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

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!

Box Score

Carolina has won all three games that they've played against the Montreal Canadiens this season, starting on New Years Eve when they put up 5 goals against Jose Theodore, a goaltender who had traditionally stumped the Canes.

That first game was the only one he finished, as he gave up 5 goals in 28 minutes on January 23 when the Habs were beaten soundly 7-3, and in tonight's contest he lasted only 25 minutes before giving up his 5th goal and being pulled from the game.

Erik Cole got a hat trick and an assist, Eric Staal added two goals, plus one each from Kevyn Adams, Craig Adams, and Niklas Nordgren.  Ray Whitney notched 3 assists too.

I didn't get to watch this one but I did listen to a lot of it while I was bowling.  These guys are only gonna get better when Doug Weight joins the team on Friday when the Canes travel to New Jersey.

GO CANES!