2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes season began October 3, 2007. It was the franchise's 36th season, 29th season in the National Hockey League (NHL) and 10th as the Hurricanes.

2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes
Division2nd Southeast
Conference9th Eastern
2007–08 record43–33–6
Home record24–13–4
Road record19–20–2
Goals for252
Goals against249
Team information
General managerJim Rutherford
CoachPeter Laviolette
CaptainRod Brind'Amour
Alternate captainsEric Staal
Cory Stillman (Oct.–Feb.)
Glen Wesley
Ray Whitney
ArenaRBC Center
Average attendance16,633 (89%)
Team leaders
GoalsEric Staal (38)
AssistsEric Staal (44)
PointsEric Staal (82)
Penalty minutesScott Walker (115)
Plus/minusBret Hedican (+17)
WinsCam Ward (37)
Goals against averageCam Ward (2.75)

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

Regular season

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The Hurricanes had the most power-play opportunities of all 30 NHL teams, with 420.[1]

Divisional standings

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Southeast Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 y – Washington Capitals 82 43 31 8 242 231 94
2 Carolina Hurricanes 82 43 33 6 252 249 92
3 Florida Panthers 82 38 35 9 216 226 85
4 Atlanta Thrashers 82 34 40 8 216 272 76
5 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 31 42 9 223 267 71

Conference standings

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Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Montreal Canadiens NE 82 47 25 10 262 222 104
2 y – Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 47 27 8 247 216 102
3 y – Washington Capitals SE 82 43 31 8 242 231 94
4 New Jersey Devils AT 82 46 29 7 206 197 99
5 New York Rangers AT 82 42 27 13 213 199 97
6 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 42 29 11 248 233 95
7 Ottawa Senators NE 82 43 31 8 261 247 94
8 Boston Bruins NE 82 41 29 12 212 222 94
8.5
9 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 43 33 6 252 249 92
10 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 39 31 12 255 242 90
11 Florida Panthers SE 82 38 35 9 216 226 85
12 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 36 35 11 231 260 83
13 New York Islanders AT 82 35 38 9 194 243 79
14 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 34 40 8 216 272 76
15 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 31 42 9 223 267 71

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)


Schedule and results

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October

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Record: 7–3–3; Home: 3–1–1; Road: 4–2–2

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
1 October 3 Montreal 3 – 2 Carolina OT Ward 18,680 0–0–1 1
2 October 5 Pittsburgh 1 – 4 Carolina Ward 17,816 1–0–1 3
3 October 6 Carolina 0 – 2 Washington Grahame 16,741 1–1–1 3
4 October 9 Carolina 7 – 1 Toronto Ward 19,224 2–1–1 5
5 October 11 Carolina 5 – 3 Ottawa Ward 18,268 3–1–1 7
6 October 13 Carolina 3 – 1 Montreal Ward 21,273 4–1–1 9
7 October 19 Carolina 3 – 4 Pittsburgh SO Ward 17,132 4–1–2 10
8 October 20 Carolina 2 – 3 Philadelphia OT Grahame 19,615 4–1–3 11
9 October 22 Vancouver 1 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,532 5–1–3 13
10 October 24 Buffalo 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 16,058 6–1–3 15
11 October 26 Montreal 7 – 4 Carolina Ward 16,796 6–2–3 15
12 October 27 Carolina 8 – 3 NY Islanders Grahame 13,136 7–2–3 17
13 October 31 Carolina 2 – 4 Florida Ward 10,063 7–3–3 17

November

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Record: 7–6–0; Home: 5–4–0; Road: 2–2–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
14 November 3 Florida 2 – 4 Carolina Grahame 17,547 8–3–3 19
15 November 5 Washington 0 – 5 Carolina Ward 12,171 9–3–3 21
16 November 8 Tampa Bay 5 – 1 Carolina Ward 14,017 9–4–3 21
17 November 10 Carolina 5 – 3 Atlanta Ward 18,545 10–4–3 23
18 November 12 Carolina 4 – 3 Florida Ward 12,715 11–4–3 25
19 November 14 Carolina 1 – 6 Florida Grahame 17,444 11–5–3 25
20 November 16 Atlanta 3 – 0 Carolina Ward 14,632 11–6–3 25
21 November 17 Florida 1 – 2 Carolina Ward 16,962 12–6–3 27
22 November 21 Philadelphia 6 – 3 Carolina Ward 16,351 12–7–3 27
23 November 23 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,033 13–7–3 29
24 November 24 Carolina 2 – 5 Washington Grahame 13,650 13–8–3 29
25 November 28 Philadelphia 3 – 1 Carolina Ward 15,108 13–9–3 29
26 November 30 Washington 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 16,386 14–9–3 31

December

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Record: 5–10–0; Home: 2–3–0; Road: 3–7–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
27 December 1 Carolina 1 – 8 Buffalo Grahame 18,690 14–10–3 31
28 December 3 Carolina 4 – 0 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 15–10–3 33
29 December 6 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 16,674 15–11–3 33
30 December 8 Carolina 5 – 1 Montreal Ward 21,273 16–11–3 35
31 December 9 Carolina 2 – 5 Detroit Ward 19,609 16–12–3 35
32 December 12 Ottawa 6 – 0 Carolina Ward 15,268 16–13–3 35
33 December 14 Calgary 4 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,536 16–14–3 35
34 December 15 Carolina 6 – 5 Philadelphia SO Grahame 19,460 17–14–3 37
35 December 18 Toronto 2 – 3 Carolina OT Grahame 17,045 18–14–3 39
36 December 20 Carolina 4 – 5 Florida Grahame 15,061 18–15–3 39
37 December 22 Carolina 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Ward 18,765 19–15–3 41
38 December 26 Carolina 2 – 4 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 19–16–3 41
39 December 28 Boston 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,680 20–16–3 43
40 December 29 Carolina 1 – 4 Columbus Ward 17,453 20–17–3 43
41 December 31 NY Islanders 4 – 1 Carolina Grahame 17,091 20–18–3 43

January

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Record: 6–6–1; Home: 3–3–1; Road: 3–3–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
42 January 2 Atlanta 5 – 4 Carolina OT Ward 13,506 20–18–4 44
43 January 4 Carolina 4 – 3 Atlanta Leighton 16,097 21–18–4 46
44 January 5 Carolina 0 – 1 St. Louis Leighton 19,150 21–19–4 46
45 January 8 Carolina 1 – 0 Boston Ward 14,549 22–19–4 48
46 January 10 New Jersey 4 – 1 Carolina Ward 17,173 22–20–4 48
47 January 12 Colorado 5 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,680 22–21–4 48
48 January 15 Carolina 4 – 5 Toronto Ward 19,444 22–22–4 48
49 January 17 Carolina 1 – 5 Ottawa Ward 19,720 22–23–4 48
50 January 18 Edmonton 2 – 7 Carolina Ward 16,868 23–23–4 50
51 January 21 Carolina 3 – 2 NY Islanders OT Ward 16,234 24–23–4 52
52 January 22 NY Islanders 6 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,675 24–24–4 52
53 January 29 NY Rangers 1 – 3 Carolina Ward 17,793 25–24–4 54
54 January 31 Toronto 2 – 3 Carolina OT Ward 15,159 26–24–4 56

February

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Record: 7–5–1; Home: 5–1–1; Road: 2–4–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
55 February 2 Carolina 1 – 4 Pittsburgh Ward 17,058 26–25–4 56
56 February 5 Carolina 0 – 1 Nashville Ward 13,949 26–26–4 56
57 February 8 Carolina 2 – 1 Washington Ward 18,204 27–26–4 58
58 February 9 Carolina 1 – 6 New Jersey Ward 16,257 27–27–4 58
59 February 12 Carolina 3 – 2 Boston Ward 15,300 28–27–4 60
60 February 14 Pittsburgh 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 14,922 29–27–4 62
61 February 16 Florida 5 – 4 Carolina Ward 17,737 30–27–4 64
62 February 18 Carolina 1 – 5 New Jersey Grahame 16,182 30–28–4 64
63 February 19 Boston 3 – 2 Carolina SO Ward 17,552 30–28–5 65
64 February 21 Atlanta 3 – 5 Carolina Ward 13,548 31–28–5 67
65 February 23 Washington 3 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,680 32–28–5 69
66 February 26 New Jersey 1 – 2 Carolina OT Ward 15,466 33–28–5 71
67 February 28 NY Rangers 4 – 2 Carolina Ward 16,041 33–29–5 71

March

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Record: 9–2–1; Home: 5–0–1; Road: 4–2–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
68 March 1 Tampa Bay 1 – 5 Carolina Ward 16,831 34–29–5 73
69 March 5 Carolina 6 – 3 Atlanta Ward 13,032 35–29–5 75
70 March 6 Minnesota 2 – 3 Carolina Ward 16,297 36–29–5 77
71 March 8 Buffalo 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,808 37–29–5 79
72 March 12 Carolina 3 – 0 Chicago Ward 18,210 38–29–5 81
73 March 14 Carolina 1 – 7 Buffalo Ward 18,690 38–30–5 81
74 March 16 Ottawa 1 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,680 39–30–5 83
75 March 19 Carolina 5 – 3 Atlanta Ward 13,251 40–30–5 85
76 March 20 Carolina 2 – 1 Florida SO Ward 18,546 41–30–5 87
77 March 25 Washington 3 – 2 Carolina SO Ward 18,680 41–30–6 88
78 March 28 Atlanta 1 – 7 Carolina Ward 17,833 42–30–6 90
79 March 29 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 19,311 42-31-6 90

April

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Record: 1–2–0; Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–1–0

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
80 April 1 Carolina 1 – 4 Washington Ward 18,277 42-32-6 90
81 April 2 Tampa Bay 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 17,644 43-32-6 92
82 April 4 Florida 4 – 3 Carolina Ward 18,680 43-33-6 92

Playoffs

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The Hurricanes missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. They are the first team to miss the playoffs twice in a row after winning the Stanley Cup since the 1922 Toronto St. Patricks.

Player statistics

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Skaters

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Regular season
Top 10 Players GP G A Pts +/- PIM
Eric Staal 82 38 44 82 -2 50
Ray Whitney 66 25 36 61 -6 30
Rod Brind'Amour 59 19 32 51 0 38
Erik Cole 73 22 29 51 5 76
Matt Cullen 59 13 36 49 2 32
Joe Corvo 74 13 35 48 17 26
Sergei Samsonov 61 14 22 36 -1 16
Scott Walker 58 14 18 32 -3 115
Tuomo Ruutu 77 10 22 32 4 91
Justin Williams 37 9 21 30 2 43

Goaltenders

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Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Time on ice (minutes); GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; SO = Shutouts; SA = Saves; GA = Goals allowed; SV%= Save percentage

Regular season
Player GP MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV%
Cam Ward 69 3930 2.75 37 25 5 4 1870 180 .904
John Grahame 17 848 3.75 5 7 1 0 424 53 .875
Michael Leighton 3 158 2.66 1 1 0 0 68 7 .897

Awards and records

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Records

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Milestones

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Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Bret Hedican 800th NHL PIM October 26, 2007
Rod Brind'Amour 1000th NHL PIM October 27, 2007
Craig Adams 400th NHL Game October 31, 2007
Glen Wesley 1000th NHL PIM October 31, 2007

Transactions

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The Hurricanes have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades
Date Hurricanes Receive From For
June 23, 2007 Michael Leighton Montreal Canadiens 192nd Overall Pick in 2007
July 17, 2007 Matt Cullen New York Rangers Andrew Hutchinson
Joe Barnes
3rd Round Pick in 2008
January 17, 2008 Future Considerations Chicago Blackhawks Craig Adams
January 31, 2008 Joe Jensen Pittsburgh Penguins David Gove
February 7, 2008 Future Considerations San Jose Sharks J. D. Forrest
February 11, 2008 Joe Corvo
Patrick Eaves
Ottawa Senators Mike Commodore
Cory Stillman
February 26, 2008 Tuomo Ruutu Chicago Blackhawks Andrew Ladd
Free agents
Player Former Team
Wade Brookbank Pittsburgh Penguins
Jeff Hamilton Chicago Blackhawks
David Tanabe Boston Bruins

Draft picks

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Carolina's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.[2] The Hurricanes have the 11th overall pick.

Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 11 Brandon Sutter C/W   Canada Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
3 72 Drayson Bowman C/RW   United States Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
4 102 Justin McCrae C   Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
5 132 Chris Terry LW   Canada Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
6 162 Brett Bellemore D   Canada Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Farm teams

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American Hockey League

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The Albany River Rats are the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate for the 2007–08 AHL season.

ECHL

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The Florida Everblades are the Hurricanes ECHL affiliate.

References

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  1. ^ "2007-08 NHL Summary".
  2. ^ 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com [dead link]