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Last Sunday the Canes defeated the Thrashers 4-3 in overtime, Erik Cole scoring the most excellent game winner. The above picture is from his second game star nomination - needless to say, this Caniac was rather excited to see her favorite player play an excellent game.
Honestly, though, the Canes should never have allowed Atlanta to get back into the game - up two goals at 3-1 and they just seemed to let off the gas pedal in the second and third periods. And then the game goes into overtime, which gives a division rival a point... but Erik Cole scored, so I guess that makes it all better.
Then on Tuesday the Hurricanes beat the Flames 6-5 in a shootout. The good news is, again, that the Canes got two points, but the bad news is that they allowed the Flames to score three straight goals to tie up the game.
The Canes then lost to the Sabres 3-2 on Thursday, breaking their eight game point streak. Yeah, that stretched back to December.
To finish up the week, the Canes won against the Southeast-leading Lightning 6-4. This was a really fun game to watch - definitely a lot of offense. There were memorable goals on both sides - Chad LaRose coming out of the box to score a power play breakaway goal stands out for the Canes. For the Lightning, well, that Stamkos kid made the Canes look silly, skating straight up the ice and scoring an easy goal.
So this leaves the Canes at 22-16-6, decidedly over .500 with 50 points, good enough for fourth in the Southeast and ninth in the Conference. So, yeah, still no playoff spot, but we have three games in hand on Atlanta and we're only one point behind them in the eighth spot - so the gap has closed and I would say that the Canes are firmly in the playoff race. Providing, of course, that they continue to play as well as they have.
So now that I'm back at school and my period of being able to view games is over, I think I'll give a list of my collected observations over the winter break.
- Jeff Skinner is amazing. Period. End of story.
- Erik Cole also looks really good. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a fangirl. He looks almost back to his 05-06 form - he's driving the net, creating chances and scoring.
- The Canes have serious issues with momentum. They seem to decide to play one and a half periods during a game. This means they start out great and allow the other team to get back in the game after being dominated, or the Canes play like crap in the first two periods and then storm back to victory in the third. Granted, I've become used to this after watching this team for so many years, but it does become frustrating to watch this team go into a defensive shell after they get a two goal lead.
- The call-ups from Charlotte (Dalpe, Boychuk) looked really good. Finally, we have a farm system with useful players!
- The NHL really should consult with me before scheduling games during football season. Missed my half of my team's bowl game and half of the NFL games this past week.
Overall, I'm feeling optimistic for the second half of the season. It seems like things are beginning to click for this team and they're beating teams they need to. This next week will be a test for the Canes, as they play Boston, the Rangers, and Pittsburgh - all teams currently above them in the playoff standings. The points streak has gotten them in the position to compete, now they need to continue their success.
Also, expect an All-Star Game related post sometime soon. In other words, no, I didn't gloss over the fact that Staal and Ward were named our All-Stars this week.
Erik Cole stats (Sunday): 1 goal
(Tuesday): 1 goal
(Saturday): 3 assists
On the season: 12 goals, 13 assists
Chad LaRose stats (Tuesday): 1 assist
(Saturday): 1 goal
On the season: 8 goals, 9 assists
I think I must be some sort of shootout magnet. Three out of four of the games I have managed to watch this season have gone to a shootout - I suppose I must apologize to those who dislike the practice, expect December and January to have a lot of shootouts if current trends continue.
But let's rewind to Wednesday, when the Canes made a trade. They acquired Ian White and Brett Sutter from Calgary for Tom Kostopoulos and Anton Babchuk, Sutter being waived the next day to be sent to Albany. (For those wondering, Sutter is current Cane Brandon Sutter's cousin). Having seen him in action, I can say that White is a smallish defenseman who looks to be pretty solid in the defensive zone - he stepped in pretty well in a pairing with Joni Pitkanen both Friday and Saturday.
I'd say, from this early vantage point, that it's a good trade for the Canes. White seems like a good defenseman, who would certainly be an upgrade from Anton Babchuk's flightiness (I'm not too sad to see him and his seasons in Russia go, although his slapshot might be missed.) Kostopoulos is a good character guy, but not a core part of the Canes team. And I won't miss struggling to spell his name while blogging.
Also on Wednesday the Canes won 7-1 over the Ottawa Senators. Generally a win of this goal differential would be something I'd celebrate, but it doesn't seem right to be cheerful, as the Senators had attended the funeral of the assistant coach's daughter earlier that day.
So let's move on to the two games I was able to view, one on the television, and one in person. The former was a 5-4 shootout loss to the Penguins. I thought the Canes played extremely well in this game, constantly battling back from being down a goal. They really played up to the Penguins level, which I was certainly not expecting, having seen the boxscores from the previous week. They also got a point in the standings, in spite of the refs (and the War Room in Toronto), who showed that they could use a new contact and hearing aid prescription. A goal in the third period was allowed for the Pens where the whistle was clearly blown before the puck crossed the goal line. Luckily, the Canes were able to come back once again so that the call didn't cost them the entire game.
The next shootout loss was last night against the Predators. Where the Pittsburgh game was offensively powered and fun to watch, the Nashville one was defensively driven and kind of a snoozefest.
Interestingly, the same three shooters were chosen for both shootouts - Jeff Skinner, Jussi Jokinen, and Patrick O'Sullivan. Skinner and Jokinen I understand, but I just do not understand the choice of O'Sullivan. Granted, he didn't get to show his stuff in the shootout against Pittsburgh, but I wasn't impressed last night. I somehow get the feeling that Paul Maurice keeps writing down "8" thinking Matt Cullen's on the bench, and then is somewhat disappointed when he realizes it's a different guy in the jersey.
Anyways... a more successful week for the Canes than the previous, I'd say. I was very impressed with the play against Pittsburgh - definitely gives me hope for playing well in other close games this season. Currently the Canes are 9th in the East and 4th in the Southeast with 20 points - movin' on up. Up next for the Canes are the C[r]aptials on Wednesday and the Bruins on Friday - not easy matchups in any sense. Hopefully they can play like they did this past Friday and maybe get a win out of one of them.
And my final thought for this post: Make sure you're voting for the All-Star Game! I'm officially on the Paul Bissonnette bandwagon!
Erik Cole stats (Wednesday): 1 assist
On the season: 4 goals, 6 assists
Chad LaRose stats (Wednesday): 2 goals, 2 assists
On the season: 6 goals, 6 assists
I'm really sorry for not posting this past week, but unfortunately this whole "college" thing isn't going away. A lot of stuff has happened, so I think it's time for a...
Big Ultimate Mega Recap!!!!The Canes played 4 games over the past week, coming out with a 2-2 record, which isn't too shabby for this season.
They lost to the Oilers, which is pretty pathetic although it does help their quest for the lowest pick. (Which, by the way, the Canes are losing, allowing the Maple Leafs and Edmonton to slip between them and the bottom.)
They lost to the Flames.
They managed to win against Buffalo.
And they won against the Islanders - Justin Peters started his first game in that one - good for him to notch his first NHL win!
And through all this Erik Cole still hasn't managed to play a game! Are they keeping him in a storage shed a la Mike Leach?†
Tim Gleason was named to Team USA (which should have happened in the first place, not as an injury replacement... but whatever). The Canes Twitter feed provided this photo, which is absolutely amazing. Now I have a favorite player to cheer for on the team!
The Canes also traded the Secret Weapon, shipping Niclas Wallin and a fifth round pick to San Jose for a second round pick. A shame, because Wallin was always an asset in the times it mattered most (check the nickname), but I'm not overly surprised because Wallin had been in trade rumors for the past bazillion years. Hope San Jose goes well for him.
Cam Ward is out with some kind of back injury. Which is, y'know, just what you want your franchise goaltender to have. We'll get to see more of Justin Peters, which is nice, and this is making the Legace signing look a bit better.
I think that's all the news that has gone on over the past week... This is the last week of games before the Winter Olympic break - and I cannot wait until that begins!
†... too soon?
Canes won 6-1 last night against Calgary.
If this is the result we get with Cole in the lineup - why did we trade him away in the first place?
While Cole looked absolutely, completely spectactular with a goal in his first game back, Ray Whitney was the true star of the night. Whitney notched a hat trick and his 300th career goal.
The Canes were amazing in this game - exploding with a three goal flurry towards the end of the first period, and Calgary was never able to recover. The Canes got 34 shots, and most of them were solid chances, not the far away flinging the puck at the net like they can be prone to do.
And there were fights! Dennis Seidenberg got in one, of all people, after he postively crunched Eric Nystorm in a check. And then there was the Tim Conboy one, of which I got a picture:
An awesome picture, if I do say so myself.
Anyways, I was completely blown away by the quality of the thrashing the Canes put on Calgary, and I certainly hope it carries over to Tampa Bay tonight.
Erik Cole stats: 1 goal
With the Canes: 1 goal
Chad LaRose stats: 1 assist
On the season: 14 goals, 10 assists
Erik Cole is back in a Canes jersey tonight!
I'm so looking forward to seeing him on the ice again!
And, seriously, if the line he gets put on clicks immediately, that will be absolutely frickin amazing. Just imagine what a Ruutu-Staal-Cole line could do!
In my zealous-ness to post on Wednesday, I completely forgot to post a game recap for Tuesday night's game. The Canes had a solid win over the C[r]apitals 5-2, of which I saw none because it was not on TV. But it was a win against a good team, so that definitely counts for something!
Canes are currently tied with Buffalo for ninth, although they technically get the tenth spot. So, obviously, it would be great if the Canes could win tonight against Calgary!
Chad LaRose stats: 1 goal, 1 assist
On the season: 14 goals, 9 assists
Canes lost yesterday to Calgary 4-3.
The Canes actually played very well in this loss. The game was close until the very end, but the Canes just could not gain the lead.
The guy who did not play well was Cam Ward. He did not make the saves the Canes needed him to to win this game. I especially hold him at fault for the two goals in the third period.
Hey, I'm not hatin' on him. He admits it himself:
“I thought we deserved a better fate and I hold myself accountable,” Ward said. “I’ve got to make some saves to keep this team in hockey games. I can’t be giving up that third goal – even the fourth one.”
The guy who played really well last night was Matt Cullen who had a hand in every goal scored by the Canes (1 goal, 2 assists). Chad LaRose scored the first goal and at times looked pretty fiesty out there on the ice.
The best goal of the game was the Canes second, where Craig Adams shot a puck that trickled out behind Kiprusoff. Caught me by surprise, that one did.
Canes play their last game of the season against the Flyers tonight. Hopefully they can both play better and score. (A novel concept, I know...)Chad LaRose stats: 1 goalOn the season: 4 goals, 6 assists
So I watched two games this weekend: the Detroit-Calgary game yesterday and the Tampa-New Jersey game today.
The Detroit-Calgary game was a blow-out by Detroit, starting with the second period. But, the... exciting period, I guess you could say... was the third period.
It all started with Jamie McClennan whacking Johan Franzen in the stomach with his goalie stick. If you haven't seen it yet, go here.
A horrible, "imbecilic", low move by the backup goalie.
Sadly, this was only part of it. Then, Jarome Iginla the captain of the Calgary Flames just continues to cross-check/stab the Red Wings player who is nowhere near the puck as they're coming down the ice. (Sorry, no video for that one.)
This game actually made me feel sorry for the Red Wings. You know that the Flames played bad if I'm actually siding with a team from Detroit.
McClennan was suspended for five games, the Calgary coach was fined $25,000, and the organization was fined $100,000.
Anyways... the Tampa/Jersey game was a lot less vicious, but the outcome still wasn't the one that I wanted. Tampa lost 3-2, and they had absolutely no chances in the last three minutes of the game to even try to tie it up. Jeez, I've never seen such ineptitude when the goalie is pulled (I'm looking at you as well, Atlanta Game 2). At least the Canes manage to get it into the offensive zone...*sigh*Now I need to find a new foster team...
