from Luke DeCock of the News & Observre,

Since Khudobin returned from a lengthy injury of his own at the beginning of this month, the Carolina Hurricanes are 7-2-0 in the games he has started. In the two losses, they failed to score a goal. Among regular NHL starters, only two have a better save percentage than Khudobin’s .930, in a much smaller sample.

“Just play consistently, and every game, go there and try to get the win no matter what,” Khudobin said. “It’s always like this when you feel confidence in the guys and they feel confidence in the goalie, you put all those words together and you get the result.”

Even in those few appearances, Khudobin’s outstanding play has raised serious questions about the franchise’s future at the position. Is Khudobin, two years younger than Ward, a better long-term solution in goal? And does Ward’s contract, with a $6.3 million salary-cap hit through 2015-16, still make financial sense given his recent history of injuries and inconsistency?

It’s not a decision the Hurricanes have to make now, but it is one they have to start thinking about now. Khudobin will be a free agent this summer, and one of the most sought-after of the bunch if he continues to play like this.

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