2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes season

2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes
Division	2nd Southeast
Conference	9th Eastern
2007–08 record	43–33–6
Home record	24–13–4
Road record	19–20–2
Goals for	252
Goals against	249
Team information
General manager	Jim Rutherford
Coach	Peter Laviolette
Captain	Rod Brind'Amour
Alternate captains	Eric Staal Cory Stillman (Oct.–Feb.) Glen Wesley Ray Whitney
Arena	RBC Center
Average attendance	16,633 (89%)
Team leaders
Goals	Eric Staal (38)
Assists	Eric Staal (44)
Points	Eric Staal (82)
Penalty minutes	Scott Walker (115)
Plus/minus	Bret Hedican (+17)
Wins	Cam Ward (37)
Goals against average	Cam Ward (2.75)

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. 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.

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

• The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23.
• The free agency period began on July 1.

Regular season

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

Divisional standings

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

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

2007–08 regular season
October: 7–3–3 (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–2–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 3 Montreal 3 – 2 Carolina OT Ward 18,680 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 5 Pittsburgh 1 – 4 Carolina Ward 17,816 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 6 Carolina 0 – 2 Washington Grahame 16,741 1–1–1 3 Recap 4 October 9 Carolina 7 – 1 Toronto Ward 19,224 2–1–1 5 Recap 5 October 11 Carolina 5 – 3 Ottawa Ward 18,268 3–1–1 7 Recap 6 October 13 Carolina 3 – 1 Montreal Ward 21,273 4–1–1 9 Recap 7 October 19 Carolina 3 – 4 Pittsburgh SO Ward 17,132 4–1–2 10 Recap 8 October 20 Carolina 2 – 3 Philadelphia OT Grahame 19,615 4–1–3 11 Recap 9 October 22 Vancouver 1 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,532 5–1–3 13 Recap 10 October 24 Buffalo 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 16,058 6–1–3 15 Recap 11 October 26 Montreal 7 – 4 Carolina Ward 16,796 6–2–3 15 Recap 12 October 27 Carolina 8 – 3 NY Islanders Grahame 13,136 7–2–3 17 Recap 13 October 31 Carolina 2 – 4 Florida Ward 10,063 7–3–3 17 Recap
November: 7–6–0 (home: 5–4–0; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 14 November 3 Florida 2 – 4 Carolina Grahame 17,547 8–3–3 19 Recap 15 November 5 Washington 0 – 5 Carolina Ward 12,171 9–3–3 21 Recap 16 November 8 Tampa Bay 5 – 1 Carolina Ward 14,017 9–4–3 21 Recap 17 November 10 Carolina 5 – 3 Atlanta Ward 18,545 10–4–3 23 Recap 18 November 12 Carolina 4 – 3 Florida Ward 12,715 11–4–3 25 Recap 19 November 14 Carolina 1 – 6 Florida Grahame 17,444 11–5–3 25 Recap 20 November 16 Atlanta 3 – 0 Carolina Ward 14,632 11–6–3 25 Recap 21 November 17 Florida 1 – 2 Carolina Ward 16,962 12–6–3 27 Recap 22 November 21 Philadelphia 6 – 3 Carolina Ward 16,351 12–7–3 27 Recap 23 November 23 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,033 13–7–3 29 Recap 24 November 24 Carolina 2 – 5 Washington Grahame 13,650 13–8–3 29 Recap 25 November 28 Philadelphia 3 – 1 Carolina Ward 15,108 13–9–3 29 Recap 26 November 30 Washington 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 16,386 14–9–3 31 Recap
December: 5–10–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 3–7–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 27 December 1 Carolina 1 – 8 Buffalo Grahame 18,690 14–10–3 31 Recap 28 December 3 Carolina 4 – 0 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 15–10–3 33 Recap 29 December 6 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 16,674 15–11–3 33 Recap 30 December 8 Carolina 5 – 1 Montreal Ward 21,273 16–11–3 35 Recap 31 December 9 Carolina 2 – 5 Detroit Ward 19,609 16–12–3 35 Recap 32 December 12 Ottawa 6 – 0 Carolina Ward 15,268 16–13–3 35 Recap 33 December 14 Calgary 4 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,536 16–14–3 35 Recap 34 December 15 Carolina 6 – 5 Philadelphia SO Grahame 19,460 17–14–3 37 Recap 35 December 18 Toronto 2 – 3 Carolina OT Grahame 17,045 18–14–3 39 Recap 36 December 20 Carolina 4 – 5 Florida Grahame 15,061 18–15–3 39 Recap 37 December 22 Carolina 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Ward 18,765 19–15–3 41 Recap 38 December 26 Carolina 2 – 4 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 19–16–3 41 Recap 39 December 28 Boston 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,680 20–16–3 43 Recap 40 December 29 Carolina 1 – 4 Columbus Ward 17,453 20–17–3 43 Recap 41 December 31 NY Islanders 4 – 1 Carolina Grahame 17,091 20–18–3 43 Recap
January: 6–6–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 42 January 2 Atlanta 5 – 4 Carolina OT Ward 13,506 20–18–4 44 Recap 43 January 4 Carolina 4 – 3 Atlanta Leighton 16,097 21–18–4 46 Recap 44 January 5 Carolina 0 – 1 St. Louis Leighton 19,150 21–19–4 46 Recap 45 January 8 Carolina 1 – 0 Boston Ward 14,549 22–19–4 48 Recap 46 January 10 New Jersey 4 – 1 Carolina Ward 17,173 22–20–4 48 Recap 47 January 12 Colorado 5 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,680 22–21–4 48 Recap 48 January 15 Carolina 4 – 5 Toronto Ward 19,444 22–22–4 48 Recap 49 January 17 Carolina 1 – 5 Ottawa Ward 19,720 22–23–4 48 Recap 50 January 18 Edmonton 2 – 7 Carolina Ward 16,868 23–23–4 50 Recap 51 January 21 Carolina 3 – 2 NY Islanders OT Ward 16,234 24–23–4 52 Recap 52 January 22 NY Islanders 6 – 3 Carolina Ward 15,675 24–24–4 52 Recap 53 January 29 NY Rangers 1 – 3 Carolina Ward 17,793 25–24–4 54 Recap 54 January 31 Toronto 2 – 3 Carolina OT Ward 15,159 26–24–4 56 Recap
February: 7–5–1 (home: 5–1–1; road: 2–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 55 February 2 Carolina 1 – 4 Pittsburgh Ward 17,058 26–25–4 56 Recap 56 February 5 Carolina 0 – 1 Nashville Ward 13,949 26–26–4 56 Recap 57 February 8 Carolina 2 – 1 Washington Ward 18,204 27–26–4 58 Recap 58 February 9 Carolina 1 – 6 New Jersey Ward 16,257 27–27–4 58 Recap 59 February 12 Carolina 3 – 2 Boston Ward 15,300 28–27–4 60 Recap 60 February 14 Pittsburgh 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 14,922 29–27–4 62 Recap 61 February 16 Florida 5 – 4 Carolina Ward 17,737 30–27–4 64 Recap 62 February 18 Carolina 1 – 5 New Jersey Grahame 16,182 30–28–4 64 Recap 63 February 19 Boston 3 – 2 Carolina SO Ward 17,552 30–28–5 65 Recap 64 February 21 Atlanta 3 – 5 Carolina Ward 13,548 31–28–5 67 Recap 65 February 23 Washington 3 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,680 32–28–5 69 Recap 66 February 26 New Jersey 1 – 2 Carolina OT Ward 15,466 33–28–5 71 Recap 67 February 28 NY Rangers 4 – 2 Carolina Ward 16,041 33–29–5 71 Recap
March: 9–2–1 (home: 5–0–1; road: 4–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 68 March 1 Tampa Bay 1 – 5 Carolina Ward 16,831 34–29–5 73 Recap 69 March 5 Carolina 6 – 3 Atlanta Ward 13,032 35–29–5 75 Recap 70 March 6 Minnesota 2 – 3 Carolina Ward 16,297 36–29–5 77 Recap 71 March 8 Buffalo 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,808 37–29–5 79 Recap 72 March 12 Carolina 3 – 0 Chicago Ward 18,210 38–29–5 81 Recap 73 March 14 Carolina 1 – 7 Buffalo Ward 18,690 38–30–5 81 Recap 74 March 16 Ottawa 1 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,680 39–30–5 83 Recap 75 March 19 Carolina 5 – 3 Atlanta Ward 13,251 40–30–5 85 Recap 76 March 20 Carolina 2 – 1 Florida SO Ward 18,546 41–30–5 87 Recap 77 March 25 Washington 3 – 2 Carolina SO Ward 18,680 41–30–6 88 Recap 78 March 28 Atlanta 1 – 7 Carolina Ward 17,833 42–30–6 90 Recap 79 March 29 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 19,311 42-31-6 90 Recap
April: 1–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–1–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 80 April 1 Carolina 1 – 4 Washington Ward 18,277 42-32-6 90 Recap 81 April 2 Tampa Bay 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 17,644 43-32-6 92 Recap 82 April 4 Florida 4 – 3 Carolina Ward 18,680 43-33-6 92 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

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

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

Milestones

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

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

Carolina's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio. 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

American Hockey League

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

ECHL

The Florida Everblades are the Hurricanes ECHL affiliate.