'Canes go down

No defending the Stanley Cup for the Hurricanes. They blew a 2-goal lead in Tampa Bay and lost, while their opponents for the last playoff spot, the Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Islanders all won. So the 'Canes are out.

Did they overachieve last year? Sure.

What did they learn this year? Well, they certainly learned that the presence of veterans (last year, if you recall, they brought in Mark Recchi and Doug Weight) helps a lot. This year they managed to bring in Anson Carter, a journeyman winger at best.

They also learned that with a young starting goalie in Cam Ward, there would be ups and downs. And in the very competitive Eastern Conference, it made a difference. The 'Canes didn't have a horrible year. They just weren't good enough to make the playoffs. Neither will the Colorado Avalanche in the West, despite a decent season.

It will be interesting to see if the 'Canes can build off of this season and not panic.

With two games left, the playoffs are looming and I look forward to it. There are many intriguing teams in it this year. I can't wait to see Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the East and San Jose and Vancouver in the West. And, of course, my colleague Scott's team, the Red Wings, is quietly locking up the best overall record yet again. A great defensive team, as anyone who has watched them play will attest. Whether they have enough offense to hold up for the playoffs will be the thing to watch.