Weekly Recap: Let's just pretend those last two didn't happen

I'd be concerned if we lost by a significant margin to Edmonton, and the other two are toss-ups - hopefully we'll go 2-1 this week.

That was my hopeful prediction last week. The good news? We didn't lose to Edmonton, instead steamrolling them 7-1. The bad news? We got steamrolled by the two other teams we played - 8-1 by the Flyers on Thursday and 7-2 by the Canadiens on Saturday.

This is just depressing. Hooray, we can beat the second-worst team in the league. But, apparently, we can't hold a candle to anything close to the top of the standings. The Canes didn't just lose, they were demolished. The comparisons to last season are already forming in my head.

So let's talk about something else, why don't we? This past week the NHL released their new All-Star game format, which will debut in Raleigh. Essentially, instead of having East and West teams, or even North America/The World teams, the teams will be picked by two players sometime before the Game. Think high school gym floor hockey when you were picked second to last because you were both a girl and unpopular despite your superior knowledge of the game. Yeah, they're doing that in the pros.

Not entirely sure I like the concept - I hope it's pulled off well if only for the fact that this is the game that's being played in Raleigh. The best positive I can draw from the situation is that, with no conference-based teams, we don't have to worry about the NHL implementing a MLB-style All-Star Game where home field advantage is giving to the winning league. But it does nothing for for cheering on geographical rivalries. I mean, how do you decide who to cheer for? Motley group of All-Stars #1 or motley group of All-Stars #2? Probably whichever team @BizNasty2point0 is on. (If you don't know what I'm referring to, just click the link and find the awesomeness. And follow me on Twitter while you're at it.)

Back to the Canes. They currently have 16 points, placing them 4th in the Southeast and 11th in the East. They play Ottawa, Pittsburgh, and Nashville this week. They're getting Patrick O'Sullivan back from healthy-scratchness, and they picked up some random dude (Troy Bodie) off of waivers from Anaheim today. Not sure if either of those will help, but something has got to start the turnaround for the Canes this week.

Erik Cole stats (Tuesday): 1 goal
On the season: 4 goals, 5 assists

Chad LaRose stats (Tuesday): 1 goal
(Thursday): 1 goal
On the season: 4 goals, 4 assists

Weekly Recap - Canes apparently can't score at home

Yesterday was the end of the first month of hockey (perhaps the only good thing of fall, in my opinion - temperatures really shouldn't ever go below 70). October has left the Canes at an even .500, 10th in the East and 4th in the Southeast Division with ten points. In other words, leaps and bounds above last year (do you sense a theme this year?), but overall not spectacular.

This past week we saw the Canes first two games at the RBC Center, and, uh, let's just say that it may not be a bad thing that tonight's game is on the road against Philadelphia. Goose eggs were lain in both the opener against the C[r]apitals and Saturday's game against the Penguins.

Perhaps the Washington game wasn't as bad as the 3-0 score would allow you to believe - I was able to view it thanks to living in C[r]apital country. The first goal was kind of a fluke, Cam Ward being run over outside the crease (and, yes, unfortunately he was outside of the crease, resulting in no goalie interference). Niklas Backstrom put Washington up by two just over midway into the third and then sealed the game with an empty net goal. Michal Neuvirth also looked really good for being Washington's fourth goalie or some similar absurd number.

However, while the game was closer than the score would indicate, I didn't really see anything to write home about from a Canes' perspective. Jeff Skinner continues to impress, but not much else really stood out. Pretty lackluster for a home opener performance, to be honest.

Speaking of Jeff Skinner, he really broke out in Friday's game against the Rangers. Skinner scored two goals and had an assist on Erik Cole's game winner. He seems to be a player that whenever he's on the ice he does something noticeably beneficial to the team (Granted, I've watched all of two games, but the point still remains that this guy looks to be a beast).

Finally, to wrap up the week, the Canes lost by another 3-0 tally at home to Pittsburgh. Let's just say that our current 0-2 home record is not really thrilling this Caniac right now. Yes, it is extremely early in the season, but I, and I think most of the Caniac Nation, would prefer the Canes to not become a road-only team. Especially when I think back to the season we won the Cup - let's just say that the 31-8-2 home record definitely helped. But I think that might be reading way too far into things.

But attempts to improve the home record (or, heck, score a goal at home) will have to wait until Wednesday against the Islanders. Tonight the Canes face Philly away - a Daniel Briere-less Flyers team as Briere was suspended three games for cross-checking an Islanders players straight in the mouth. Look at the YouTube video if you, like me, love to dislike Briere (and Carcillo as well). Hopefully the Canes can stay away from any Flyers thuggery and continue with their good away record.

Erik Cole stats (Thursday): 1 goal, 1 assist
On the season: 2 goals, 4 assists 

The Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup

I didn't see it coming.



No, really, I didn't see the Stanley Cup winning goal. I, like 90% of other people watching Game 6, had a thought process something like:

"Wait, did he just score? No, he didn't score. What the...? Where the heck is the puck?"

But Patrick Kane did score - 4 minutes into the overtime period - to win the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks after a 49 year drought.

It means that the third time is the charm for Marian Hossa - the curse is over, which makes me kind of sad to lose that joke. But it means that Pronger, Carcillo and other players I don't like were stopped from raising the Cup above their heads. So it's all good, I guess.

I'm somewhat disappointed to not have a Game 7, just because I think that the fight between the two teams would have created some excellent hockey. But the series was great even without that - this Flyers team had so much fight in them. They should be proud that they were even to make a series of it - not many teams could recover after going down 0-2 to this Blackhawks team. Even in Game 6, the Flyers looked like they were dead in the second period, but they battled back again. Unfortunately, it seemed as if their luck finally ran out in the overtime.

So, what now? Hockey season is over - it's officially the offseason, probably the only instance where I will begin wishing summer to be over. I guess it's free agency and then training camp - maybe I'll get back to actually talking about the Canes.

Congratulations to the Blackhawks and their fans. I remember what it was like for the Canes to win their Cup, and I must say that I'm a little jealous to not be a part of it this year - maybe next?

Musings after two

Well, I will say that this has been an interesting Stanley Cup Finals series so far. Chicago's up 2-0 at this point, and Philadelphia is going to have to work at it to get back in it, I think.

First off, Game 1 was so absolutely amazing. If you missed it, I feel really sorry for you because that was some exciting hockey. I mean, assuming, of course, that you like offense. If you like goaltender-based or defensive hockey (hello readers from New Jersey!), you must have absolutely hated this game.

5 goals after the first period, 11 overall - man, it was like every time you blinked someone else was scoring a goal. And the weirdest part was that neither of the teams' top lines contributed to the scoring!

Game 2 was low-key, comparatively, the teams only scoring 3 goals during the game. Toews and Kane still didn't contribute to the scoring.

After two games, I think, obviously, that the Blackhawks are in a very strong position to win it. And, yes, I am a fickle fan with this series. I was somewhat on the Flyers side when the series began, probably because I think it's hilarious that Marian Hossa can't win a Cup, and that I always liked Peter Laviolette. But then, after watching these games I remembered how much I hate Chris Pronger and how much of a punk Dan Carcillo is. So I think I'm not going to be too upset if the Blackhawks win.

But even still, I can't give the Blackhawks a certain victory. Philadelphia has obviously come back in these playoffs before, and tonight they come back to their home building. Antti Niemi is playing well, but as we saw in Game 1, he can obviously let in goals. However, on the flip side, can the Flyers continue to shut down the Blackhawk's big name players?

Unfortunately tonight is my last sure bet at seeing the games on TV... my family vacations to the backwoods of PA never have any respect for the hockey blogging schedule. Don't expect a post until days after Game 5... so I suppose I'm no longer cheering for a team, but at least a six game series. Although, more hockey before the offseason can't be a bad thing, can it?

Well, that was a quick round

After an action-packed first and second rounds, I do believe the Conference Final didn't quite live up to billing - who would have thought that we'd have our Stanley Cup Finalists after only nine games?

I mean, the Sharks once again lived up to being the definition of "choke". Granted, they did manage to get out of the first two rounds, but I think being swept out still places them in that category.

Although, I must say that the series was rather good hockey. All of the games were decided by two goals or less, Game 3 going into overtime. The Sharks played well, but they couldn't get it done in any of the games. And, really, that's all that counts at this point in the season.

Then there was the Montreal-Philadelphia series which was, in my opinion, despite going one more game than the Western Conference Final, much more lopsided. The Flyers shut out the Canadiens in 3 of the four games that they won, giving the Canadiens almost no chance in the series.

So this sets up a Chicago-Philadelphia final, both cities going through quite a drought since their last Stanley Cup. I can't decide which team I want to cheer for, and I can't decide which team I think will win. Chicago seems to have all the weapons to win, but Philadelphia has proven themselves capable in these playoffs, not to mention featuring Peter Laviolette behind the bench. As for cheering, I hate this iteration of Philadelphia goons, but I really don't want to root for Marian Hossa to finally get a Cup either.

The conclusion? Well, we'll have to go through a best-of-seven to find out... First game is on Saturday.

A week's worth of games!

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

This is frustrating

The Canes lost in a shootout 4-3 to the Flyers, in a game that could be called "Exhibit A" in the Museum of "Why this team is so frustrating".

The first two periods of this game were definitely nothing to brag about, the Canes going down 2-0 in the first period.

Then came the third period, in which the Canes scored three straight to tie the game up and force it to overtime. Where this sudden comeback came from, I have absolutely no idea. But it's amazing how this team can be playing poorly for the entire season, but somehow appear to be a cohesive unit for 10 minutes.

I'm at a loss, here. I don't understand why Eric Staal is playing the wing. I understand that you would want to mix up the lines when the team is playing horribly, or to send a message to the players, but I just don't understand why you would want to force a player to play a position that he is not comfortable with for an extended period of time.

And, yes, I know that the Jokinen-Cullen-Staal line is responsible for two of the goals that were scored. Although, personally, I thought that the Whitney-Sutter-Ruutu line played with more energy and had tons of excellent chances (Whitney apparently can't hit the broad side of a barn).

And, let's face it, this was Michael Leighton in goal for the Flyers. He may not have gotten a fair shake in Raleigh, but he never played as well as he did in the first two periods. The Canes need to play better - because if they're scrapping for points against the Flyers (who are tied with the Maple Leafs), how are they going to manage against a team like the C[r]apitals, who have all of their ducks in order?

This is just pathetic

Let me just say that I chose a very good season to go off to college. It's a good thing that I haven't watched any of the last nine games, I think I would be ready to kill right about now.

I mean, honestly, it's hard enough listening to Chuck Kaiton. Take the 5-2 loss to St. Louis. I turned on the game a little bit late... and the Canes were down by 3 goals. Who wants to even listen to a game when your team is already down by three goals, and considering their last few games probably has no chance of coming back?

Quite possibly the only good things about the 6-1 loss to Philly and the 5-1 loss to San Jose is that Brandon Sutter, who was called up after the Ruutu suspension, scored both goals in those games. That's more goals than he scored all of last season (1). Obviously someone doesn't want to go back to Albany - and with the way everyone else appears to be playing, I definitely don't think he should.

Nine losses. NINE LOSSES! Even typing that I can't belive how far we have fallen. What do you say after your hockey team has lost nine in a row? Well, golly gee, I sure hope we win the next one?

There are limits even to my optimism. We have to see a full 180-degree turnaround here. You don't lose nine in a row and just have a few things that need to be tweaked. Fundamentals need to be changed.

But I can't leave my loyal readers with that unhappy though. The Canes have depressed us enough. Here's the good news of the night: ERIK COLE IS BACK IN ACTION!!!!

Canes drop first, are pathetic on powerplay

The Canes dropped their first game 2-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers last night.

First of all, let me just say that I don't believe you can really appreciate Chuck Kaiton until he is your only possible way of listening to a game. Also, the RBC must have been rocking at the start of the game, considering you could barely hear Chuck over the noise of the crowd.

That being said, after watching the "highlights" of the game, I am not that sad that I didn't see this one. It seemed like the Flyers took it to us, and we just couldn't convert. Not that we didn't have any opportunities, going zero-for-eight on the power play.

The penalty kill and power play are what killed the Canes, I think, seeing as both Philly goals came on a 4-minute Sergiei Samsonov high-sticking penalty (22 seconds apart, 47 seconds into the second period - aka "How to kill whatever momentum you might have had"). And, seriously, 0-for-8? That better not become a trend because that's just unacceptable.

Not to mention, the Canes were shut out against Ray Emery, a goalie who I really didn't think was going to be that good this year - I mean, come on, he played in the KHL last year. But either he's better than I thought, or we were just pathetic.

Tim Gleason got the first instigator penalty of the year, making him sit out 17 minutes of the game, after fighting Dan Carcillo who hit Ray Whitney from behind. And y'know, I'll take Gleason sitting out for that long just to make the point that punks like Carcillo can't take cheap knocks at our players. Good for Gleason to stick up for Ray Whitney.

Of course, I don't think that Gleason's absence helped the Canes at all on the defense, especially because Joni Pitkanen did not play in the game. But whatever, it's not like the defense was present when the Flyers scored their goals anyways.

Finally, props do go out to my man Erik Cole, who had two spectactular drives to the net which made the highlights. Unfortunately, he didn't convert on them, but it is a very good thing to see him as a presence on the ice in the first game.

The next game is tonight against Boston, who'll probably be out for revenge after their Game 7 loss in the playoffs. Maybe we'll score a goal in this one?

Future, Present & Past

Weeeeee! Schedules were released today! Opening Night '09 is set for October 2nd against the Flyers. Personally I wish that it was the next week because that is my "fall break" for college. Alas, this will be the first year that I won't be at the opener (or, rather, I haven't developed a plan to get me there yet...).

The interesting thing that I've noticed is that there doesn't seem to be a true West-Coast stint where the Canes go away for five games or so. Most of the western games are spread throughout the season. Also special about this season is the Winter Olympic break in the middle of February - ooh, I can't wait for that either!

Along with the unveiling of the schedules came the announcement that this year's Winter Classic will be played at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Likely to be a good matchup, and likely to be bitter cold - that's what makes it great, right?

Turning to the present, it appears that Ruutu and the Canes are having issues on the length of the contract to be signed. The Canes want to wrap him up long term, Ruutu wants only a year so that he can hit the free agency market after this season. Considering Rutherford's track record with having people not go to arbitration, I wouldn't be surprised if this gets wrapped up before the hearing on July 30th.

And, finally, to yesterday, when the Canes signed Tom Kostopoulos to a three year deal that will average a little under a million per. Previously he played with the Canadiens, although I don't really remember much about him other than looking at the lineup and going "Hm. 'Kostopoulos'. That's a name you don't hear much." He had 106 penalty minutes last season and seems to be the tough defensive forward that the Canes have missed the last few years. Apparently he's known for his hard work, and if you read this article, it seems like from that angle the Canes have signed a larger version of Chad LaRose. If that's the case, it sounds like an awesome signing.

79 days until Opening Night. I can't wait!

Pathetic

Well, the Canes were leading 5-1 going into the third period.

And they ended up losing 6-5 in a shootout.

I don't even know what to say. The Canes were playing so good in the first two periods. I mean, hello! Five goals: two on the power play, two by Eric Staal. I thought things were going great.

And then - Poof! - whatever the Canes had found that they had been lacking in their past games went away again, letting Philly score four straight goals in the third.

There was just no fire, no offense, no anything in the third. Philly came out strong and the Canes just didn't match at all.

And Michael Leighton looked completely lost in the shootout.

I don't know what to say. This was a disappointing loss for anyone who saw how the Canes clicked so well in the first 2/3rds of the game.

Next game is tomorrow against the Penguins. Hopefully it won't be so much of a letdown.

An abrupt end to the game

Canes lost in OT 2-1 to the Flyers last night.

They didn't play too bad, I thought. Again, they came out with more enthusiasm than in some past games.

Sadly, that didn't stop them from giving up a stupid shorthanded goal in the first period. Defensive turnovers are not fun to watch, especially on your own power play.

Wade Brookbank fighting is always fun to watch, though. I managed to take the following snapshot:Which is, coincidentally, the only picture I took at last night's game. I got tired of taking pictures of empty ice due to my camera's slow shutter speed.

Anyways... the third period was a very good period to watch - very exciting. Probably could've been less of a sloppy period, but I don't care, it's always fun to watch chances on both ends of the ice.

Sergei Samsonov had an excellent power play goal, knocking one in a pretty much vacant net. This allowed the game to go into overtime!

Which was absolutely completely lame. Not necessarily for the Canes play - but for the way it ended. It was one of those things where I'm looking at the jumbotron at a very creepy clip of a dancing Santa Claus and then - BAM! The puck's in the net. Pretty much right off of the faceoff Jeff Carter just blasts one by Michael Leighton. It was a fair goal - but it's not fun having such an abrupt end to the night, especially when the Canes had been doing well in the third and overtime periods.

Oh great... I just actually *read* the article I linked to (versus just skimming it). Looks like Wallin might be out for today's game with an ankle injury. Not good. We already were only playing with six defensemen, two of them having been called up from Albany for injuries to Gleason, Seidenberg, and Kaberle.

Won't this team ever be healthy?

Game is this afternoon against the C[r]apitals.

Thanksgiving was not very kind to the Canes record

Soooo... The Canes went 1-3 over my Thanksgiving break... Not very good.

First, the Canes lost to Florida 3-2.

Then they lost to Philadelphia 3-1 (while wearing their third jerseys... making them 2-2 on the season with them... I'm not exactly sure why I'm continuing that stat, other than now that I've started, I certainly can't stop...)

Then they won in Philly 3-2 in overtime. I saw the first period of that game (while eating a delicious cheesesteak), which was merely an okay showing by the Canes. I also saw Wade Brookbank's fight, which was an excellent fight to watch, the referees letting them go at it for quite a bit. Don't think either one won the fight, though.
Sergei Samsonov scored in the overtime period.

Finally, they lost 4-1 to the Ducks yesterday. About the time of puck drop I was lamenting the Washington Redskins' slow shuttle system to take us back to our parking spot all the way on the other side of I-495. Yep, I went the Giants-Redskins game on the way back from Pennsylvania - froze my butt off in the stupid mist, too (although my six layers of clothing did keep me moderately warm...)

Anyways... Canes lost Cam Ward to a groin injury in that Ducks game - he'll be out for the next three games and Justin Peters will be called up to back up Leighton.

Good news on the injury front (unexpected news as well) is that Justin Williams of all people will more than likely be back on the ice sometime this week. And this is after busting his Achilles' tendon in training camp. ("Busting" being the proper medical term in cases such as these.) Good news - we could definitely use him out on the ice. I just hope he doesn't get injured from coming back too fast.

Next game is on Thursday against Pittsburgh.

Chad LaRose stats (Monday): 1 goal
(Wednesday): 1 goal
On the season: 7 goals, 2 assists

Thanksgiving annoys me

So... Canes are playing tonight, which I didn't know until about an hour ago, and Tim Gleason is apparently out with an injury sustained in the Canes 5-2 loss to Nashville. Which is another game that I didn't see because it wasn't on TV.

Apparently the Canes went down 4-0 after the first two periods, and only managed two goals of that particular comeback before Shea Weber made it 5-2. In other words, it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't see that game.

Anyways, I'll be missing a string of games, taking my yearly Thanksgiving trip to Pennsylvania. You would think I would have lucked out, considering the Canes are playing the Flyers both of the games I'll miss, so maybe I would be able to pick up the Flyers feed? Haha. My aunt only gets two public access channels. I can't even be saved from family by football! (Although, considering the Thanksgiving match up of Tennessee-Detroit, I don't think I'm missing much...)

So, yeah. So long until Monday, I guess...

Chad LaRose stats: 1 goal
On the season: 5 goals, 2 assists

Tidbits from around the league

There's a bunch of interesting things going on in the Canes/NHL world.

In order of my open Firefox tabs:

- Matt Murley has reportedly bolted to the Russian KHL, even after signing a two-way deal with the Canes in September.

- In a meld of some of my favorite things, Regan Smith, a NASCAR driver, will be wearing a Canes-themed helmet for this week's race in Charlotte. He will then donate the helmet to the Canes' charity, the Kids 'N Community Foundation, for a charity auction.

- Apparently Rutherford is kind of unhappy with the injury situation, instructing Pete Friesen to make changes to the offseason training regimen. Sounds like a good call to me - I'm sick of seeing players in the press box and not on the bench.

- Blackhawk's forward Ben Eager has been suspended three games for swinging his stick (while he was on the bench) at Sean Avery (who was on the ice).

And, yes, I would have loved to see that. Not that I'm advocating purposefully trying to injure a player... but who wouldn't like to see Avery get pwned?

- Also in news that makes me giggle a little at someone's expense: The Flyers lost their final game at the Spectrum - to their own minor league team.

And, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'll leave you with the happy thought that, no matter how bad things have gone for the Canes, at least we haven't lost to our own farm team.

Canes earn first preseason win

Canes went 1-1 against the Flyers this weekend.

They lost the first game 4-2, the Flyers being all emotional and whatnot because this was their last game at the Spectrum before its demolition, and they had all kinds of ceremonies and stuff.

Then there was today's game, which the Canes won 1-0. It was a lot more exciting than the score makes it seem - the Canes missing on tons of chances with an open or semi-open net. The Canes played a heckuva lot better than they did in the only other time I've seen them play this preseason (that being Wednesday). Staal, Cullen and Walker were some of the regulars in this game - Cullen didn't play the last two periods because he was hit hard and they were holding him out for "precautionary reasons". Samsonov was the one who scored the goal for the Canes.

I took my new digital camera to the game, and came back with 31 pictures. Most of them were blurry or pictures of the jumbotron so I could judge when in the game I took the pictures.

Anyways, this is the best picture of a string showing Scott Walker's fight with Nate Guenin.

And this is a random picture of Brandon Sutter. I have no idea when or why I took this (I think I was aiming at something else), but it's the best one of the bunch.
I debated taking a picture of the blood across the ice when Josef Melichar was struck by a high stick, but I didn't want to seem overly morbid.

And, the Canes have sent some people back down to juniors/Albany after this game. I'm bummed that Casey Borer didn't make it, and also Jakub Petruzalek, just because I think his name is completely awesome to say out loud a few times (try it!).

Making it through this round of cuts is Bryan Rodney, a defensemen who played really really well in today's game.

Next preseason game is Thursday at Nashville.

Whatever.

*sigh* I just haven't wanted to write anything on here. I think I'm a little hockey-depressed right now...

But, I feel the only way to get over this feeling of abject loss is to power through it, so here goes:

First off - Rutherford's thinly veiled anti-Laviolette comments

My advice to you, Jim (because I know my blog is one of your number one reads...), is to power through the loss and DON'T FIRE LAVIOLETTE! Laviolette is awesome! I even wrote a post about his complete awesomeness here. (If you can call that coherent writing...)

Second - Offseason signings

Jeez... who's even up for free agency this year? Ah well, sign Samsonov, he wants to stay.

Third - The 2008 playoffs

Despite what I think should have happened, the NHL playoffs have continued to go on without the Canes present. No predictions for this season, I've decided (it's sort of too late for that, y'know?). And, who am I rooting for? Whoever is playing the C[r]apitals. Go Flyers! (Sorry, no cool graphics or Southeast Division loyalty this year...

Fourth - ...?

Yeah, no fourth. I guess three's the charm in this post.

Canes win!

Canes won in a shootout thriller against the Flyers 6-5.

The best part about this win? That it's a win!

The lamest part about this win? That the Canes had the lead 3 times, and let the Flyers tie it up 3 times.
And that Joffrey Lupul scored a hat trick.
And the Canes had several chances to retake/extend the lead on the powerplay but failed miserably (most notably in the overtime period). Canes powerplay ended up being 0-for-7.

But, I think all that was made up by the sheer awesomeness of Brind'Amour's winning shot in the shootout. The puck looked like the goalie Biron stopped it, but it went up in the air, landed on Biron's back and scooted into the net!

Next game is against Toronto. Hopefully that game can be as exciting as the last two! (And a win. Wins are good.)

Erik Cole stats: 2 assists
On the season: 7 goals, 14 assists

Canes lose to Flyers again

It just occurred to me that I did not post a game recap for the Flyers game.

Canes lost 3-1.

There. Now I'm done.



Just kidding.

Canes didn't play too well, allowing Philly out to a 3-0 lead before Cory Stillman's PP goal. Cam Ward did not look good - he was sliding all over the ice, waaaay out of the crease numerous times.

Hopefully the Canes can pull it together tonight against the C[r]apitals.

In complete randomness, here's my blog's "readability".


I feel smart!

Good news!

Good news for tomorrow's game against Philly!

Scott Walker, out with a torso injury since the October 19th Penguins game (a long time ago!), has been activated off of IR and will more than likely play! Great news that he'll be back in the lineup soon - the Canes have certainly missed his toughness that he adds to the game. (Especially good against Philly - it seems every week that another Flyer player is getting suspended for a cheap hit...)

Tomorrow is also Rod Brind'Amour figurine night! In the words of my mom: "Will it have the same beat-up nose as him?"