Though many had expected the personnel changes that the team made last summer would make them stronger, many still hadn't become believers that they would make such a resurgence.
Many still don't and what has transpired over a period of days, only reinforces that cynicism.
Two big losses
After losing their second in as many games, dropping decisions to division rivals the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Hurricanes finally lost their grip on the division lead and dropped to eighth and final spot in the conference standings,
What happened in just two games?
They stopped scoring at even strength, that's what happened.
Yes, it was only two games - 94 minutes and 14 seconds to be exact - in which they went scoreless against desperate opponents, and that lapse cost them four valuable points.
Capitals supporters and media all but had their own team out of the playoff race, but their resurgence during the final two periods against the Hurricanes on Thursday, fueled by the efforts of embattled captain Alex Ovechkin who has taken his share of criticism for not getting the job done, stole two points from Carolina.
Add to the that, the dominance that the Lightning continued to hold over the Hurricanes two days later - making it three straight wins over Carolina so far this season - and a recipe for disaster began to brew.
To panic or not?
Is it time to sound the alarm bells for Carolina and its fan base?
Definitely.
It just all depends upon what aspect of Carolina's game it ignores to prop up sooner rather than later that may hurt the team in the end.
Eric Staal's third-period goal against the Lightning will hopefully be the starting point to get Carolina's scoring machine started again.
If not, then there is big trouble ahead.
No longer intimidating
What made the difference on Thursday and Saturday, that saw the Hurricanes hit a wall that it hadn't hit for a while?
Quite simply - the Capitals and Lightning were not intimidated by Carolina.
The Hurricanes' top scorers were tossed and pushed around, and forced to work extra hard during both games and couldn't get the job done.
“They were physical down low," Staal said after the loss to Tampa Bay.
"We were unable to draw any
power plays and get to the net as good as we wanted to.”
Not for lack of effort, but the edge the Hurricanes had held two to three weeks earlier against each of their opponents that they faced wasn't there and quite simply, they didn't stand up for themselves either.
With Carolina lacking toughness and unable to to score, both Washington and Tampa Bay figured it out what they needed to do to beat them.
Push Jeff Skinner around in the corners and open ice; tie up Jordan Staal constantly; keep Eric Staal in the corners and behind the net; and banish Alexander Semin to the tops of the faceoff circles to let him shoot pucks over the glass all night.
Check.
Take a penalty and earn a breather as the NHL's 29th best PP unit fires pucks wide or into their opponents' pads before reaching the net.
Check.
Keep pressing and finishing checks on a tiring defensive corps and get your chances to score, even while being outshot by the the energetic Hurricanes forwards.
Check.
Fear no retribution or distraction otherwise throughout the game because it seems that this team doesn't have a mean bone in their bodies, and are actually mending themselves at the moment.
Is this an unfair description of a quality group of talented players and people?
No.
That's not what other teams think about when they take them on in a battle for a playoff spot.
They want to grind them down and will do it in any way possible, and with a good chance that they will not pay a price for it.
Washington and Tampa Bay did this all in two games, believe it or not.
Where's the Sargeant?
The Hurricanes brought in a good candidate to patrol the frozen water at PNC Arena when they traded for Kevin Westgarth - all 6-foot-four-inches and 234 pounds of him, give or take a few pounds as the season has progressed.
Not the fastest skater, not the worst puckhandler, but a sizable presence that with a good fit of fourth-line teammates has been able to keep the puck hemmed in opposing teams' zones while the team's scoring producers get a squirt of water and words of encouragement from head coach Kirk Muller.
Not having played since Mar. 7, a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Westgarth has been a healthy scratch and the Hurricanes have gone 2-2 without him, and have hit a low that they must come out of very quickly.
When Westy is included in the lineup, the Hurricanes have tallied a 9-6-1 record with the Sargent-at-Arms ensuring that no extra liberties are taken with his teammates.
Why the case for including him in the lineup?
The last two games provide enough proof for it - the team did not look intimidating - on the scoreboard or on the ice.
His presence will make opposing teams adjust their lineups accordingly, maybe even getting them to think that the Hurricanes are desperate and will play with 'crazed looks' in their eyes - hint, hint.
With Carolina's next two games, a back-to-back series, coming up against a struggling New York Rangers team and a Panthers team that likes to played hard against them - the situation screams for it.
Match crazy and desperate with the like.
It's time to put the foot patrol back on duty and Chief Westgarth to assume his post.
A playoff spot, and defending one at that, depends on it.
Kevin Westgarth vs. Colton Orr - HockeyFights.com
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