Tidbits — The Past Month

Want to know why the Hurricanes have looked so good the past month? Look no further than these statistics. Not only do they reflect things we already knew (Cam Ward's been amazing, Rod Brind'Amour is much-improved), but also offers a glimpse into just how dominant the team has been.

Goals

• Eric Staal — 8 (T-7th in NHL)
• Tuomo Ruutu — 7 (T-16th)
• Anton Babchuk — 6 (2nd among d-men)

Assists

• Ray Whitney — 14 (T-2nd)
• Staal — 10 (T-17th)

Plus/Minus

• Whitney — plus-14 (1st)
• Staal — plus-11 (T-4th)
• Rod Brind'Amour — plus-8 (T-13th)
• Chad LaRose — plus-7 (T-19th)
• Babchuk — plus-7 (T-19th)
• Joni Pitkanen — plus-7 (T-19th)

The Cam Ward File

• Wins — 10 (1st)
• GAA — 2.05 (1st among starters)
• S% — .939 (T-1st among starters)

For me, these plus/minus numbers are the biggest indicator in the improved play. Yes, Ward's numbers are through the roof and can't be denied, and the special teams play — which isn't reflected in plus/minus, outside of shorthanded points — is better. But how about the top three lines all being represented among the top 13 in the NHL last month? That's as big an indicator as any that, top to bottom, Carolina is firing on all cylinders as anything. Then you have the D pairing of Pitkanen and Babchuk at plus-7, with Joe Corvo and Tim Gleason not far behind at plus-6.