The 2008–09 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 37th season, 30th season in the National Hockey League and 11th as the Hurricanes.

This was the last season the Hurricanes made the playoffs until 2019.

Off-season June 5: After 20 seasons in the NHL and 13 as one of the most popular faces of the Hurricanes' franchise, Glen Wesley announced his retirement. September 11: The club announced that they have signed Eric Staal to a seven-year contract extension worth US$57.75 million.

Regular season November 7: Peter Laviolette made NHL history by becoming the winningest American-born NHL coach with his 240th victory, as Carolina defeated the Ottawa Senators, 2–1. December 2: Peter Laviolette was fired as the head coach and Paul Maurice was rehired in his place. Ron Francis became the team's associate head coach.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season having tied the Montreal Canadiens for the most power-play opportunities, with 374.

Divisional standings

2 points for a win, 1 for an OT or shootout loss, 0 for a loss in regulation

Conference standings

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log Preseason: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts September 24 Washington 4 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 11,431 0-1-0 0 September 25 Hurricanes 2 – 5 Washington Manzato 13,266 0-2-0 0 September 27 Hurricanes 2 – 4 Philadelphia Ward 17,700 0-3-0 0 September 28 Philadelphia 0 – 1 Hurricanes Leighton 11,431 1-3-0 2 October 2 Hurricanes 4 – 2 Nashville Ward 12,903 2-3-0 4 October 5 Nashville 0 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 11,313 3-3-0 4 October: 5–2–2 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 4–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 10 Florida 4 – 6 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 1-0-0 2 2 October 11 Hurricanes 4 – 3 Lightning OT Leighton 18,552 2-0-0 4 3 October 13 Detroit 3 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 2-1-0 4 4 October 17 Hurricanes 3 – 4 Los Angeles OT Ward 14,194 2-1-1 5 5 October 19 Hurricanes 3 – 1 Anaheim Leighton 16,847 3-1-1 7 6 October 23 Hurricanes 1 – 4 Pittsburgh Ward 17,132 3-2-1 7 7 October 25 Hurricanes 4 – 3 NY Islanders Ward 11,219 4-2-1 9 8 October 28 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Montreal SO Ward 21,273 4-2-2 10 9 October 30 Hurricanes 1 – 0 St. Louis Ward 17,860 5-2-2 12 November: 7–9–0 (Home: 5–6–0; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 10 November 1 Edmonton 3 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 15,016 5-3-2 12 11 November 2 Toronto 4 – 6 Hurricanes Leighton 15,635 6-3-2 14 12 November 4 Hurricanes 5 – 4 Toronto OT Ward 19,266 7-3-2 16 13 November 6 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Capitals Ward 15,391 7-4-2 16 14 November 7 Ottawa 1 – 2 Hurricanes Leighton 15,206 8-4-2 18 15 November 9 Atlanta 5 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 12,398 8-5-2 18 16 November 12 Washington 5 – 1 Hurricanes Leighton 14,261 8-6-2 18 17 November 14 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Atlanta Ward 16,128 8-7-2 18 18 November 16 Tampa Bay 2 – 3 Hurricanes SO Ward 13,781 9-7-2 20 19 November 18 Montreal 1 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 12,164 10-7-2 22 20 November 21 Coyotes 2 – 5 Hurricanes Ward 14,848 11-7-2 24 21 November 23 Nashville 5 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 13,042 11-8-2 24 22 November 24 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Panthers Leighton 11,117 11-9-2 24 23 November 26 Philadelphia 3 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 15,057 11-10-2 24 24 November 28 Hurricanes 3 – 2 Philadelphia OT Ward 19,587 12-10-2 26 25 November 30 Anaheim 4 – 1 Hurricanes Leighton 14,191 12-11-2 26 December: 6–4–3 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 26 December 4 Penguins 5 – 2 Hurricanes Leighton 14,559 12-12-2 26 27 December 6 Philadelphia 2 – 1 Hurricanes OT Leighton 14,061 12-12-3 27 28 December 7 Washington 1 – 3 Hurricanes Leighton 15,308 13-12-3 29 29 December 11 Hurricanes 5 – 6 Philadelphia SO Leighton 19,057 13-12-4 30 30 December 13 Hurricanes 2 – 3 NY Rangers SO Ward 18,200 13-12-5 31 31 December 16 Montreal 2 – 3 Hurricanes Ward 16,434 14-12-5 33 32 December 18 Florida 1 – 2 Hurricanes OT Ward 14,533 15-12-5 35 33 December 20 Hurricanes 2 – 4 Boston Ward 17,565 15-13-5 35 34 December 21 Hurricanes 3 – 2 Montreal OT Ward 21,273 16-13-5 37 35 December 23 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Minnesota Leighton 18,568 16-14-5 37 36 December 26 Hurricanes 5 – 4 Atlanta Ward 16,012 17-14-5 39 37 December 27 Boston 4 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 16,705 17-15-5 39 38 December 31 Atlanta 1 – 3 Hurricanes Ward 18,137 18-15-5 41 January: 7–6–0 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 3–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 39 January 2 St. Louis 1 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 17,092 19-15-5 43 40 January 3 Hurricanes 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 15,873 20-15-5 45 41 January 6 New Jersey 2 – 3 Hurricanes Ward 15,399 21-15-5 47 42 January 8 Hurricanes 2 – 4 Florida Ward 10,323 21-16-5 47 43 January 10 Hurricanes 1 – 5 Boston Ward 17,565 21-17-5 47 44 January 13 Hurricanes 1 – 5 Ottawa Ward 18,512 21-18-5 47 45 January 15 Toronto 6 – 4 Hurricanes Ward 18,037 21-19-5 47 46 January 17 Hurricanes 1 – 3 Buffalo Ward 18,690 21-20-5 47 47 January 19 Hurricanes 2 – 0 Toronto Ward 19,018 22-20-5 49 48 January 20 Hurricanes 2 – 1 Pittsburgh Ward 16,972 23-20-5 51 49 January 27 Hurricanes 2 – 3 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 23-21-5 51 50 January 29 Tampa Bay 2 – 3 Hurricanes Ward 16,405 24-21-5 53 51 January 31 Atlanta 0 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 16,215 25-21-5 55 February: 7–6–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 52 February 3 Hurricanes 3 – 4 Vancouver Ward 18,630 25-22-5 55 53 February 5 Hurricanes 4 – 3 San Jose SO Leighton 17,496 26-22-5 57 54 February 7 Hurricanes 7 – 2 Phoenix Ward 15,229 27-22-5 59 55 February 12 Florida 5 – 0 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 27-23-5 59 56 February 14 Columbus 5 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 27-24-5 59 57 February 15 Hurricanes 3 – 0 Buffalo Ward 18,690 28-24-5 61 58 February 17 Boston 5 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 28-25-5 61 59 February 19 Hurricanes 6 – 2 NY Islanders Ward 11,802 29-25-5 63 60 February 20 Tampa Bay 1 – 4 Hurricanes Ward 17,711 30-25-5 65 61 February 22 Colorado 2 – 5 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 31-25-5 67 62 February 24 Hurricanes 2 – 4 Ottawa Ward 16,541 31-26-5 67 63 February 26 Buffalo 1 – 2 Hurricanes SO Ward 18,219 32-26-5 69 64 February 28 Hurricanes 3 – 5 Atlanta Ward 17,796 32-27-5 69 March: 10–1–2 (Home: 6–0–0; Road: 4–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 65 March 3 Hurricanes 5 – 2 Washington Ward 17,903 33-27-5 71 66 March 6 Calgary 1 – 6 Hurricanes Ward 18,108 34-27-5 73 67 March 7 Hurricanes 9 – 3 Tampa Bay Ward 15,692 35-27-5 75 68 March 9 NY Rangers 0 – 3 Hurricanes Ward 17,826 36-27-5 77 69 March 11 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Chicago SO Ward 21,513 36-27-6 78 70 March 12 Hurricanes 2 – 3 Dallas Ward 16,788 36-28-6 78 71 March 14 Hurricanes 4 – 5 Washington SO Ward 18,277 36-28-7 79 72 March 18 New Jersey 2 – 4 Hurricanes Ward 18,544 37-28-7 81 73 March 20 NY Islanders 4 – 5 Hurricanes Ward 18,137 38-28-7 83 74 March 21 Washington 1 – 4 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 39-28-7 85 75 March 23 Hurricanes 3 – 2 Florida Ward 14,304 40-28-7 87 76 March 25 Ottawa 1 – 2 Hurricanes Ward 17,146 41-28-7 89 77 March 28 Hurricanes 2 – 1 New Jersey Ward 17,018 42-28-7 91 April: 3–2–0 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 78 April 2 NY Rangers 2 – 4 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 43-28-7 93 79 April 4 Pittsburgh 2 – 3 Hurricanes OT Ward 18,680 44-28-7 95 80 April 7 NY Islanders 0 – 9 Hurricanes Ward 18,680 45-28-7 97 81 April 9 Buffalo 5 – 1 Hurricanes Ward 18,513 45-29-7 97 82 April 11 Hurricanes 2 – 3 New Jersey Ward 17,625 45-30-7 97

Record vs. opponents Team Points Record New Jersey* 106 3–1–0 NY Islanders 61 4–0–0 NY Rangers 95 2–1–1 Philadelphia 99 1–1–2 Pittsburgh 99 2–2–0 Boston* 116 0–4–0 Buffalo 91 2–2–0 Montreal 93 3–0–1 Ottawa 83 2–2–0 Toronto 81 3–1–0 Atlanta 76 3–3–0 Florida 93 3–3–0 Tampa Bay 66 6–0–0 Washington* 108 3–2–1 Chicago 104 0–0–1 Columbus 92 0–1–0 Detroit* 112 1–0–0 Nashville 88 1–0–0 St. Louis 92 2–0–0 Calgary 98 1–0–0 Colorado 69 1–0–0 Edmonton 85 0–1–0 Minnesota 89 0–1–0 Vancouver* 100 0–1–0 Anaheim 91 1–1–0 Dallas 83 1–0–0 Los Angeles 79 0–0–1 Phoenix 79 2–0–0 San Jose* 117 1–0–0

Notes: * denotes division winner; teams in bold are in the Southeast Division; teams in italics qualified for the playoffs; points refer to the points achieved by the team whom the Hurricanes played against

= Member of the Atlantic Division = Member of the Northeast Division = Member of the Southeast Division = Member of the Central Division = Member of the Northeast Division = Member of the Pacific Division

Playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes ended the 2008–09 regular season as the Eastern Conference's sixth seed. In the first round, they defeated the New Jersey Devils following a game 7 victory following two goals with 1:20 minutes in the game from Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal in what is known as the “Shock at the Rock”. In the second round, they defeated the Boston Bruins in 7 games, denying Boston's 3–1 series comeback attempt following an overtime goal from Scott Walker. In doing so, they reached the eastern conference final for the first time since 2006. However, they got swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2009 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (3) New Jersey Devils # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 15 Carolina 1-4 New Jersey Ward 17,625 0-1 2 April 17 Carolina 2-1 New Jersey OT Ward 17,625 1-1 3 April 19 New Jersey 3-2 Carolina OT Ward 17,791 1-2 4 April 21 New Jersey 3-4 Carolina Ward 17,465 2-2 5 April 23 Carolina 0-1 New Jersey Ward 17,625 2-3 6 April 26 New Jersey 0-4 Carolina Ward 18,680 3-3 7 April 28 Carolina 4-3 New Jersey Ward 17,625 4-3 Eastern Conference Semi-finals: vs. (1) Boston Bruins # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 1 Carolina 1-4 Boston Ward 17,565 0-1 2 May 3 Carolina 3-0 Boston Ward 17,565 1-1 3 May 6 Boston 2-3 Carolina OT Ward 18,680 2-1 4 May 8 Boston 1-4 Carolina Ward 18,878 3-1 5 May 10 Carolina 0-4 Boston Ward 17,565 3-2 6 May 12 Boston 4-2 Carolina Ward 18,860 3-3 7 May 14 Carolina 3-2 Boston OT Ward 17,565 4-3 Eastern Conference Finals: vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 18 Carolina 2-3 Pittsburgh Ward 17,132 0-1 2 May 21 Carolina 4-7 Pittsburgh Ward 17,132 0-2 3 May 23 Pittsburgh 6-2 Carolina Ward 18,789 0-3 4 May 26 Pittsburgh 4-1 Carolina Ward 18,789 0-4 WIN LOSS

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 82 24 53 77 +2 32 82 40 35 75 +15 50 79 26 28 54 0 79 80 16 35 51 -23 36 81 16 32 48 -8 28 69 22 21 43 +11 20 81 14 24 38 -1 18 72 16 19 35 +13 16 71 7 26 33 +11 58 81 19 12 31 +6 35 70 5 25 30 -9 37 41 5 10 15 -4 39 † 17 2 13 15 +3 10 74 6 8 14 +7 31 70 0 12 12 +3 68 70 5 7 12 +2 26 † 25 1 10 11 -2 12 64 2 8 10 -1 42 ‡ 32 3 7 10 -9 9 30 1 7 8 -4 8 50 1 5 6 -1 16 ‡ 15 0 4 4 -1 8 11 2 0 2 -1 10 18 0 2 2 -3 2 23 1 1 2 -2 0 8 0 2 2 -3 2 ‡ 27 1 0 1 0 40 28 0 1 1 -1 37 13 1 0 1 -2 0 2 0 1 1 +1 0 5 0 0 0 -3 4 3 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 18 10 5 15 -3 4 18 3 8 11 -9 4 18 4 7 11 0 16 18 7 4 11 -3 2 17 5 3 8 +2 6 18 0 8 8 0 16 18 1 6 7 -3 19 18 2 5 7 -7 4 18 3 3 6 0 14 16 1 5 6 -5 16 18 0 5 5 -5 22 18 1 4 5 -2 32 18 1 3 4 -5 8 15 2 2 4 +2 18 16 1 3 4 -3 8 18 1 2 3 -1 13 7 0 1 1 +2 2 13 0 1 1 -5 10 2 0 1 1 +1 0 18 0 0 0 +1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 9

Goaltenders

Regular season Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO 68 3928 39 23 5 160 2.44 1901 1741 .916 6 19 1028 6 7 2 50 2.92 507 457 .901 0

Playoffs Player GP Min W L GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO 18 1101 8 10 49 2.67 576 527 .915 2

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Hurricanes. Stats reflect season totals. ‡Traded mid-season Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Milestones