<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=headline colSpan=2>Defending champion Hurricanes eliminated from playoff race</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px">Associated Press </TD><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px" vAlign=bottom align=right>Apr 4, 2007, 4:19 AM EDT</TD></TR><TR><TD class=blckTopBord style="PADDING-TOP: 2px" colSpan=2><TABLE style="PADDING-LEFT: 3px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=txt10Strg align=middle><NOBR>LECAVALIER</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will be watching the playoffs from home this season.
The Hurricanes blew a two-goal lead and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Tuesday night to become the first defending Stanley Cup winner to miss the playoffs the next season since New Jersey in 1996.
"We're completely frustrated as a team. Embarrassed," Carolina center Eric Staal said. "We wanted to be in the playoffs. We wanted to defend the Cup we won last year, and we didn't get it done tonight. It's unacceptable for the guys we have in this room and the amount of talent we have. Everyone feels just terrible."
Vincent Lecavalier and Dan Boyle scored just under two minutes apart early in the third to lift Tampa Bay. Eric Perrin also scored for the Lightning, who trail Southeast Division-leading Atlanta by one point.
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=txt10Strg align=middle><NOBR>LECAVALIER</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will be watching the playoffs from home this season.The Hurricanes blew a two-goal lead and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Tuesday night to become the first defending Stanley Cup winner to miss the playoffs the next season since New Jersey in 1996.
"We're completely frustrated as a team. Embarrassed," Carolina center Eric Staal said. "We wanted to be in the playoffs. We wanted to defend the Cup we won last year, and we didn't get it done tonight. It's unacceptable for the guys we have in this room and the amount of talent we have. Everyone feels just terrible."
Vincent Lecavalier and Dan Boyle scored just under two minutes apart early in the third to lift Tampa Bay. Eric Perrin also scored for the Lightning, who trail Southeast Division-leading Atlanta by one point.
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