Box Score

I missed most of both games this weekend due to other obligations, and Monday's game wasn't on TV and my clock radio - the only radio in my house - doesn't get 99.9FM.  I hate that.

But I did tune into FSN last night for the Canes-Sabres game, and wow, what a fun game!  2 periods of exciting, somewhat stressful hockey that ended with a 2-2 tie, and then an offensive blowout in the third period with the Canes scoring 4 goals for the 6-2 win.

Bret Hedican came to play, scoring a goal and getting two assists.  Eric Staal had a goal and two assists too.  And Jeff Hamilton made an amazing slapshot that I don't think anyone could've stopped by any manner of skill, it was like a rocket.

No time to go into further detail but the Canes are now 6-1-3 and looking mighty fine.  They've gotten points in 9 of 10 hockey games, and have a nice 7 point lead in the southeast division.

See you at the game Friday night!

GO CANES!

Box Score

In a game of goaltending excellence, Cam Ward and the Hurricanes came out on top again.  Carolina came out and completely dominated the play of the first two periods, outshooting Montreal 30-8.   But thanks to some incredible play by Habs goalie Cirstobal Huet, Carolina clung to a mere 2-1 lead going into the second intermission.   Montreal came out skating and shooting in the third, putting up 16 shots and also commiting no penalties (something they had done a lot of in the first two periods), but Cam Ward made amazing save after amazing save.  Chad LaRose, still getting extra playing time due to the injury to Ladd, was rewarded with an empty net goal at 19:44 to seal the deal.

I will admit, Montreal got screwed with about 3 minutes to go by a badly missed call at center ice that would've put Montreal on the power play.  Not saying that would've scored, because Cam *WAS* stopping anything and everything they threw at him, but the refs definately blew a call there.

It's tough to go on a long road trip, and one that includes 3 games in Canada is never easy, but the Canes are surviving so far with a 3-1 record.  They flew home last night after the game (I assume) to sleep in their own beds as they don't play again until next Friday.  Having won 3 straight, I'll bet Laviolette will give them today AND tomorrow off, before they start practicing again to get ready for the last 2 games of this 6 game road trip at Pittsburg and Philadelphia Friday and Saturday night.

Hopefully by then, Mike Commodore will be healthy and ready to skate again, but the defense has definately held up so far.  Knock on wood!

Box Score

Carolina waited for Ottawa to come home, and then knocked them from the ranks of the undefeated with a 5-3 victory.

Chad LaRose found himself playing on the third line, and took advantage.  Although he didn't score any goals, his gritty play directly led to goals by Matt Cullen, Rod Brind'Amour, and Erik Cole.  LaRose ended the night with 3 assists and got the #1 star.

Speaking of Erik Cole, I mentioned the other day how I thought he'd been playing well but just couldn't buy a goal - well, he got two of them tonight and they were beauties.  One of them was basically on an empty net because Martin Gerber had just made a huge save on Eric Staal who almost knocked it in from the left side.  Gerber slide across to make the save and slide right out of the crease while the puck rebounded to open ice on the right side.  Cole skated up and knocked it in the net, going past a defender who looked like he was going to the ice for the block but didn't make it in time.  By the time Gerber got to his feet after the save on Staal, the puck was bouncing out of the net.

The game itself was beautiful.  Just an incredible amount of speed and skating.  Lots of back-and-forth action,  We led Ottawa 4-1 late in the third period but it wasn't a "dominating" performance, in fact I thought that Ottawa might've been playing a little better they were just being stymied by Cam Ward.  They made it interesting with late goals at 16:16 and 18:11, but Eric Staal sealed the deal with an empty netter at 19:01.

Staal now has 8 points (5/3) while Cole has 4 points (1/3).  12 points through 5 games.  Looking good so far for my prediction of 180 points between the two.  Keep it up, guys!

The Canadian Tour continues Saturday night when the Canes take on Montreal.

GO CANES!

Box Score

I didn't watch it in HD, but it was a beautiful game nonetheless!  Toronto took a 1-0 lead early on a power play goal, but Justin Williams tied it up about 2 minutes later with a very nice goal where he just plain beat the goalie but lifting the puck up high from about 8' out.  Cory Stillman added a power play goal to take a 2-1 lead and the Canes never looked back.

Toronto played sloppy, and Carolina played aggressive - especially on the power play - sometimes going with the someone unconvential 5 forward lineup.  Matt Cullen added a power play goal in the second period, followed by a full strength goal by Ray Whitney for a 4-1 lead, and the Canes added three more goals by Scott Walker, Jeff Hamilton, and Eric Staal to round out the game.

Toronto's goal was one of those 5-4 goals that was really a 5-3 goal because the 4th skater had just gotten on the ice.  Yet another goal you can't really blame Cam Ward for.

It was good to see Bret Hedican back on the ice (19 minutes) and Cory Stillman too for the first time this season (20 minutes).

A note about Erik Cole - he can't buy a goal right now!  He and Staal had a great 2 on 1 opportunity in the second period (I think) and Cole got off what was practically an empty netter that went off the post.  He had another opportunity earlier in the game on a wide open net but his shot went wide.  He led the team with 5 shots on goal tonight, but just can't seem to light the lamp.  He's looking good otherwise - skating well and such.  I'm sure it'll happen for him.

Next up, the undefeated (4-0) Ottawa Senators on Thursday.  Ottawa is getting great goaltending from one Mr. Martin Gerber who currently has a 1.73 GAA and a .949 save %.  Good numbers,

Gerber.  Where have I heard that name before? =)

GO CANES!

Carolina 4, Pittsburg 1 - Box Score

Friday night, Carolina took on Pittsburg at home, looking for their first win of the season.  They came out skating strong and never really looked back, scoring twice in the opening period (both by Eric Staal) and twice in the second period (Andrew Ladd and Jeff Hamilton).  Pittsburg came on strong in the third, giving it all they could, but only managed a power play goal to break the shutout.  Realistically, it was a 5 on 3 power play goal, but the two man advantage had just ended, so the 4th skater was back on the ice but wasn't yet involved in the play.

Cam Ward looked fan-freakin-tastic in goal again, and made some incredible saves.  He was the #1 star of the game, and deserved it.  The lineup worked, with Jeff Hamilton assisting on both of Eric Staal's goals as well as getting his own goal.

Washington 2, Carolina 0 - Box Score

Unfortunately, the first road game of the season didn't go quite as well.  Washington dominated the puck offensively for most of the game.  Carolina managed only 2 shots in the first period, and 9 shots in the second period.  Overall, they were outshot 33-23.  They came on pretty strong with 12 shots in the third period, and had some great scoring opportunities, but simply couldn't get the puck past Olie the Goalie.

John Grahame looked pretty darned good in the net, saving 31 of 33 shots.  I've got no complaints there.  Can't win games when your team doesn't score.

The good thing about this game was that Carolina only took 3 penalties, although they did give up a power play goal.  And we were 0-4 on the power play ourselves, which kinda sucked.

Part of this loss was just a hot goalie, but part of it was also the Canes inability to control thep puck - especially in the first period, where they were just completely dominated.

Next up - game 2 of this long 6 game road trip - the Canes take on the  Toronto Maple Leafs.  Look for former Hurricane Bates Battaglia!

The game is on Versus tonight, so don't look at Fox Sports South and assume it's not on!

GO CANES!

Box Score

I'm kidding, of course.  And in now way am I implying that we did it on purpose in the 2006 Stanley Cup run either.

Good and bad from last night.  The bad - Carolina played sloppy, taking a lot of penalties.  We're the ones that are supposed to play disciplined hockey and outskate the opponents, but we took 3 penalties to Monreal's one in the 3rd period, and the overtime penalty to Niclas Wallin was the backbreaker that gave Monreal the game.

The penalty kill unit gave up all three Montreal goals, while Carolina's power play only scored once in 7 opportunities.

Things actually looked good early - Carolina scored on the first power play, and looked pretty good on the second - shooting the puck a lot, which was good.  They had a 19-10 shot lead at one point, but really started to lose puck control midway through the second period.

Cam Ward made some awesome saves and looked pretty good for the most part.  Giving up 3 power play goals in 40 shots for the night really isn't his fault.

Here's hoping that they'll play a little more disciplined against Pittsburg Friday night, because they can't afford to go on the penalty kill all night again against the Penguins, who have a lot of firepower up front.

Sadly, last night's game was NOT a sellout, but it was close (99.7% officially).  I think Friday night's game will be though, Pittsburg always draws a big crowd.

Go Canes!