Good start in Finland!

Well, we're 2-0 after two games in Helsinki! Which already means that this season is better than last season - is the cure for a bad start to play two games overseas? Not for the Wild, haha.

But, let's continue.

I was not able to view the Thursday game, which the Canes won by a tally of 4-3. But, viewing was not necessary to tell that Brandon Sutter had a great game, scoring two goals in the season debut. Babchuk and Jokinen scored the other goals for the game.

I was lucky enough to be able to see the Friday game, which the Canes won in a shootout 2-1. My thoughts:

- Minnesota came out with a jump in their step, as evidenced by their early goal. They controlled most of the first period, and were out for blood - several scrums after the whistle and a fight by Tom Kostopoulos.

- The Wild lost their step in the final two periods, which ultimately benefited the Canes. The Canes had something like six straight minutes (a double high-sticking minor and a minor called after that) on the penalty kill in the second period that the Wild squandered. Had Minnesota been able to connect, that could have been deadly for Carolina.

- Cam Ward is the man, at times holding the team's collective head above water. Without him, the Canes would have easily lost the game.

- Jeff Skinner is the real deal. Not only did he score the only shootout goal (and look pretty sweet while doing it), he was an integral part of the play that led to the Canes' regulation goal scored by Tuomo Ruutu.


So, overall, I think it was a successful overseas venture for the Canes. Hopefully the jet-lag won't kill them too much as they come back to the States - after a game against the Senators, they head out West to face the Canucks and Sharks, teams who are both expected to do very well this year. Major test to start off the season? I'd say so. Although, if these two games are any indication, if Cam Ward continues to play well, we definitely will have a good chance at winning.

Erik Cole stats (Thursday): 1 assist

WE WON!!!!

IT'S OVER!

THE STREAK OF DARKNESS IS OVER!

THE CANES ARE VICTORIOUS!

5-4 SHOOTOUT WIN, TAKE THAT MINNESOTA!

Anyone up for a 14-game win streak?

The Canes have issues

Remember my last post, in which I said that if the Canes lost to the Islanders, they have all kinds of issues?

Well, issues are definitely what this current Canes team has. They lost in a shootout to the Islanders, then lost to the Avs in regulation, then lost in overtime to the Wild.

The Canes have not won a game on the road yet. The Canes are last in the NHL in penalties per game, taking an average of 22 minutes per game. They're 4th in the Southeast, 12th in the East, 26th in the league.

What is wrong with this picture? EVERYTHING!

But I'm not done yet. Eric Staal isn't producing, Rod Brind'Amour was moved to wing, Tuomo Ruutu was suspended 3 games for a nasty hit on Darcy Tucker against the Avs.

What happened to this team? They shouldn't be this bad!

But they are. And I don't think the current situation will last very long before Rutherford does something. What could he do? I can't even begin to imagine what can fix this sloppy play and bad chemistry. But something has to be done to stop the bleeding.

Eric Staal is a Beast!

Two games to catch up on. First was on Christmas Eve Eve against the Wild - Canes lost that one 3-2.

I only saw the first two periods of the game, and the Canes looked really good to begin with, going up 2-0 early in the second period. Then they just kind of lost their momentum and the Wild scored three unanswered in that period, and then the Wild won the game.

Then there was last night's game, which I feel really stupid for forgetting to watch it. Mainly because the Canes won 5-4 and it sounds like it was an entertaining game.

There were two hat tricks in this game, the career first for Atlanta's Bryan Little, and Eric Staal's career sixth. Staal scored all three goals within 4:31 of the third period.
And I watched the game highlights online - Eric Staal just had Johan Hedberg's number in that game. The second goal was just a rifle of a shot.

And Chad LaRose started off the scoring for the Canes, breaking out of the slump he was in. YaY!

Canes play tonight against Boston. Hopefully it'll be as entertaining as that one was - even just to watch the highlights!

Chad LaRose stats (Friday): 1 goal
On the season: 8 goals, 2 assists

Erik Cole will fight you, punk!

Canes won 3-2 over the Wild yesterday.

And, pretty much everything that happened in this game was eclipsed by what occurred in the third period.

Yeah, so Staal gets shoved head-first from behind into the boards by Minnesota's Aaron Voros. Erik Cole sheds all unnecessary equipment and tackles/begins to fight Voros, as my main man Cole both knows what it feels like to be seriously injured like that and knows how to defend one's teammate.

So, there's some other skirmishes, and they're gradually broken up. Scott Walker gets kicked out of the game for no apparent reason (is this guy blacklisted or something?). Then Erik Cole gets kicked out.

So, Voros, who did the initial dirty play, only gets 5 for fighting and 5 for boarding. Cole gets 5 for fighting, 2 for instigating, 2 for unsportsmanlike (yeah, like sticking up for your teammate is really unsportsmanlike compared to shoving someone face first into the boards), and a game misconduct. Walker gets a game misconduct for... um, talking?

Something doesn't seem to add up here. Stupid refs.

Anyways... on Wednesday, in the Canes win over the Thrashers there were some psycho referees too. Not only was a clear-in knocked off a ref into the goal, but then, later in the game, the ref refused to stop play for Johan Hedberg even though there were, like, five guys crowded around the crease - so he had to play it, which led to a Canes goal. Which I wasn't complaining about, but it was the first time in about 5 years that I actually felt some sympathy for Atlanta.

Why is it that refs get worse and worse as the season goes on, and then almost seem to refuse to call anything in the playoffs? It's just not right.

Canes play tomorrow against Buffalo.

Erik Cole stats (Wednesday): 1 goal, 1 assist
Thursday: 1 goal
On the season: 19 goals, 25 assists

Canes lose

Canes lost 5-4 against the Minnesota Wild last night.

I didn't actually see any of the game, and I didn't really listen to much of it, either.

But I can tell you that Justin Williams scored on the first shift of the game. The Canes then let Minnesota score 4 unanswered goals - after the third one Cam Ward was pulled. The Canes then powered back, but still lost.

Not cool. Normally, when you score early it's the other team that's working to comeback - not you.

What makes it super uncool is that the Canes now occupy the last spot in the East for the playoffs. (Factoring in the Tampa Bay win over New Jersey today. (Saw that game on NBC - Martin Brodeur didn't look too sharp in my opinion.))

Oh joy...