Now sporting the worst 13-game record in franchise history at 2-8-3, the Carolina Hurricanes need some help. Fortunately, the franchise also has a history of big turnaround games, single games that sparked streaks and changed seasons.
The biggest of those make the list (unfortunately for the Hurricanes, two are against San Jose, which suggests they may have missed a big chance Sunday) in Tuesday's Top Five:
5. Edmonton, Jan. 18, 2008: A grim 1-5-0 stretch that saw the Hurricanes outscored 20-11 ended with a 7-2 home win over the Oilers. After that, the Hurricanes ripped off 21 wins in the next 33 games, good enough to make the playoffs if they hadn't lost three of their final four with a playoff berth on the line.
4. San Jose, Nov. 25, 1998: After the Canes lost three straight, Trevor Kidd came in for Arturs Irbe (an All-Star that season) and stopped 36 shots to shut out the Sharks in Greensboro. The Canes' record was 8-10-3 going into that game, and those 21 games were played in a tight 41 days; they won four straight and went 15-8-4 over the next 27 to secure control of a weak Southeast Division they led from Oct. 28 to the wire.
3. San Jose, Feb. 5, 2009: Rod Brind'Amour had been sent home from the road trip to nurse a groin injury. Michael Leighton made a rare start in net. And the Hurricanes had blown a lead in Vancouver two nights earlier, a killer blow for a fragile team. But the Hurricanes rallied around Leighton to post a 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks and went 20-8-2 the rest of the way.
2. Anaheim, Dec. 6, 2005: After a record-breaking start, the Hurricanes had slipped into a rut, capped by an 8-4 loss in Phoenix as the Hurricanes began a lengthy West Coast road trip. The Hurricanes had three days to regroup on the beach in Los Angeles and rebounded with a 6-2 win in Anaheim, followed by a win over the Kings and a narrow loss in San Jose. They lost only 13 games in regulation the rest of the season.
1. Florida, Dec. 8, 2001: The Hurricanes entered the game 2-6-3 in their previous 11 games and not looking good doing it. A dismal loss to Buffalo provoked a legendary bag skate at the RecZone and the return of Sean Hill via trade. Down 2-0 in the first period in Florida, Jeff O'Neill answered Florida's second goal in 16 seconds to spark a three-goal comeback, most likely saving Maurice's job and sending the Hurricanes on their way to the division title.
Bonus round: Because last week's ranking of the state's Football Bowl Subdivision teams was so popular (or unpopular, depending on perspective), here's a special update:
5. N.C. State
4. Wake Forest
3. East Carolina
2. North Carolina
1. Duke
