Atlanta GM