RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes fanned out in a number of directions Sunday.
Eric Staal, Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu and Tim Gleason headed to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics. Staal will play for Team Canada, Gleason for Team USA and Pitkanen and Ruutu for the Finnish national team, all in pursuit of gold.
Jussi Jokinen hoped to be going with Pitkanen and Ruutu and play for Finland. Instead, he's going back to Finland to visit his family. Some on the team are seeking out warmer climes, although some will stay to rest and relax with their wives and kids.
"Right now, a lot of guys are tired because of the amount of games we've had to play because of the Olympics in a short amount of time," winger Ray Whitney said Saturday after the Canes' 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. "So the break is actually coming at a pretty good time to recover the legs, get some time in the weight room.
"A couple of weeks will give some guys the chance to rebuild some strength for the end."
Ah, yes, the end. The Hurricanes (24-30-7) will have 21 games to play when the season resumes March 2.
Let's take a look at what's known and not known about the Canes as we pause for the Olympic break.
WHAT WE KNOW
The Canes are hot. They will go into the stretch run having won five straight overall and nine of 11, and they have won six in a row at home.
The Hurricanes sit nine points out of eighth place and playoff position and will need a huge finishing kick to have a chance. And Carolina will play four of its first five games on the road after the break.
The lineup the Canes used Saturday against the Devils at the RBC Center should not be the lineup in the next home game, March 4 against the Ottawa Senators.
After the March 3 NHL trade deadline, Whitney may be playing for another team and may have raised the asking price with his two-goal, three-point game against the Devils. He does have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he will have to approve of the deal.
Others missing from the lineup could include defensemen Joe Corvo, Aaron Ward or Andrew Alberts, or another forward or two, depending on their trade potential and GM Jim Rutherford's willingness to part with them.
Manny Legace and Justin Peters, if need be, should be capable of handling the goaltending to the end of the season if Cam Ward's back problems keep him from returning. Peters followed up a 34-save game against the New York Islanders in his NHL debut with a 23-save game against the Devils and has won both.
"I know I'd have to consider a bit of a rotation if Cam didn't come back," Canes coach Paul Maurice said.
Brandon Sutter has proven he can handle being the second-line center. He's getting bigger, he's smart, and he's making game-changing plays.
Jokinen, obviously motivated by the Olympic snub, is putting together a career season. After scoring twice and adding an assist against the Devils, he leads the Canes with 22 goals, has points in his past nine games (eight goals, four assists) and is plus-4 in 60 games.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
Cam Ward is scheduled to have his back re-examined by a specialist a week from today, when a decision will be made on the next course of action. More rest? Surgery?
Ward may feel a lot better and be ready to play, or he could be out the rest of the season.
How much of an Olympic hangover will the Canes' Olympians have? There will be high-pressure games in Vancouver, especially for Staal and the Canadians.
Scott Walker and Chad LaRose will return from injuries after the break, although the timing of Erik Cole's return remains murky. Maurice says the Canes will be just as competitive as before the trades. That remains to be seen.
Then again, much remains to be seen.
