Better Know a Contender?

You see what happens?

Do you see what happens when you punch a gloved opponent?

Apparently the victim gets traded for the crime.

And the culprit then pays for their crime...

The Carolina Hurricanes are off to an abysmal start this season.  At the moment, they lead the league in both goals allowed (3.5 per game) and offensive limp-wristedness (only 2.3 goals per game).  Do the math and they are losing by more than one goal per game.  Sure, the Hurricanes got off to a terrible start last season as well, and then found themselves in the Eastern Conference Finals, nonetheless.  However, Carolina was roughly a .500 team throughout last season (12-12-3 at this point in 2008).  This year, the 'Canes are not only well below .500, but have only one won one game on the road.  ONE.

So just what is with this tropical depression?  They take 30 shots per game, they allow 30 shots per game and neither of those numbers is really out of the ordinary.  They have skilled goal scorers and a decent defense.  Their penalty kill is reasonable.  Sure, they've had their injuries; Staal has missed several games and their number one goaltender, Cam Ward hasn't started a game in nearly a month.  But everyone has had injuries across the entire league.  It appears, more than anything, that this team just isn't all that good.

At first glance it seems that the power playis the problem, and it is (13/7%), but the Hurricanes are allowing 10 goals for every 7 they score when at even strength, demonstrating that they are simply outmatched at the moment.  And when on the road, this appears to be even worse considering that in 14 games, the Canes have only scored 24 goals, and have allowed 51.  Of course, the goaltending has been downright misrerable all season, even prior to Ward's absence, but this doesn't account for the lack of offense.

Me?  I have my own theories.  How about next time you keep your hands to yourself, and then what goes around won't be comin' around... Suckers.

Players to Watch:

Eric Staal - The leading goal scorer on the team is off to a slow start after being hobbled by injury.  He's only 25 but has already played in over 400 NHL games and is the absolute key to Carolina's success.  If he doesn't start putting the puck in the net soon, then the Canes will need to soon start looking ahead to next season.

Ryan Whitney - The absolute definition of a late-bloomer, Whitney is currently playing his best hockey at the age of 37.  He currently leads the team in points, but absolutely needs to either start finding the back of the net or finding someone else than can do so with a well-placed pass.

Rod Brind'Amour - The 22-year veteran and captain of the Hurricanes is off to a horrible start to the season and has to be considering retirement.  Rod's +/- is currently a -19 and has only managed 8 points while having appeared in all 28 games that Carolina has played this season.  He's not getting as many shots on goal as in years passed, and does not appear to be contributing in anyway.  Kind of an allegory for this entire team at the moment.