NHLStats about the Carolina Hurricanes, who are headed to the postseason for a fifth straight season, 10th time since relocating to Carolina in 1997-98 and 18th time in franchise history. Carolina became the second team to clinch a berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs by virtue of the Panthers’ regulation loss Thursday.
Carolina’s five consecutive berths into the Stanley Cup Playoffs stands as the second-longest run in franchise history behind a seven-year stretch achieved more than 30 years ago as the Hartford Whalers. The Hurricanes have 24 playoff wins during their current stretch of appearances (48 GP) – a streak that began with a run to the 2019 Conference Finals – relative to an 18-28 mark by the Whalers during their seven-year run (46 GP).
Already the franchise leader in career playoff points, Sebastian Aho (18-28—46 in 48 GP) needs one playoff goal to surpass Rod Brind’Amour (18 in 72 GP) and tie Eric Staal (19 in 43 GP) for the club record. Teuvo Teravainen (16 in 48 GP) ranks fifth on the goals list, behind those three and Kevin Dineen (17 in 44 GP).
Sebastian Aho has four multi-goal playoff performances, tied with Kevin Dineen for the most in franchise history. Aho already owns the Hurricanes/Whalers record for most multi-point playoff games (12), while Jaccob Slavin has the most multi-assist playoff outings in franchise history (6).
Jordan Staal (2009 PIT) can become the fifth player in NHL history – and second in as many seasons – to go 14+ years between Stanley Cup wins. He would join Chris Chelios (16 years; 1986 MTL & 2002 DET), Mark Recchi (15 years; 1991 PIT & 2006 CAR), Bill Guerin (14 years; 1995 NJD & 2009 PIT) and Darren Helm (14; 2008 DET & 2022 COL). Staal made his Final debut with Pittsburgh in 2008, at age 19, before winning in 2009.
In Game 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, Martin Necas became the third player in franchise history to score the game-winning goal during his first career postseason contest (after Erik Cole and Sylvain Turgeon). Selected 12th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, Necas will aim to become the seventh player from his draft class to play in the Stanley Cup Final – Robert Thomas (2019), Miro Heiskanen (2020), Jake Oettinger (2020), Alexander Volkov (2020), Nick Suzuki (2021) and Cale Makar (2022) all have done so.
Brent Burns, 38, can become the oldest defenseman in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record a postseason point – a mark currently held by Paul Coffey (37 years, 327 days) when he recorded an assist in Game 2 of the 1999 Conference Quarterfinals vs. Boston. The oldest blueliner to score a playoff goal for the club is Bret Hedican, who tallied in Game 4 and Game 6 of the 2006 Conference Finals at age 35. Burns is one of five players on the Hurricanes roster with experience in the Stanley Cup Final; click here for a full list.
Jaccob Slavin (4-23—27) is the franchise playoff leader in career assists and points among defensemen and trails Dave Babych (7) and former teammate Dougie Hamilton (6) for playoff goals among Hurricanes/Whalers blueliners. Slavin holds the club record for most assists by a defenseman in one series (9 in 2019 R1 vs. WSH).
Frederik Andersen is 27-23 in his playoff career (53 GP, 2.55 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO) as he seeks his first such appearance with the Hurricanes. Six goaltenders have won their playoff debut with the franchise, including teammates Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov who did so two days apart to begin the 2022 First Round.
Paul Stastny is set for his first trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as a member of the Hurricanes following postseason appearances with the Avalanche, Blues, Jets and Golden Knights. Only six active players have played in the playoffs with at least five different teams: Derick Brassard (6), Ian Cole (6), Alex Chiasson (5), Erik Haula (5), Nick Bonino (5) and Pat Maroon (5). Others also can join this list in 2023.
Carolina has qualified for the playoffs in each season with Rod Brind’Amour as head coach (5), including a Conference Finals appearance in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in 2019. Brind’Amour is the third active head coach to lead a team to the playoffs in each of his first 5+ career seasons as an NHL head coach, joining Darryl Sutter (8 from 1993-2002 w/ CHI & SJS) and Todd McLellan (6 from 2009-2014 w/ SJS).
