Carolina Hurricanes’ Cam Ward is Having a Blazing Month
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward has been having a fantastic November. Through eight games, Ward is 5-1-2 and was riding a four-game win streak into Tuesday’s contest with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cam Ward has been everything the Carolina Hurricanes believed he could be coming into the
season. A free agent after a six-year contract that saw Ward make around $6.3 million annually, many fans were relieved to initially have Ward and his contract removed from the team.
Yet, when free agency hit, management resigned Ward to a two-year deal that saw him take a 50% pay cut, making $3.3 million annually.
Ward believed he could come back and also be better. Hurricanes management believed in Ward and didn’t have to give up any prospects or picks to retain him. While many scoffed at the resigning, hoping backup Eddie Lack would shine, Ward and ‘Canes management are laughing through November.
Honors
After being named Second Star of the Week for last week, Ward continues to look forward. Ward is 32 years old, certainly not the oldest goaltender, but not the youngest either. Winning honors for
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the week, Ward compiled three wins and no losses while also recording a shutout. His stats for the week stand at 1.01 GAA (goals against average) and a .964 SV% (save percentage).
His 3-0-0 from last week has propelled the Hurricanes to a four game win-streak that is showing the true potential of this young team. While the Hurricanes have lagged at times, it seems that the whole team has come together in the month of November.
Ward is posting exceptional numbers that reflect his Stanley Cup winning form. Not only this, but Ward is sixth among active goalies with 275 wins.
Team Scope
The Hurricanes are led in goals by center Victor Rask, who has eight goals on the season. Rask is tied for the team lead in points with left-winger Jeff Skinner at 15 points. New offseason acquisition Teuvo Teravainen is coming into his own with the team with five goals and five assists.
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Hurricanes 2016 second round draft pick Sebastian Aho has been performing well also: With two goals and eight assists he sits tied for second in the lead for points. Aho showed how dynamic he could be in the 2016 World Junior Championship with Finland.
Lack, who was a promising acquisition at the 2015 NHL draft, has underperformed. He has earned his role as backup goaltender with a 3.78 GAA and .856 SV% this season. As fantastic as Ward has performed in November, his stats for the season are still bogged down from his struggles in October. Ward’s season stats sit at 2.36 GAA and a .916 SV%, good enough to equal average.
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While Ward has had his struggles early in the season, he has found his calling throughout the month of November. Write it down: If Cam Ward can keep up his play, the Hurricanes could contend for a possible Wild Card berth. This holds true especially if touted teams like the Red Wings or Islanders continue to disappoint in play.