If there's a topic that can rub the Hurricanes the wrong way, it's bringing up next season.
The Hurricanes haven't given up on making something of this season, even though they squandered a three-goal lead in Saturday night's 5-4 loss at Detroit, making that a crushing result.
"I'm not thinking about next year and I don't think anybody is here," goalie Cam Ward said. "Anything can happen."
There are few chances remaining for the Hurricanes, who visit Toronto on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes have six games left on the schedule.
The team has been such an afterthought for so long this season that to make it to the last week in March with even a remote chance to make the playoffs is something of an accomplishment.
"It's where you really have to step up," coach Kirk Muller said. "We're battling and we're not going away."
