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
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
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