So how exactly did the Carolina Hurricanes lead the Southeast Division for all but 16 days this season and not make the playoffs? The case for and against some of the key actors:

PETER LAVIOLETTE, COACH

THE CASE AGAINST: At the most crucial point of the season, Laviolette tinkered with the team's chemistry, rushing injured players like Chad LaRose, Ray Whitney, Justin Williams and Matt Cullen back into the lineup as the Canes went 1-3-0 in their final four games. He also appeared to have no answers when the team was at its lowest point in January. On his watch, the Canes became the first Stanley Cup champion to miss the playoffs the next two seasons.

THE CASE FOR: Laviolette's willingness to give key roles to AHL call-ups like Ryan Bayda, Keith Aucoin and Tim Conboy gave the Canes a desperately needed boost of energy in February and March, leading to the team's best hockey of the season. He coached a team that lost a franchise-record 337 man-games to injury to 43 wins, more than five playoff teams and tied for second-most in franchise history.

CAM WARD, GOALIE

THE CASE AGAINST: In an echo of the end of last season, Ward allowed questionable goals at key times -- the winner in a 2-1 loss at Tampa Bay on March 29 and the short-handed winner in Friday's 4-3 loss to Florida. Ward ranked 32nd out of 44 qualifying goalies in both goals-against average (2.75) and save percentage (.904).

THE CASE FOR: Starting Carolina's final 20 games and 33 of the final 34, Ward carried the team down the stretch, playing his best sustained hockey since the 2006 playoffs. He showed substantial improvement over last season, his first as a starter, and did it behind a defense that was not among the most defensively secure in the NHL. Only three goalies had more wins than his 37.

JIM RUTHERFORD, GENERAL MANAGER

THE CASE AGAINST: Rutherford didn't pick up the experienced center the Canes needed at the trade deadline, leaving the Canes with Trevor Letowski as their second-line center down the stretch while the Capitals picked up Sergei Fedorov, who scored the goal that indirectly eliminated the Hurricanes. He also never solved the backup goalie problem after Peter Laviolette made it clear last season he had no confidence in John Grahame.

THE CASE FOR: By parting ways with four veterans of the Cup campaign -- Cory Stillman, Mike Commodore, Andrew Ladd and Craig Adams -- Rutherford shook the team loose of its January doldrums while bringing in a key component in offensive-minded defenseman Joe Corvo, added forward Tuomo Ruutu, who was one of Carolina's best players in the final week, and unearthed a hidden gem in waiver claim Sergei Samsonov.

PETE FRIESEN, TRAINER AND STRENGTH COACH

THE CASE AGAINST: The Hurricanes have dealt with debilitating injuries for three straight seasons, and Friesen's dual role as trainer and strength coach may create an inherent conflict of interest within the recovery process.

THE CASE FOR: Friesen can't be held responsible for concussions and catastrophic knee injuries, which accounted for 153 of Carolina's 337 man-games lost. The Hurricanes are also considered one of the league's fittest teams.

ROD BRIND'AMOUR, CAPTAIN

THE CASE AGAINST: With their captain in the lineup, the Hurricanes never recovered when their hot start turned into a cold, cold December and January. The team looked more inspired and more committed under Eric Staal's leadership after Brind'Amour was injured.

THE CASE FOR: No one was complaining about Brind'Amour's leadership early in the season, when he set the tone for an 11-4-3 start. When healthy, he remains one of the league's most daunting defensive players and still commands the respect of the dressing room.

ERIC STAAL, LEADING SCORER

THE CASE AGAINST: Staal's lackluster first half, both in terms of production and energy, was a big part of Carolina's general malaise. Had Staal's December been anything like his March, the Canes might not have been in this position. Thirty-four of his 82 points came in the final 23 games of the season.

THE CASE FOR: If Staal hadn't played as well as he had over the final six weeks of the season, the Hurricanes wouldn't still have been in first place going into the final weekend. He carried the team as a leader and as a scorer, finishing tied for 15th in the NHL.

INFLUENZA, VIRUS

THE CASE AGAINST: Thirteen different players missed a total of 20 games with the flu while countless others continued to play -- sapping the team of energy at some of its lowest points of the season.

THE CASE FOR: Minor league players like Ryan Bayda, Keith Aucoin and Tim Conboy filled in for flu victims, then played well -- and carried the team at times -- when asked to assume key roles in the final two months.