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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?
Massive week recap: initiate
Canes lost their only game of the past week last Saturday against the Flyers 4-2.
Yes, that means they won more games than they lost in the last seven days. Of course, all of those games they won were against teams that aren't in playoff contention, but that is trivial information.
The next game was a 5-1 win over the Bruins, in which Cam Ward became the franchises' leading goalie in wins! The game was a shootout until David Krejci spoiled it a little over halfway into the third period. A real accomplishment for Ward, and I think it's a good sign that he still has so much of his career ahead of him. (Or at least, he better, due to the massive contract he'll be getting...)
Then came Wednesday's game against the Rangers, also a 5-1 tally in favor of the Canes. Sergei Samsonov and Eric Staal both had two goals apiece in that one.
Finally, the Canes knocked off the Islanders 4-1 last night.
Why couldn't we play this well earlier in the season? Why is this team suddenly having a spurt of wins when really we don't need them at all? Is this the aftereffects of the change in captaincy? If so, that move should have been done a long time ago, perhaps when we still had an outside shot at the playoffs.
Speaking of our captain, Eric Staal has 9 points in the five games since he became captain, 8 of them goals. Seriously, was the key to the lock on the dam of offensive talent a different letter stitched on your jersey? Dang.
So it's great that we're playing well, but this Caniac is slightly miffed that, in reality, it means nothing. We're still the second worst in the league (not even the worst anymore, what a consolation prize).
I guess this little winning streak can show to everyone that, see, all of us weren't crazy for rating this team higher in the preseason. This team can score goals. They just decided not to for the first half of the year.
We'll see how good this mini turnaround truly is when the Canes play the Blackhawks this Saturday. If the Canes win, well, I'd say we've got something going on here. If we lose, well, I won't be overly surprised.
Chad LaRose (Sunday): 1 goal
On the season: 3 goals, 8 assists
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.
Canes stomped all over the Islanders last night, winning 9-0.
The Islanders just didn't show up for this game. They only ended up putting 12 shots on Cam Ward (versus the Canes' record 57).
I mean, I understand the Islanders being last in the league and everything... but couldn't they just try a little? Not to take away from the Canes performance in this game - they were spectactular - but the Islanders were just pathetic.
Eric Staal got a hat trick (fourth of the season) while Erik Cole and Anton Babchuk both picked up four assists. Points ahoy!
The Canes still remained tied with Philly for fourth - Philly has a game in hand for the opportunity of home-ice advantage for the second round.
Tomorrow's game is against Buffalo - I highly doubt it will as much of a rout as this one was. But I wouldn't complain if it was...
Erik Cole stats: 4 assists
With the Canes: 2 goals, 13 assists
On the season: 18 goals, 24 assists
The Canes won both back-to-back games this weekend at home, putting them into 6th place in the standings.
The first game was a 5-4 win over the Islanders Friday. I did not see this game, but apparently the Canes gave up four consecutive goals to the Islanders in the second period. Yep, four goals to the worst team in the league. Good thing I wasn't watching. Luckily, they pulled it out, which I suppose is all that matters at this point in the season.
Then came the 4-1 win over the C[r]apitals last night, which was a very well-played game. Washington came out hitting, but the Canes were able to withstand the storm and score in the second period. Then they just took over in the third period, scoring three to put the game out of reach.
Might I say that Anton Babchuk is looking spectacular as of late? Not only has he scored with his excellent slapshot, he also has had a few right down in front of the net, like his in this game. I almost can't believe how good he's looked recently (I mean, seriously, a good defenseman playing consistently for the Canes? Doesn't that sound weird to you?).
The bad news, as it has been for the last few days, is that pretty much everyone around the Canes has two games in hand. But, if everyone wins out (which they won't, but hypothetically), the Canes would still be in eighth place even with the two less games - certainly some good news, as it means the Canes are in a much better place than they had been.
The next game is tomorrow against Florida - a big game for sure.
Erik Cole stats (Friday): 1 assist
With the Canes: 2 goals, 8 assists
On the season: 18 goals, 19 assists
Chad LaRose stats (Friday): 2 goals
(Saturday): 1 assist
On the season: 16 goals, 12 assists
Big day in the realm of the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday.
First of all, the Canes' minor league affiliate, the Albany River Rats, were involved in a horrible bus crash early Thursday morning. Apparently the bus was traveling in snowy conditions when it flipped over and came to rest by a guard rail. Luckily, everyone was able to walk off the bus, although 4 players (Casey Borer, Joe Jensen, Nicholas Blanchard, and Jonathan Paiement) and the radio commentator were kept in the hospital with more serious injuries. Hopefully they will recover quickly - it was very lucky that more people weren't seriously hurt.
As for the Hurricanes, they kicked butt in a 6-2 win over the Islanders. A well-played game with some fights in the third period (Conboy v. Jackman and LaRose v. Comrie. Neither was a bout to write home about, but I'll take them considering how rare fights are when your team is the Canes). The Canes really set the tone of the game at the end of the first period by scoring two goals in less than a minute.
Essentially, I think the team should play on the road the rest of the season, considering their recent road streak and their current home losing streak. But, that's not going to happen tonight, as the Canes take on the Lightning at home. The Canes are still ninth in the standings, but have closed the points gap to three.
Canes won 4-3 last night against the Islanders.
An interesting game, to say the least. The Canes played much better throughout the game - but the Islanders got 60 shots on goal. That's a shot a minute! Luckily, Cam Ward was able to stop 57 of them.
None of those shots was more important than the last one. Gleason covered up the puck in the crease, leading to a penalty shot for the Islanders - with only .7 seconds left on the clock.
Talk about putting the game on the line... put Cam Ward turned up with a big stop against Doug Weight, and the Canes won it.
Chad LaRose looked great, getting his first two goals of the year for him.
Bad news, though. Brandon Sutter went out in the third period after Doug Weight leveled him with a shoulder to the head. Wasn't Weight's fault - a victim of unfortunate circumstance most likely - but Sutter took a few minutes to come to and wobble off the ice.
I really hope that he's not seriously injured. He's had a great start this year for his rookie season, and that would be a real bummer to have him knocked out.
More updates on that when I read 'em...
Next Canes game is in Montreal Tuesday - no TV, so I'll be listening to Chuck K on the radio...
Chad LaRose stats: 2 goals
On the season: 2 goals
Wow. Three shorthanded goals by the Islanders. Two on the same powerplay.
Needless to say, the Canes lost this one 6-3.
Actually, the game was closer than the score shows - the Canes were only down a goal midway through the third, and appeared to have a shot of coming back.
But it was not to be.
Cam looked really bad in this game. He looked so out of it on some goals.
Cole, Staal, and Ladd looked good - played with enthusiasm. Commodore did too, but he took a stupid unsportsmanlike penalty for jawing at the ref.
Next game is in a week. (All Star Break). Hopefully the Canes will relearn their power play.
So yesterday I looked at the clock:
- saw 3 pm
- went "crap" because I had forgotten the game was in the middle of the afternoon
- turned on the TV
- saw the Islanders score their first goal
- turned off the TV.
Canes won 3-2 in overtime, in a come-from-behind victory!
Yep, the Canes were down 2-0 heading into the third, but Wallin and Commodore scored goals in the third to force OT and Cory Stillman got the OT winner!
Tonight's game is against the Islanders as well. And it's Ray Whitney figurine night!
Wow, that game was crap.
Canes lost to the Islanders 4-1 yesterday. Here are my notes from the game:
- Refs were absolutely horrible. I swear the Islanders must've paid them off, because all the calls certainly seemed to go in one direction.
- The penalty kill was horrible. Which did not bode well, considering all the penalties the Canes took.
- Ice looked pretty bad in the second, Canes and Islanders slipping everywhere.
- Cullen started the game, but left early because he was "feeling ill".
- Cole needs to drink more coffee or something - it looks like he's missing a little of the jump in his step.
- Grahame didn't look good in goal, but I blame the guys in front of him. A little defense would help your goaltender, guys...
- Seidenberg needs a different hockey stick. I think I counted three sticks broken last night.
Hopefully the Canes got all of their lameness out of their system in 2007...
And in 2008, the first hockey game I watched was the "Winter Classic", which actually sort of lived up to the billing that the NHL gave it. The game was a close game (won in a SO by Sid Crosby) and actually had some offense to it, despite the steady amount of snow falling in Buffalo. I did not envy the players playing in that weather...
First Canes game of '08 is tomorrow against the Thrashers. Hoping for a win in the new year!
So, Canes won one and lost one this weekend, both by insane margins.
First, the 7-4 loss to Montreal:
- Canes played like crap.
- Montreal dropped 5 goals in the first due primarily to the Canes horrible penalty kill. Needless to say, Cam Ward was pulled after that period.
- The pretty much only positive was Eric Staal's penalty shot goal in the second, which infused some life into the Canes. Sadly, it was waaaay too late.
Then the 8-3 win over the Islanders.
- I saw/heard absolutely none of this game.
- Rod Brind'Amour had a hat trick!
- Erik Cole was back in action, with 3 assists and a +4 on the night.
- How the heck can the Canes play so bad and then play so good?
Next game is on Halloween against the Panthers - I sure hope we see the team that showed up on Saturday...Erik Cole stats (Saturday): 3 assists
On the season: 3 goals, 6 assists
To add to the string of ex-Cane movement around the league, Josef Vasicek was signed by the New York Islanders for a one-year, $750,000 contract.Well, I guess Vasicek wasn't technically an "ex-Cane" because he was still with the team at the end of the season. Although, considering all he contributed to the team (2 goals, 7 assists, and a -6), he might as well have stayed in Nashville.Granted, Vasicek is a good player, but the last few years didn't seem to pan out for him in the Carolina style of play. Of course, this could be because he never fully recovered from his knee injury back in late '05. After he returned, he never seemed to be on the same page as everyone else out on the iceMaybe New York will work out for him.Anyways... Blogger polls finally stopped PMS-ing and decided to function correctly... So, the poll still is "How many points will Eric Staal score this season?"
Well, the Atlanta Thrashers were the first to fall out of the playoffs last night, after being swept in the series 4-0.
I did not watch that game last night, instead having the Buffalo-Islanders game on Quondam-OLN. It was a pleasent surprise to see that John Forslund was calling the game, and it kind of made me feel at home in this strange Canes-less playoff world.
I would have rather watched the Devils-Lightning overtime game, but, sadly, it was not to be. My foster team lost on a Scott Gomez goal. The series is tied 2-2.
For tonight, three teams can be knocked out of the playoffs: the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars.
On a slightly delayed note, I totally burned everyone in my fantasy hockey league - the closest person being within a mere 286 points. The cool part? Take out the "8" and guess what number you get? Exactly. Details on Confessions of a Hockey Fanatic here.
Hmm... I think that's all I had to say... No Canes news to speak of...
Canes won against the Islanders 4-2.In the win, Eric Staal scored for the first time in 10 games, Williams notched a goal, and Erik Cole got two.Erik also missed on a first period penalty shot. As quoted in the N&O article: "I just whiffed on it".What makes this win even more remarkable is that the Canes played the entire game with only 5 defensemen.Next up: Toronto.Erik Cole stats: 2 goals, 1 missed penalty shotOn the season: 18 goals, 20 assists
