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After seventeen scoreless periods, Hurricanes forward Brandon Sutter gave the team their first lead of the night one minute and forty – five seconds into the third period against the Washington Capitals. It was Brandon Sutter’s 14th goal of the season – which tied his total from last season – and was his 100thNHL career point. In overtime Brandon Sutter also set up the game winning goal on a two – on – one odd man rush, picking up his 101st career point.

A product of the Western Hockey Leagues Red Deer Rebels, and a part of the hockey famous Sutter Family, Brandon Sutter was selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. With 101 points, Sutter now becomes the sixth player selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL entry draft to surpass the 100 NHL points milestone (behind Sam Gagner, Patrick Kane, Jakub Voracek, Logan Couture, and David Perron.)

While he’s only on pace for 17 goals this season, a drop off from his 21 goal campaign in 2009 – 2010, each goal he nets from here to the end of the season is an improvement over his last year total. At only 23 years old Brandon Sutter is already deemed a key piece to the Hurricanes organization, not only right now, for years to come (which is evident by him being named an Alternate Captain.) While he still hasn’t gotten back to his 21 goal season (which in part had a lot to do with Ray Whitney), he’s already tied his last year goal total, and Sutter is one of the best two – way forwards on the team.

Brandon Sutter has embraced the challenge of playing against the league’s best night in and night out. He leads all Carolina forwards in shorthanded time on ice (for the second straight season) and blocked shots, is second on the team in takeaways, and has three shorthanded goals (which is one under the league most.) He didn’t come in with the flash of a Jeff Skinner or Eric Staal but it’s only a matter of time before Sutter is permanently in the top – six playing with them, at which point I believe he will be one of the team’s best point producers (he currently spends most of his playing time with Wingers who aren’t offensively gifted — Patrick Dwyer.) So with 101 points under the belt I look forward to watching him reach his next hundred and more. So with 101 points under the belt I look forward to watching him reach his next hundred and many more.

Your call: On Brandon Sutter

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