Top 10 Hurricanes Memories from 09-10

With the season over for our boys, I thought I'd reminisce about some of the greatest moments of our season. My casual countdown is based off of my memory, so if I missed something cool, I'm sorry!

10. The streak is over.

The "Juice" was loose in the RBC Center, after the dismal 14 game losing streak, the Canes finally gave the fans something to cheer about at home. Despite surrendering a 2 goal lead, the Canes drove the struggling Wild to the brink in the shootout. The only shoot-out tally was scored by none other than Jussi Jokinen, always deadly in shoot-outs.

9. Leaf Bagging

Another early season bout in the RBC Center, The Maple Leafs were in town, and the Canes still sat in the NHL cellar. A Cane comeback from down 4-2 ensued.  Ruutu notched 4 assits, Gleason had an offensive spark with 2 goals, and Erik Cole sent the game to overtime with 2.9 seconds remaining in regulation. (where the Canes would eventually win in a shootout)

8. Aye Aye Captain

It was mid-January in the triad. The Canes had stumbled farther into the NHL cellar. After a 3 game skid, Rutherford surprised many by naming Eric Staal Hurricanes captain. In his first game as captain, Eric roared through Atlanta and posted a hat trick against the Thrashers. One thing that should be noted is the class with which Rod Brind'amour took the captaincy change. A true class act who finished this year's campaign with a 2 goal night against Tampa bay in the third from last game of the year against Tampa. 

7. Cole Crazy

An early December meeting with the Vancouver Canucks was on the slate for the Canes. Inside of the RBC Center, Whitney and Samsonov scored but were overshadowed by Erik Cole who played like a man possessed. After scoring his first 2 goals (both 2nd period tallies), Cole hit the post on his hat trick bid with about 8 minutes remaining in the third. However, Cole's monstrous efforts were rewarded with an empty cage in which to register the trick in a      5-3 Hurricanes victory. 

6. Welcome to the big time kid.

Although he now is spending time in Albany, the young goaltender Justin Peters got off to a quick start just before the Olympic break last season. With Cam Ward down with a back injury, and Legace playing in succession for a few games, Peters was called up to start against the New York Islanders on hostile ice for a Saturday night affair. Peters made sparkling saves and out-dueled veteran Rick Dipietro for a 3-1 win, the first of his young career. Truly a special moment to hear him talk about winning his first game, with his family in attendance. Peters was close to tears while being interviewed by Trip and John. Goal support provided by Jokinen, Pitkanen, and Dwyer. 

5. Open road

The Canes knew that if they were to make a playoff push, they'd have to find a way to win games on the road. This was one of the chief catalysts in them eventually climbing into 11th in the East, but the humble beginning was inside of Mellon Arena in early December. Against the team that swept them out of the Eastern Conference finals last year, the Canes put on a great team performance. Legace shut the door on the high octane Pens, while Alberts, Jokinen, and Whitney provided biscuits in the basket. One of the few displays of exceptional effort was seen when Joni Pitkanen laid out in front of a 6 skater onslaught by the Pens late in the game, Joni blocked multiple shots, including a goal saving block on Pittsburgh's Bill Guerin. 

4. Tough as nails

In a December bout against the division rival Washington Capitals, Tim Gleason manned up on the lethal Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin's shot caught the face shield-less Gleason square in the face. After leaving the game, heading to the locker room, he appeared to be done for the night. But he wasn't. Gleason received stitches and came back onto the ice for the third period, with a full face shield. He charged shorthanded, obtaining a break away that netted him a game tying goal that eventually sent the game into overtime. Although the Canes lost in overtime, Gleason's attitude exemplify the truth that this Canes team never had any quit in it. Even when down the Canes kept swining, this kind of character is one bright spot from the year. 

3. Raining Hats on Hat Night

After Canes fans had stuck with the team through this tough season, they deserved a proper send off. In the fan appreciation night, and final home game, Staal made sure that the final memory this year in the RBC Center was a sweet one. Fresh off of scoring 2 goals in Tampa, Staal went wild again on Montreal and notched 2 assists and 3 goals for a 5 point night. The free giveaway hats for fan appreciation found a return to sender after Staal's empty net hat trick goal. 

2. Smelling like Roses

In possibly one of the most exciting games of the second half of the year, the Canes showed tremendous effort in a late March game against Washington. Taking fans for a wild ride, Chad Larose ( a week removed from scoring a breakaway goal to take Washington to overtime, where Ray Whitney would score the winner) was picked to take the a shootout opportunity with the game on the line. Larose's move ignited the RBC Center, and won the season series vs. Washington. Chances to cheer were few and far between earlier in the year, but this effort against President's trophy winner Washington stands out as one of their best complete team games. 

1. McBain beats the buzzer

One of the Canes most promising prospects picked an exciting time to tally his first career goal. On the road against defending Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Canes drove the Pens to the brink in Mellon Arena. With less than 10 seconds left in the overtime period, Cole scanned the ice, McBain was seen alone at the point, and unleashed his howitzer of a shot to score with less than a second remaining. 0.9 to be exact. It reminded me of Jokinen's goal against Jersey in the playoffs, and as part of the youth movement for the Canes, and probably the most excited they got me throughout the course of the year, the former Wisconsin Badger wins moment of the year honors, for a moment he'll remember the rest of his life. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this, there were so many different choices for a top 10, so it was tough for me to make. Feel free to add your own via comments. 

Thanks for the memories Canes! Until next year, so long!