Aaron Ward News

Good or bad teams, Eastern or Western Conference, American or Canadian, the Carolina Hurricanes do not discriminate when it comes to losing.

It's official. The Carolina Hurricanes are definitely the worst team in the NHL right now.

In a 3-0 loss Wednesday to Florida, Canes outshot Panthers 21-4 in the first period.

On July 24, hockey was not on Patrick Eaves's mind. The three-year Boston College star was on his honeymoon with wife Katie in Bora Bora.

"The knee feels better but I'll have to wait and see this afternoon," said Pitkanen, who practiced with the team for a third straight day.

The New York Islanders will try once again to post their first win of the season when they welcome the struggling Carolina Hurricanes for tonight's battle at Nassau Coliseum.New York is 0-3-3 on the season and hasn't gained a point since beginning the campaign with three consecutive OT losses.

Carolina's Scott Walker, right, scores the overtime winner during Game 7 of the Hurricanes's second-round playoff series against Boston last season.

Martin Brodeur made 26 saves and moved within one shutout of tying Terry Sawchuk's NHL career record in leading the New Jersey Devils to a 2-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

To the extent that a hockey game played before the first candy bar hits the fryer across the street at the State Fair can be a litmus test, Wednesday's game was just that for the Carolina Hurricanes.

RALEIGH Defenseman Joni Pitkanen didn't practice with the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday after missing the past two games.

Tom Kostopoulos and Jussi Jokinen scored first-period goals off turnovers in Florida's end to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Panthers 7-2 on Friday night.

It wouldn't surprise Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice or General Manager Jim Rutherford if the Tampa Bay Lightning orchestrated the season's biggest turnaround.

Carolina Hurricanes' Aaron Ward and goalie Cam Ward defend as Philadelphia Flyers' Jeff Carter shoots during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Oct.

Last year's advancement to the second round was a good accomplishment for the Black and Gold, but the bar has been set even higher this season.

The Bruins 2008-2009 run to the best record in the Eastern Conference started early.A Boston jumped out to a 5-3-3 record which on the surface does not look spectacular.A However, this month allowed the team to establish its identity, as well as a stable lineup which went on to steamroll the rest of the league in November, December and January.

They return to the ice a little lighter in the scoring department, a litle better defensively, and maybe even a little tougher.

The Carolina Hurricanes look much like the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

A pair of playoff teams from last year will kick off their seasons tonight, as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Carolina Hurricanes at RBC Center.

A pair of division winners from last season will meet on the first day of the 2009-10 NHL season, as the Boston Bruins host Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals tonight at TD Garden.

The fear is that the natural talent the Boston Bruins always seem to be missing when they get close to the Stanley Cup may be the one that just got away.