WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Canes Find Winning Contagious

By Ken Medlin

Mar 25, 2008

The Carolina Hurricanes are going through their own case of March Madness. The Canes have marched their way through March, winning eight out of nine games and building a five-point lead over Washington in the Southeast Division.

"Guys are spirited, they're coming to the rink and they're anxious to play,” coach Peter Laviolette said as the team approaches Tuesday’s showdown with the Capitals at the RBC Center. “We're moving in the right direction at the right time, and we've got to keep doing it. Every day is an opportunity and a chance to take a further step in the division and a further step in the conference."

And like the old saying goes, winning really is contagious.

"When you start putting a run together like we have and you have some success, it builds confidence as a group to know that everybody plays an important part," defenseman Glen Wesley said.

The result is a team finding results in the standings in the form of much needed wins.

"That's the thing,” Carolina’s Scott Walker said. “Sometimes you get disheartened when you're working hard as a team and not getting the wins. But when you start to put the effort in and hard work, and get the results, it's a really good feeling."

Perhaps the most dramatic change in this team has come on the penalty kill. The Canes still rank next to last in the NHL in killing penalties. But during their march through March, the Canes have only allowed three power play goals in nine games.