Hurricanes vs. Wild (03.06.08)

In a refreshing change of pace, the Carolina Hurricanes got off to a great start and were able to hang on for a 3-2 win in an interconference contest with the Minnesota Wild at the RBC Center.

There were several nice chances for the 'Canes early, and they took the initiative to dominate the play right out of the gate. It took more than twelve minutes of work, but Matt Cullen finally got his team a first-period lead when he redirected a lively Joe Corvo shot into the twine. Cullen added an assist later, and Corvo had one more of his own as well; both men had three points over two games in the last 24 hours.

Cullen was initially given credit for the final goal of the game, scored 9:41 into the second frame as well. After several minutes of deliberation, however, the scorekeeper noticed that it was Erik Cole who had touched it last on the way in. Cole was screening goalie Josh Harding, and attempted to hurdle the Cullen shot, when it glanced off his left boot and found its home in the net.

Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was back in the lineup tonight for the first time in about a month, and wasn't exactly eased gently back into his role. He was replacing Bret Hedican, who is dealing with the death of a close friend, and he had his stamina tested in logging over twenty minutes of play in his return appearance. Ray Whitney was also held out of the lineup, still struggling with the foot injury. The team lost a defenseman during the game as well, when enforcer Wade Brookbank took a tough hit to the lower body. He did not return to the game, but reports indicate that he is not seriously injured.

The need for a guy like Brookbank become evident, fittingly enough, a very short time after he left the ice. About six minutes into the third period, Minnesota winger Aaron Voros made a poor decision and drove Eric Staal into the side boards head-first. Erik Cole -- a man who knows a thing or two about being boarded himself -- quickly came to the defense of his friend and teammate. Cole took a run at Voros and every player on the ice was involved in the ensuing scuffle. There were a number of penalties levied, but Cole took the brunt of it, racking up nineteen minutes of time out. He was furious as he skated to the tunnel, betraying his stick on the innocent ledge on his way off the ice.

It is certainly worth noting that the Wild were tame, and even shy until Brookbank was injured. With him out of the way, they apparently felt they had permission to take some liberties with our best player. Brookbank, whether he is on the ice or lurking on the bench, makes his team better merely by the threat of his physicality.

In the minutes to follow, the Wild captured the advantage, despite having to kill off two minutes of 4-on-3 and another minute of conventional 5-on-4 power play. The 'Canes were reeling a bit, and the ice began to tilt down towards Cam Ward's end. It looked as if the emboldened Wild were pressing towards an equalizing goal, but Cam would not allow them to put one past him during the last 39 minutes, including some immense saves in the last fourteen minutes after the scrum.

Ward was particularly sharp tonight, else the Wild may well have stolen the win. There certainly was no shortage of chances for the visiting team, especially on the man advantage. Ward, however, was the best penalty killer on the ice, and seemed to come up with the save when his team was down and out time after time. On several occasions, the defense would be broken down, and Ward would be called upon to come up big. And, in fine fashion, he came through for his team over and over again. He used his stick judiciously to poke away a few good chances, and absorbed several dangerous shots with traffic on the doorstep. Though he only faced 28 shots, the bulk of them were quality chances requiring a quality save.

Carolina was more undisciplined tonight than in recent games, earning 48 minutes of penalties, and allowing the Wild six chances on the power play. The penalty kill was strong, especially in the third period, and most notably in killing the one final chance with under five minutes remaining. It was special teams that decided this game, as the home team killed each Minnesota advantage, while capitalizing on two out of their own five man-up opportunities. This is a good sign for the Hurricanes, who have now scored a power play goal in each of their last four games.

In eventuality, it was Erik Cole who gets credit for the game winner, though he didn't get the opportunity to see the game to its finish. The Hurricanes grow their divisional lead to 5 points over the idle Capitals. The 'Canes host the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night at 7:00. The game will be televised on FSN South.

My 3 stars: M. Cullen, E. Cole, J. Corvo

Hurricanes @ Thrashers (03.05.08)

The Carolina Hurricanes are playing their most consistent stretch of hockey in nearly two years. Tonight, they showed no signs of letting up in their first game on the road in sixteen days, as they knocked off the desperate Atlanta Thrashers by a 6-3 count. The homestanding goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, was chased out of the game during a commercial break midway through the second period, having yielded four goals on 22 shots. In all actuality, his play wasn't particularly bad, but the support in front of him was certainly lacking.

The Thrashers' D-men were sluggish and ill-checking, and had a great deal of difficulty slowing down the 'Canes offense, which has been ticking like a Swiss watch of late. The good guys outshot Atlanta 14-3 in the first period -- and 37-24 in total -- despite once again giving up the first goal of the game, to forward Chris Thorburn. This marked the sixth game consecutively where they have allowed the opponent to get on the scoreboard first.

Carolina responded by changing the tempo of the game, particularly on the offensive end, and scored the next four goals of the match. Scott Walker was the first scorer, and he added the only assist on the next goal, from his linemate Ryan Bayda. On that assisting play, Walker outhustled two Thrashers defensemen while all alone on a forecheck. His initial pass was blocked, but he cut in between four statuesque Atlanta players and put a pass on the tape of Bayda, whose one-timer was true. Joe Corvo lit the lamp next, with his third goal as a Hurricane coming on a backdoor feed from Sergei Samsonov early in the 2nd period on the man advantage. The nifty play prompted a "That's hockey, baby!" exclamation from commentator John Forslund. Eric Cole was the fourth man to add to the 'Canes total, on a hard slapshot from the far slot. His was the proverbial last straw, forcing Lehtonen to skate woefully to the bench and swap his mask for a baseball cap.

Johan Hedberg, the man who came in off the pine to spell Lehtonen, was solid in goal for his team, and allowed them a chance to climb back into the contest. The lone goal he allowed came on a controversial play, and an infuriating one for Thrashers' coach Don Waddell. The play happened early in the third period, on the heels of a Hurricanes power play. The puck was controlled near the crease by the Atlanta defense, and Garnet Exelby tucked it under Hedberg's big mitt, ready to accept a defensive-zone faceoff. For some inexplicable reason, the two referees refused to blow the whistle, even as the Hurricanes forwards began to jab at the glove of the Moose. After what seemed like an eternity, the puck finally squirted out of the webbing, and it led to a capitalizing goal by Eric Staal. Coach Waddell erupted on the bench, and was flirting with an early exit before he regained his composure. Even this Hurricanes fan can't imagine what the officials were thinking as they neglected to blow the whistle on an obvious frozen puck. Staal, meanwhile, took over the game in the final period, adding his 32nd and 33rd goals of the year, -- the latter coming with an empty net -- capping off another 3-point night for the young sensation.

Carolina defenseman Frantisek Kaberle has been a somewhat inconsistent performer for the majority of the year, though not as awful as some of the fans tell him he has been. Tonight, his effort was possibly the best of anyone on the ice. He factored in the first 'Canes goal, the equalizer, with a heady play at the point. After pinching in to keep a puck on the cycle, he made a nifty direction change and flicked a wrist shot in through traffic. Scott Walker poked at it on the way through, and the direction change was enough to allow it to pass over the shoulder of Lehtonen in goal. Kaberle had two more assists on the night, and was not on the ice for any of the Atlanta markers, making him +3 for the evening.

The thing that jumped out at me watching this game was, once again the play of the Walker/Aucoin/Bayda line. Since the injury to the captain, this line has been the most consistent-performing line, and are demonstrating chemistry that Marie Curie would be envious of. They generate a scoring chance nearly every time they hop over the boards together, and their offensive cycling is an absolute joy to watch. They chase down pucks, they assert themselves physically, they communicate constantly, and they seem to have a sixth sense for knowing each others' position on the ice at all times. If they can continue the level of play we have become accustomed to, they will prove invaluable during the playoffs.

Another matter of note is the 'Canes ability to play a more disciplined game than their opponents over the past few weeks. Tonight, they yielded just two Thrasher power plays, while earning seven of their own. In the past six games, Carolina has allowed just fifteen power plays, a crucial stat for a team that struggles so mightily on the penalty kill, worst in the league in fact.

The Thrashers remain nine points removed from a playoff spot, and without securing this divisional home win, their fate may well be sealed already. The Hurricanes retain their three point divisional lead over the Washington Capitals, who won their game tonight as well, and still hold one game in hand. Carolina will travel home this evening to join the Minnesota Wild for a showdown in the RBC Center tomorrow night at 7:00. The game will be broadcast on FSN South.

My 3 stars: S. Walker, F. Kaberle, E. Staal

Hurricanes vs. Lightning (03.01.08)

The names of what is now Hurricanes history still ring in our ears. Cory Stillman. Mike Commodore. Most recently, Andrew Ladd. Carolina General Manager Jim Rutherford did not let the trade deadline pass quietly, and has taken a big gamble in giving up three key players to try to fortify the team for the playoff stretch. The youngest, Ladd, was playing the best hockey of his short career in the weeks leading up to his departure. Having the organization move these guys, in particular, initially bewildered and downright annoyed the Caniac fan base. Tonight, it is evident why Mr. Rutherford doesn't allow the fans to make roster decisions. In a divisional battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning, each of the four replacement Hurricanes factored in the scoring and contributed on both ends of the ice in a dominant 5-1 victory at the RBC Center.

Sergei Samsonov was written off by his old team, the Chicago Blackhawks, and by the rest of the league. His career had peaked, and his play had seemingly tapered off. In what is now looking like the best pickup of the NHL season, he was snagged off re-entry waivers by J.R. on January 8th. At the time, he was merely a warm body filling an injury void in the third or fourth line. Gelling instantly with the 'Canes, it is apparent now that Samsonov is in the midst of a second coming; his previously-stagnant career showing new signs of life with his new mates. Shut out in the first period, he racked up an assist and a goal in the second, and added another goal in the third to complete a three-point night. The effort brings his totals up to eleven goals, two of them game-winners, and ten assists, all in just 24 games with the team. Plus-minus in 23 games with the Blackhawks: -7. Plus-minus in 24 games with the Hurricanes: +10. You could say he's producing.

Joe Corvo has also shown his ability to join seamlessly with his new teammates. Working the point on the power play, the Hurricanes man-advantage offense has improved almost immeasurably since his addition on February 11th. Now, with Matt Cullen recently back in the lineup, the two have been a formidable tandem at the top of the power play. In his 10th game with the Hurricanes, Corvo finally rang the bell for the first time on a laser slapshot from above the circles just as a Lightning penalty expired early in the second period. The shot was labeled for the top corner, blocker side, and had eyes through the traffic to beat goalie Mike Smith, a newly-acquired Lightning in his own right.

“I had been using an 85-100 flex and I switched to 110 today to feel a little more solid, get a little bit more snap on it,” said Corvo. “That shot was pretty hard.”

That was a soft way to put it. In the third period, Corvo fired another blast from the point that knocked Smith backwards a step and sent his stick flying from his hands. He's no Al MacInnis, but I would guess he has the hardest shot on the team. Corvo tallied a team-high 22 minutes of ice time and was a +2 on the night.

Patrick Eaves, acquired from Ottawa alongside Corvo, also put his name on the score sheet in the third period, recording an assist on the second Samsonov goal. The helper was Eaves' second in just three games as a Hurricane, and he's still seeing very limited ice time as he continues to heal from the pre-trade injury.

And then there's Tuomo Ruutu, Mr. Massive Facial Injury himself. Of all the roster moves made by J.R. in the past weeks, none was more controversial than giving up Andrew Ladd, once thought to be the future of the team. Ruutu, howver, is doing his very best to make the fans forget all about Ladd. He assisted on the 'Canes first goal of the game by Eric Staal, created traffic in front of the net for one of Samsonov's, and not to be outdone by Corvo, also tallied his own first goal as a Hurricane. Ruutu was thought to be a strong third line-caliber player, but has been forced to jump into the top line with the injury-afflicted Hurricanes. Tonight, Ray Whitney was out of the lineup fighting an infection, and Ruutu managed a +3 skating with Eric Staal and Erik Cole.

Those four players are showing the ownership and the fan base that they belong here on this team, and are giving their full effort night-in and night-out thus far. Coach Peter Laviolette commented on them following the victory: "We needed contributions at a time when injuries were happening. You get long-term injuries where you know guys are going to be out for three months, four months, possibly a season. You need other people to step up and that's what's really happened here. Guys have committed to it, and they've played some good hockey."

Despite those show-stealing new guys taking all the credit, Eric Staal had himself a big game as well. In the absence of Captain Rod, Staal is the guy that has taken the lead on this team. Tonight, he got the equalizer in the first, just 3:29 after his team went down by one. He also helped out the new guys, getting an assist on both Corvo and Ruutu's first goals with the team. The Corvo assist was a bit generous -- he hadn't touched the puck in a minute, it seemed like -- but he made a flawless backhand pass to set up Ruutu's marker on a two-on-one breakout late in the contest.

For the Hurricanes, it was almost a sixty-minute effort, although they did come out of the gate a little on the flat side in the first period. Cam Ward allowed a bit of a softy seven minutes into the contest, as the defense in particular looked a little sluggish early. From then on, though, it was quite a one-sided affair in the other direction. Tampa Bay showed all kinds of fatigue, both mental and physical after playing their second game in as many nights, and being without a chance at postseason play with a month left in a disappointing season that they can't wait to get out of. They put eighteen shots on Cam Ward in the first two periods, but managed only a paltry four in the third. They committed five lazy impeding penalties, seven in total during the course of the match. Superstars Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier were virtual no-shows, as they have been struggling for their team in the last eight or ten games.

Tim Gleason returned after his one-game absence fighting blurry vision after the boarding incident with Devil's Michael Rupp. He seemed to show no lingering ill effects, and logged nearly nineteen minutes of play, a pair of hits, a blocked shot, and was a +2 on the evening. When asked how he was feeling today after being cleared to play, he responded, "110 percent." Gleason's recent play puts him at or very near the top of the list as the team's best defenseman, and his absence in the Rangers game was a big detriment. His defensive partner, Bret Hedican also had a very solid game, two nights after having one of his worst of the season against those same Rangers.

The Hurricanes increase their point total to 73 and are in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. They lead their division by five points over the Washington Capitals, who lost to the middling Toronto Maple Leafs tonight as well. The Caps have two games in hand over the 'Canes, but Carolina is comfortably in control of their own fate in the playoff race. They leave the friendly confines of the RBC Center for the first time since February 18th on Wednesday night, when they travel to Atlanta for a 7:00 date with the Thrashers. The game will be televised locally on FSN South.

My 3 stars: S. Samsonov, E. Staal, T. Ruutu