By Brian LeBlanc
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When the schedule was announced, this game didn't seem like it would be all that special. Then the unthinkable happened: the two teams, both expected to be in the upper echelon of the NHL's Eastern Conference standings, instead sank to the bottom like a rock.
And then, in the span of two weeks, one of the teams hired the other's former coach, and picked up a goalie from the other team on waivers, and suddenly this became one of the more hyped games of the year.
Peter Laviolette makes his return to the RBC Center for the first time since he was fired last December, and Michael Leighton will get the start for the Flyers in their second and final visit to Raleigh this year, eleven days after being claimed on waivers by the Flyers who were in dire straits following an injury to starter Ray Emery. It's a weird circumstance for both Leighton and his former mates, but at least the Canes are familiar with the thinking of the opposing coaching staff and they might have some inside information on the opposing goaltender.
Of course, the opposing goaltender knows a thing or two about the home team too, so who knows? The mind games will be entertaining, at least.
Here goes part one of the Laviolette/Leighton Reunion Tour...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Game 37: Canadiens 5, Hurricanes 1
By Brian LeBlanc
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Two days after a frustrating loss to the New York Rangers, the Canes return to the ice to face the Montreal Canadiens. The last time these two teams met, just over a month ago in Montreal, the Canes blew a late lead and lost to the Habs in a shootout. The confidence in the home locker room is a little higher than it was at that point, though, and the Canes will look to avoid a second loss to their playoff rivals.
When these two teams last met, the Canes were without the services of both Cam Ward and Eric Staal; both are back tonight, as is Niclas Wallin, who returns after missing eight games with "concussion-like" symptoms. With the exception of Joe Corvo, who is out for an extended period, the Canes' blue line is the healthiest it's been in quite a while, and they'll look to take advantage of a banged-up Habs team that's going through a stretch similar to the one the Canes went through in late October and early November. Marc-Andre Bergeron, who scored the last two goals when the Habs played in Atlanta on Monday, injured himself on the winning goal and, if he does play, will be playing through what looked like a painful injury. Combine that with injuries to Roman Hamrlik and Brian Gionta, neither of whom are locks to play tonight, and the Habs are scrambling to field a full roster.
Will the Canes give the home fans an early Christmas present? We're about to find out...
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Two days after a frustrating loss to the New York Rangers, the Canes return to the ice to face the Montreal Canadiens. The last time these two teams met, just over a month ago in Montreal, the Canes blew a late lead and lost to the Habs in a shootout. The confidence in the home locker room is a little higher than it was at that point, though, and the Canes will look to avoid a second loss to their playoff rivals.
When these two teams last met, the Canes were without the services of both Cam Ward and Eric Staal; both are back tonight, as is Niclas Wallin, who returns after missing eight games with "concussion-like" symptoms. With the exception of Joe Corvo, who is out for an extended period, the Canes' blue line is the healthiest it's been in quite a while, and they'll look to take advantage of a banged-up Habs team that's going through a stretch similar to the one the Canes went through in late October and early November. Marc-Andre Bergeron, who scored the last two goals when the Habs played in Atlanta on Monday, injured himself on the winning goal and, if he does play, will be playing through what looked like a painful injury. Combine that with injuries to Roman Hamrlik and Brian Gionta, neither of whom are locks to play tonight, and the Habs are scrambling to field a full roster.
Will the Canes give the home fans an early Christmas present? We're about to find out...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Game 36: Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1
By Brian LeBlanc
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Heading into tonight's game, the Canes sport a season-high three game winning streak after splitting a home-and-home series with the Florida Panthers, taking the back half at the RBC Center Saturday night by a 3-2 score. Tonight, the New York Rangers come to town for the first time this year, featuring all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist, league-leading goal scorer Marian Gaborik, and...well, not much else.
The Rangers find themselves out of the playoffs despite an insane run for Lundqvist over the past few weeks, and coach John Tortorella (an incendiary type on a good day) has started to bench players who you normally wouldn't expect to be in the press box. Ales Kotalik is back in the lineup, but now in the crosshairs of Tortorella's ire is defenseman Wade Redden, who is down to his last chance to stay in the NHL and avoid being sent to the minors.
Can the Canes take advantage of a team in disarray? We'll find out soon enough...
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Heading into tonight's game, the Canes sport a season-high three game winning streak after splitting a home-and-home series with the Florida Panthers, taking the back half at the RBC Center Saturday night by a 3-2 score. Tonight, the New York Rangers come to town for the first time this year, featuring all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist, league-leading goal scorer Marian Gaborik, and...well, not much else.
The Rangers find themselves out of the playoffs despite an insane run for Lundqvist over the past few weeks, and coach John Tortorella (an incendiary type on a good day) has started to bench players who you normally wouldn't expect to be in the press box. Ales Kotalik is back in the lineup, but now in the crosshairs of Tortorella's ire is defenseman Wade Redden, who is down to his last chance to stay in the NHL and avoid being sent to the minors.
Can the Canes take advantage of a team in disarray? We'll find out soon enough...
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Game 35: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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After a game in Sunrise, Florida last night, the Canes and Panthers made the short flight up I-95 to Raleigh as they prepared to exchange pleasantries again on back-to-back nights. The Canes did their best to give the Panthers a nice sending-off gift, allowing six unanswered goals en route to a 6-3 defeat, the Canes' twentieth regulation loss of the season. Cam Ward was pulled but he will start tonight's game, as newly-minted official backup Manny Legace (who inherited the job after Michael Leighton was claimed on waivers by Philadelphia) will be riding the pine tonight. Niclas Wallin and Tim Gleason will miss another game, meaning the Canes will again lean heavily on the trio of Brett Carson, Bryan Rodney and Jay Harrison to pick up the ice-time slack.
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After a game in Sunrise, Florida last night, the Canes and Panthers made the short flight up I-95 to Raleigh as they prepared to exchange pleasantries again on back-to-back nights. The Canes did their best to give the Panthers a nice sending-off gift, allowing six unanswered goals en route to a 6-3 defeat, the Canes' twentieth regulation loss of the season. Cam Ward was pulled but he will start tonight's game, as newly-minted official backup Manny Legace (who inherited the job after Michael Leighton was claimed on waivers by Philadelphia) will be riding the pine tonight. Niclas Wallin and Tim Gleason will miss another game, meaning the Canes will again lean heavily on the trio of Brett Carson, Bryan Rodney and Jay Harrison to pick up the ice-time slack.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Game 28: Hurricanes 5, Canucks 3
By Brian LeBlanc
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Jim Rutherford promised changes during the Canes' four-day down time, but the biggest change was one he had little to do with. Longtime Canes assistant coach Kevin McCarthy has left the organization to take a similar position with the Philadelphia Flyers, who hired former Carolina coach Peter Laviolette yesterday. McCarthy was the Canes' eye in the sky, with a tie-in to an earpiece Ron Francis wore on the bench, and now the Canes will have only goaltending coach Tom Barrasso in the press box. (We'll have a tribute to McCarthy later in the week here on PD.)
Today, the Canes welcome in the Vancouver Canucks, who have been slightly busier than the home team. Today is the Canucks' third game in four days, after wins over New Jersey and Philadelphia earlier this week. You probably know about the Canucks' pair of Swedish twins, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and while Henrik leads the team in scoring his brother has been hampered by injuries and will play only his eleventh game of the season today. The Canucks are a scrappy, pesky bunch that try to wear teams out with skating and puck possession, and the Canes will have their hands full today trying to contain the Canucks' attack.
Today was originally targeted to be Cam Ward's return, but he will be out for a couple more days as he tries to return from the leg laceration he suffered about a month ago. Jussi Jokinen will not play for the Hurricanes today after suffering an undisclosed injury earlier in the week in practice, and Bryan Rodney returns to Raleigh (this time, he can probably get an apartment) to fill in for the injured Joe Corvo, whose own leg laceration will keep him out at least two months. The Canucks will play Andrew Raycroft in goal today after captain Roberto Luongo played the back-to-back games earlier this week.
We'll see if the Canes can snap their five-game losing streak today in the only game of the year against the Cancuks...
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Jim Rutherford promised changes during the Canes' four-day down time, but the biggest change was one he had little to do with. Longtime Canes assistant coach Kevin McCarthy has left the organization to take a similar position with the Philadelphia Flyers, who hired former Carolina coach Peter Laviolette yesterday. McCarthy was the Canes' eye in the sky, with a tie-in to an earpiece Ron Francis wore on the bench, and now the Canes will have only goaltending coach Tom Barrasso in the press box. (We'll have a tribute to McCarthy later in the week here on PD.)
Today, the Canes welcome in the Vancouver Canucks, who have been slightly busier than the home team. Today is the Canucks' third game in four days, after wins over New Jersey and Philadelphia earlier this week. You probably know about the Canucks' pair of Swedish twins, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and while Henrik leads the team in scoring his brother has been hampered by injuries and will play only his eleventh game of the season today. The Canucks are a scrappy, pesky bunch that try to wear teams out with skating and puck possession, and the Canes will have their hands full today trying to contain the Canucks' attack.
Today was originally targeted to be Cam Ward's return, but he will be out for a couple more days as he tries to return from the leg laceration he suffered about a month ago. Jussi Jokinen will not play for the Hurricanes today after suffering an undisclosed injury earlier in the week in practice, and Bryan Rodney returns to Raleigh (this time, he can probably get an apartment) to fill in for the injured Joe Corvo, whose own leg laceration will keep him out at least two months. The Canucks will play Andrew Raycroft in goal today after captain Roberto Luongo played the back-to-back games earlier this week.
We'll see if the Canes can snap their five-game losing streak today in the only game of the year against the Cancuks...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Gut reaction: Canes trade Paradis to Toronto for Jiri Tlusty
By Brian LeBlanc
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I'll be honest: my first reaction on seeing this deal was probably like many of yours. I scratched my head and tried to wrap my mind around the fact that the Canes traded away the rights to a player they just drafted five months ago for an AHL player who's had a cup of coffee in the NHL.
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I'll be honest: my first reaction on seeing this deal was probably like many of yours. I scratched my head and tried to wrap my mind around the fact that the Canes traded away the rights to a player they just drafted five months ago for an AHL player who's had a cup of coffee in the NHL.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Game 27: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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This has to be the last thing the Hurricanes wanted to see. Fresh off blowing leads on consecutive nights by giving up a total of ten goals in two third periods, in march the Washington Capitals, who have only accomplished a second-place position in the Eastern Conference and top spot in the Southeast Division this season. To make it more stark, the Caps have as many wins (15) as the Canes have points.
Yikes.
If nothing else, expectations are pretty low around the RBC Center tonight. With a four-day layoff upcoming, the Canes feel the sword of upper management dangling over their head, and it's possible the team could look significantly different by Saturday when they take the ice again. There's no telling what might happen tomorrow and beyond, but the Canes will have to bring their A-game tonight to have a chance against a team that has legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations. And that assumes a 60-minute A-game, which is no guarantee after what we've seen the last two games.
Joni Pitkanen returns to the lineup tonight. We'll see if that makes a difference, as the Canes folded like a house of cards after he left the ice against Atlanta on Friday. Michael Leighton will get the start, and Cam Ward is still targeting a Saturday return after his leg laceration.
Here we go...
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This has to be the last thing the Hurricanes wanted to see. Fresh off blowing leads on consecutive nights by giving up a total of ten goals in two third periods, in march the Washington Capitals, who have only accomplished a second-place position in the Eastern Conference and top spot in the Southeast Division this season. To make it more stark, the Caps have as many wins (15) as the Canes have points.
Yikes.
If nothing else, expectations are pretty low around the RBC Center tonight. With a four-day layoff upcoming, the Canes feel the sword of upper management dangling over their head, and it's possible the team could look significantly different by Saturday when they take the ice again. There's no telling what might happen tomorrow and beyond, but the Canes will have to bring their A-game tonight to have a chance against a team that has legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations. And that assumes a 60-minute A-game, which is no guarantee after what we've seen the last two games.
Joni Pitkanen returns to the lineup tonight. We'll see if that makes a difference, as the Canes folded like a house of cards after he left the ice against Atlanta on Friday. Michael Leighton will get the start, and Cam Ward is still targeting a Saturday return after his leg laceration.
Here we go...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Questions with no good answers
By Brian LeBlanc
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Far be it for me to sit here pontificating on what the Hurricanes should do, now that they sit at 5-15-5 with over a quarter of the season gone, back in last place overall in the NHL, and the day after the team blew a 4-1 lead with 15 minutes to go to lose 6-4 to the Atlanta Thrashers.
That's what Jim Rutherford gets paid the big money to decide. Frankly, I like my scenario of sitting in my living room watching college football considerably better.
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Far be it for me to sit here pontificating on what the Hurricanes should do, now that they sit at 5-15-5 with over a quarter of the season gone, back in last place overall in the NHL, and the day after the team blew a 4-1 lead with 15 minutes to go to lose 6-4 to the Atlanta Thrashers.
That's what Jim Rutherford gets paid the big money to decide. Frankly, I like my scenario of sitting in my living room watching college football considerably better.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Game 25: Thrashers 6, Hurricanes 4
By Brian LeBlanc
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Hope you're good and stuffed from Thanksgiving, because the Hurricanes will do their best to avoid serving up a second turkey tonight.
(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)
The Canes return home tonight after a two-game trip to Dallas and Anaheim netted them zero points, and tonight they face the Atlanta Thrashers for the first time this season before heading to Buffalo for a game tomorrow. The Thrashers aren't a team to be taken lightly, as they sit second in the Southeast Division with 25 points despite playing over two weeks without captain and resident All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk. A couple of reclamation projects in Rich Peverley (1st) and Maxim Afinogenov (3rd in team scoring) have propelled the Thrashers way beyond where anyone thought they'd be a quarter into the season, and the Canes will have their hands full to slow down the Thrashers' attack tonight.
Manny Legace will get the start again for the Canes, though Michael Leighton (groin) has been activated off injured reserve and will back up Legace tonight. Eric Staal will make his first appearance at the RBC Center in almost a month, after missing ten games with an abdominal injury and returning to the lineup Wednesday night in Anaheim. Cam Ward, though, is still out and is targeting a return to next weekend against Vancouver.
Still winless on the road, the Canes will look to benefit from some home cooking tonight, and here we go...
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Hope you're good and stuffed from Thanksgiving, because the Hurricanes will do their best to avoid serving up a second turkey tonight.
(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)
The Canes return home tonight after a two-game trip to Dallas and Anaheim netted them zero points, and tonight they face the Atlanta Thrashers for the first time this season before heading to Buffalo for a game tomorrow. The Thrashers aren't a team to be taken lightly, as they sit second in the Southeast Division with 25 points despite playing over two weeks without captain and resident All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk. A couple of reclamation projects in Rich Peverley (1st) and Maxim Afinogenov (3rd in team scoring) have propelled the Thrashers way beyond where anyone thought they'd be a quarter into the season, and the Canes will have their hands full to slow down the Thrashers' attack tonight.
Manny Legace will get the start again for the Canes, though Michael Leighton (groin) has been activated off injured reserve and will back up Legace tonight. Eric Staal will make his first appearance at the RBC Center in almost a month, after missing ten games with an abdominal injury and returning to the lineup Wednesday night in Anaheim. Cam Ward, though, is still out and is targeting a return to next weekend against Vancouver.
Still winless on the road, the Canes will look to benefit from some home cooking tonight, and here we go...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Game 22: Hurricanes 3, Lightning 1
By Brian LeBlanc
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The Canes have a season-high four game point streak going into tonight's game. That streak has propelled them out of the NHL's standings basement, and they enter tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning looking for their second regulation win of the season. If they want something to build on, Thursday's dramatic last-second win over the Leafs in a shootout gives them plenty of ammunition. The Canes went down 3-0 for the eleventh time this season, but battled back and took two points from a Leafs team that looked to have a regulation win sewn up before Erik Cole tied the game with three seconds left.
The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the RBC Center for the second time this year tonight, and the Canes will yet again be piecing together a lineup. Fortunately for the Canes, they're getting one key cog back tonight, as Joni Pitkanen returns from an upper-body injury and takes the place of Bryan Rodney, who was sent back to Albany, in the lineup. It's still a few more games for Eric Staal, although he is skating and should hopefully be back sometime late in the week.
Here we go...
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The Canes have a season-high four game point streak going into tonight's game. That streak has propelled them out of the NHL's standings basement, and they enter tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning looking for their second regulation win of the season. If they want something to build on, Thursday's dramatic last-second win over the Leafs in a shootout gives them plenty of ammunition. The Canes went down 3-0 for the eleventh time this season, but battled back and took two points from a Leafs team that looked to have a regulation win sewn up before Erik Cole tied the game with three seconds left.
The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the RBC Center for the second time this year tonight, and the Canes will yet again be piecing together a lineup. Fortunately for the Canes, they're getting one key cog back tonight, as Joni Pitkanen returns from an upper-body injury and takes the place of Bryan Rodney, who was sent back to Albany, in the lineup. It's still a few more games for Eric Staal, although he is skating and should hopefully be back sometime late in the week.
Here we go...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Game 21: Hurricanes 6, Maple Leafs 5 (SO)
By Brian LeBlanc
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Two weeks ago Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs came to town tied with the Hurricanes for last place in the NHL, and the loser of the game was guaranteed to wake up the next morning in 30th place in the league standings.
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town tied with the Hurricanes for last place in the NHL, and the loser of the game is guaranteed to wake up the next morning in 30th place in the league standings.
It's nice when life gives you a do-over, isn't it?
The Hurricanes return home from a one-game road trip Tuesday to Montreal to face a Leafs squad that was busy losing to the Ottawa Senators the same night. Neither team has played since, and the Canes enter tonight's game still without some key parts of the machine. Eric Staal, Cam Ward, Scott Walker and Joni Pitkanen remain on the shelf, and now Michael Leighton (groin) can be added to the roll call of the injured after leaving Tuesday's game in the second period. Manny Legace will start tonight, to be backed up by Justin Peters, he of zero career NHL games.
In other words, no one's sure what to expect tonight, so we'll just enjoy it while we can...at this point, you have to find amusement in mundane things, don't you?
Here we go...
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Two weeks ago Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs came to town tied with the Hurricanes for last place in the NHL, and the loser of the game was guaranteed to wake up the next morning in 30th place in the league standings.
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town tied with the Hurricanes for last place in the NHL, and the loser of the game is guaranteed to wake up the next morning in 30th place in the league standings.
It's nice when life gives you a do-over, isn't it?
The Hurricanes return home from a one-game road trip Tuesday to Montreal to face a Leafs squad that was busy losing to the Ottawa Senators the same night. Neither team has played since, and the Canes enter tonight's game still without some key parts of the machine. Eric Staal, Cam Ward, Scott Walker and Joni Pitkanen remain on the shelf, and now Michael Leighton (groin) can be added to the roll call of the injured after leaving Tuesday's game in the second period. Manny Legace will start tonight, to be backed up by Justin Peters, he of zero career NHL games.
In other words, no one's sure what to expect tonight, so we'll just enjoy it while we can...at this point, you have to find amusement in mundane things, don't you?
Here we go...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Game 19: Hurricanes 5, Wild 4 (SO)
By Brian LeBlanc
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Seems we've done this dance before, doesn't it? The Canes try -- again -- to break their franchise record-tying 14-game winless streak this afternoon as the Minnesota Wild come to town looking to sweep the season series after beating the Canes in St. Paul in overtime on October 24. One more loss and the Canes will set some history they'd rather not have any part of, as the franchise has never gone 15 games without a win dating to their entry into the NHL in 1979.
By now, you know that Eric Staal (upper body) and Cam Ward (leg laceration) are out, although Staal started skating Friday and will hopefully be back sometime next week. Stephane Yelle missed one game, but returns today as Aaron Ward sits with an undisclosed lower-body injury, probably related to the same 3-on-5 kill that sidelined Yelle on Friday. Other than that, the lineup remains the same, and the Canes will return to a six-defenseman lineup after skating 7 against the Islanders.
Does the streak end today? We'll know soon...
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Seems we've done this dance before, doesn't it? The Canes try -- again -- to break their franchise record-tying 14-game winless streak this afternoon as the Minnesota Wild come to town looking to sweep the season series after beating the Canes in St. Paul in overtime on October 24. One more loss and the Canes will set some history they'd rather not have any part of, as the franchise has never gone 15 games without a win dating to their entry into the NHL in 1979.
By now, you know that Eric Staal (upper body) and Cam Ward (leg laceration) are out, although Staal started skating Friday and will hopefully be back sometime next week. Stephane Yelle missed one game, but returns today as Aaron Ward sits with an undisclosed lower-body injury, probably related to the same 3-on-5 kill that sidelined Yelle on Friday. Other than that, the lineup remains the same, and the Canes will return to a six-defenseman lineup after skating 7 against the Islanders.
Does the streak end today? We'll know soon...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Game 18: Islanders 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)
By Brian LeBlanc
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We'll see history made at the RBC Center tonight. Either the Hurricanes will snap their 13-game winless skid tonight as they welcome the New York Islanders to Raleigh, scoring their first win in over a month, or they'll match a team record set in 1992, when the team was in Hartford, by going winless in fourteen straight games.
If the Canes break the streak, they'll do it with a lineup patched together with duct tape and rubber cement. Joni Pitkanen returns tonight from a one-game injury, but the Canes are still without Eric Staal and Cam Ward, and now they'll have to contend with losing Stephane Yelle (lower-body) after he blocked a shot killing a 5-on-3 on Wednesday night. Scott Walker is also questionable tonight, but it seems unlikely that he will play as well, so the lines are all jumbled up and no one's really sure what to expect.
The Islanders, former employers of Miroslav Satan, come to town boasting a 6-6-6 record on Friday the 13th, with the Canes trying to snap a 13-game losing streak. In other words, expect some bizarre things to happen tonight.
Here we go...
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We'll see history made at the RBC Center tonight. Either the Hurricanes will snap their 13-game winless skid tonight as they welcome the New York Islanders to Raleigh, scoring their first win in over a month, or they'll match a team record set in 1992, when the team was in Hartford, by going winless in fourteen straight games.
If the Canes break the streak, they'll do it with a lineup patched together with duct tape and rubber cement. Joni Pitkanen returns tonight from a one-game injury, but the Canes are still without Eric Staal and Cam Ward, and now they'll have to contend with losing Stephane Yelle (lower-body) after he blocked a shot killing a 5-on-3 on Wednesday night. Scott Walker is also questionable tonight, but it seems unlikely that he will play as well, so the lines are all jumbled up and no one's really sure what to expect.
The Islanders, former employers of Miroslav Satan, come to town boasting a 6-6-6 record on Friday the 13th, with the Canes trying to snap a 13-game losing streak. In other words, expect some bizarre things to happen tonight.
Here we go...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Game 17: Kings 5, Hurricanes 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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A nice ovation for new Canes goaltender Manny Legace rang in the start of game one A.C. (after Cam). The Canes look to break their twelve-game losing streak tonight while missing three of their best players...against the fifth-seed in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings. Good luck with that.
Eric Staal, Cam Ward and Joni Pitkanen are all out for various maladies, but the Canes do get Ray Whitney back tonight. On the other side, we'll get our first look at old friend Justin Williams, who returns for the only time to the RBC Center this season after being traded in a roundabout way for Erik Cole at the trade deadline last season. The Kings also feature former Canes draft pick Jack Johnson, traded for Tim Gleason in 2006, as well as the NHL's leading scorer in Anze Kopitar.
We're 60 minutes away from either seeing the streak snapped or seeing it hit a baker's dozen. Which will it be?
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A nice ovation for new Canes goaltender Manny Legace rang in the start of game one A.C. (after Cam). The Canes look to break their twelve-game losing streak tonight while missing three of their best players...against the fifth-seed in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings. Good luck with that.
Eric Staal, Cam Ward and Joni Pitkanen are all out for various maladies, but the Canes do get Ray Whitney back tonight. On the other side, we'll get our first look at old friend Justin Williams, who returns for the only time to the RBC Center this season after being traded in a roundabout way for Erik Cole at the trade deadline last season. The Kings also feature former Canes draft pick Jack Johnson, traded for Tim Gleason in 2006, as well as the NHL's leading scorer in Anze Kopitar.
We're 60 minutes away from either seeing the streak snapped or seeing it hit a baker's dozen. Which will it be?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Game 16: Blue Jackets 3, Hurricanes 2 from Columbus: C. Ward injured
By Brian LeBlanc
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The first Live Blog Road Trip for the 2009-10 season heads to Ohio as the Canes face the Columbus Blue Jackets for the only time this year. Here's hoping that this year's first road trip yields better results than the first one last year did, when the Canes blew a 2-0 lead to the Atlanta Thrashers in the final ten minutes of the game and lost the game 3-2, prompting this immortal question from your humble reporter: "Coach.........what happened?"
No matter the outcome of tonight's game, the Canes will provide a compelling storyline. Either they get off the schneid and finally tally a win for the first time in nearly a month, or they will lose twelve in a row for the first time since they've been in North Carolina. Either way, it's bound to be an eventful night in central Ohio.
The Jackets aren't the pushover that they were a few years ago. They made the playoffs last year for the first time in franchise history, and they currently sit tied atop the Central Division with the Chicago Blackhawks. Former Hurricane Mike Commodore, who has bounced in and out of the lineup with various injuries this season, reenters the lineup tonight to face his former mates. Former Jackets captain Ray Whitney, however, did not make the trip to Columbus and won't be in the lineup tonight. Paul Maurice is expected to skate the same lineup as he put out yesterday against Toronto, and hope for better results. (Don't we all?)
Will the Canes break the streak? We'll know by the end of the night...
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The first Live Blog Road Trip for the 2009-10 season heads to Ohio as the Canes face the Columbus Blue Jackets for the only time this year. Here's hoping that this year's first road trip yields better results than the first one last year did, when the Canes blew a 2-0 lead to the Atlanta Thrashers in the final ten minutes of the game and lost the game 3-2, prompting this immortal question from your humble reporter: "Coach.........what happened?"
No matter the outcome of tonight's game, the Canes will provide a compelling storyline. Either they get off the schneid and finally tally a win for the first time in nearly a month, or they will lose twelve in a row for the first time since they've been in North Carolina. Either way, it's bound to be an eventful night in central Ohio.
The Jackets aren't the pushover that they were a few years ago. They made the playoffs last year for the first time in franchise history, and they currently sit tied atop the Central Division with the Chicago Blackhawks. Former Hurricane Mike Commodore, who has bounced in and out of the lineup with various injuries this season, reenters the lineup tonight to face his former mates. Former Jackets captain Ray Whitney, however, did not make the trip to Columbus and won't be in the lineup tonight. Paul Maurice is expected to skate the same lineup as he put out yesterday against Toronto, and hope for better results. (Don't we all?)
Will the Canes break the streak? We'll know by the end of the night...
Friday, November 6, 2009
Game 15: Maple Leafs 3, Hurricanes 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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The Hurricanes play their most meaningful game of the season tonight. Unfortunately for them, it's meaningful in only one regard: the loser of tonight's game will remain out of the NHL's standings basement.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, and the attendant perpetual circus, come to town tonight for the first of two meetings in under two weeks. The Leafs are the only team separating the Hurricanes from last in the NHL, as both teams enter tonight's action with the princely sum of seven points on the season. The Hurricanes have played one more game, so they currently enter the game in 30th place, but one team is guaranteed to gain two points tonight and, thereby, move into 29th place without the help of tiebreakers.
For the Canes, the beat continues. Zach Boychuk was called up from Albany yesterday, ostensibly because of injuries to Tuomo Ruutu and Ray Whitney. Ruutu is likely to play, but Whitney will be out. That said, if Boychuk plays (and you'd imagine he will, as there might be a full-scale riot in the stands if he doesn't), the Canes will need to scratch someone else. Scuttlebutt among the press corps suggests there might be a surprise in store from Paul Maurice tonight.
Let the battle for the bottom begin...
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The Hurricanes play their most meaningful game of the season tonight. Unfortunately for them, it's meaningful in only one regard: the loser of tonight's game will remain out of the NHL's standings basement.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, and the attendant perpetual circus, come to town tonight for the first of two meetings in under two weeks. The Leafs are the only team separating the Hurricanes from last in the NHL, as both teams enter tonight's action with the princely sum of seven points on the season. The Hurricanes have played one more game, so they currently enter the game in 30th place, but one team is guaranteed to gain two points tonight and, thereby, move into 29th place without the help of tiebreakers.
For the Canes, the beat continues. Zach Boychuk was called up from Albany yesterday, ostensibly because of injuries to Tuomo Ruutu and Ray Whitney. Ruutu is likely to play, but Whitney will be out. That said, if Boychuk plays (and you'd imagine he will, as there might be a full-scale riot in the stands if he doesn't), the Canes will need to scratch someone else. Scuttlebutt among the press corps suggests there might be a surprise in store from Paul Maurice tonight.
Let the battle for the bottom begin...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Game 13: Sharks 5, Hurricanes 1
By Brian LeBlanc
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Pretend for a second that the Hurricanes aren't 2-7-3 on the season. Pretend they haven't lost eight in a row. Pretend they're the team that, on paper, some hack writer projected for 100 points. Do you think there'd be more buzz about one of the best teams in the West coming to town for the only time this season? I sure do.
OK, back to reality. It's going to be a long day in the saddle, more than likely, but we'll be here to cover it all.
It's Ray Whitney Day here, as the Wizard is honored for playing 1,000 games in the NHL with the traditional silver stick (in a game against the team that drafted him, conveniently). The Canes also welcome Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu back to the lineup, and some lineup juggling has ensued. To no one's surprise, the two short straws were drawn by Tim Conboy and Stephane Yelle, who will have seats waiting for them in the press box.
And who's centering the fourth line? Yep...Brandon Sutter. I'll be interested to see how many minutes he plays, given Paul Maurice's track record with fourth line players.
Last year, the Canes went into a similar hopeless-looking situation in San Jose and Michael Leighton pulled out a shootout win that no one saw coming. Can history repeat itself today? We'll find out...
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Pretend for a second that the Hurricanes aren't 2-7-3 on the season. Pretend they haven't lost eight in a row. Pretend they're the team that, on paper, some hack writer projected for 100 points. Do you think there'd be more buzz about one of the best teams in the West coming to town for the only time this season? I sure do.
OK, back to reality. It's going to be a long day in the saddle, more than likely, but we'll be here to cover it all.
It's Ray Whitney Day here, as the Wizard is honored for playing 1,000 games in the NHL with the traditional silver stick (in a game against the team that drafted him, conveniently). The Canes also welcome Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu back to the lineup, and some lineup juggling has ensued. To no one's surprise, the two short straws were drawn by Tim Conboy and Stephane Yelle, who will have seats waiting for them in the press box.
And who's centering the fourth line? Yep...Brandon Sutter. I'll be interested to see how many minutes he plays, given Paul Maurice's track record with fourth line players.
Last year, the Canes went into a similar hopeless-looking situation in San Jose and Michael Leighton pulled out a shootout win that no one saw coming. Can history repeat itself today? We'll find out...
Are we there yet?
By Brian LeBlanc
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Anyone who knows me knows the fervor with which I follow Cleveland sports. It takes a special kind of masochism to cheer for teams that you just know will find a way to rip your heart out at precisely the wrong time. My parents still have yet to recover from seeing John Elway march down the field in the 1987 AFC championship. For older generations, Willie Mays and Rocky Colavito still awaken painful memories. Jose Mesa. Earnest Byner. Art Modell. Michael Jordan-over-Craig Ehlo.
The list goes on...and on...and on...and on.
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Anyone who knows me knows the fervor with which I follow Cleveland sports. It takes a special kind of masochism to cheer for teams that you just know will find a way to rip your heart out at precisely the wrong time. My parents still have yet to recover from seeing John Elway march down the field in the 1987 AFC championship. For older generations, Willie Mays and Rocky Colavito still awaken painful memories. Jose Mesa. Earnest Byner. Art Modell. Michael Jordan-over-Craig Ehlo.
The list goes on...and on...and on...and on.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Game 11: Blues 5, Hurricanes 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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Home cooking returns tonight for the Hurricanes, and not a minute too soon. While they were in relatively good shape heading into the two week long State Fair roadtrip, the wheels fell off on the road, as the Canes stumbled to an 0-2-2 mark that leaves them scrambling for answers. Since last we saw the Canes, Stephane Yelle has cleared waivers (and remains with the team), Brandon Sutter has been called up to center the third line and hasn't looked at all out of place, Tuomo Ruutu found himself suspended after a check to the back of Colorado's Darcy Tucker, Rod Brind'Amour is on the wing and Tim Gleason is in the press box with an upper body injury.
Needless to say, the questions keep piling up, and the Canes have yet to find the answers.
The St. Louis Blues come to town tonight in much the same predicament. After sweeping the Red Wings in Stockholm to start the season, the Blues have cooled down significantly, and now they're forced to contend with first-line winger T.J. Oshie on the shelf after an appendectomy last weekend. Last year, the Blues dropped both games to the Hurricanes, only scoring one goal in the process; that goal scorer, David Backes, has but one goal so far this season.
Both teams need to spark their offenses in a significant way, which probably portends a 7-6 shootout tonight. We'll see how it unfolds...
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Home cooking returns tonight for the Hurricanes, and not a minute too soon. While they were in relatively good shape heading into the two week long State Fair roadtrip, the wheels fell off on the road, as the Canes stumbled to an 0-2-2 mark that leaves them scrambling for answers. Since last we saw the Canes, Stephane Yelle has cleared waivers (and remains with the team), Brandon Sutter has been called up to center the third line and hasn't looked at all out of place, Tuomo Ruutu found himself suspended after a check to the back of Colorado's Darcy Tucker, Rod Brind'Amour is on the wing and Tim Gleason is in the press box with an upper body injury.
Needless to say, the questions keep piling up, and the Canes have yet to find the answers.
The St. Louis Blues come to town tonight in much the same predicament. After sweeping the Red Wings in Stockholm to start the season, the Blues have cooled down significantly, and now they're forced to contend with first-line winger T.J. Oshie on the shelf after an appendectomy last weekend. Last year, the Blues dropped both games to the Hurricanes, only scoring one goal in the process; that goal scorer, David Backes, has but one goal so far this season.
Both teams need to spark their offenses in a significant way, which probably portends a 7-6 shootout tonight. We'll see how it unfolds...
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Is it panic button time yet?
By Brian LeBlanc
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Two points in the last four games. Consecutive losses to teams who were winless at home (Devils) or winless overall (Islanders). A complete inability to generate offensive pressure for more than a few minutes at any given time. Passes to no one being thrown all over the ice.
What in the name of Marek Malik is going on here?
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Two points in the last four games. Consecutive losses to teams who were winless at home (Devils) or winless overall (Islanders). A complete inability to generate offensive pressure for more than a few minutes at any given time. Passes to no one being thrown all over the ice.
What in the name of Marek Malik is going on here?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Game 6: Penguins 3, Hurricanes 2 (SO)
By Brian LeBlanc
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The schedule says this is just another game, number 81 out of 1,230 on the NHL docket to be played before the end of the season in early April.
The players say this is just another game, that every game has two points on the line and that they need to do whatever they can to get those two points no matter the opponent.
So is this just another game? Don't think so.
The Pittsburgh Penguins come to town for the first time this year, and it's our first look at the team since they blew the doors off the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final last year, outscoring the Canes 20-9 en route to a four-game sweep of the Canes and an eventual Stanley Cup. It was a humbling series for the Canes, who were gassed after winning two thrilling seven-game series in the first two rounds and didn't put up much of a fight for the Penguins in the third.
Tonight will be our first look at a rebuilt Penguins blue line. Their top shutdown pair from last year, Rob Scuderi (LA) and Hal Gill (Montreal), have moved onto greener pastures, and the replacements (Alex Goligoski, Mark Eaton, Jay McKee) don't exactly inspire a ton of confidence. That said, the Canes still have to contend with a couple of guys named Crosby and Malkin, who simply ate Carolina's defense alive in last year's playoffs and who have led the Penguins to a 5-1 record so far this season.
These games never fail to entertain, and by the end of the night we should have a good idea of just how well the Canes stack up against the NHL's elite.
By the way, for the sake of argument later: Taylor is in the building tonight. Last year when he was here, the Canes went something like 1-43984. Here's hoping the Canes can, um, improve on that record tonight. (And if they don't, you know who to blame.)
Here we go...
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The schedule says this is just another game, number 81 out of 1,230 on the NHL docket to be played before the end of the season in early April.
The players say this is just another game, that every game has two points on the line and that they need to do whatever they can to get those two points no matter the opponent.
So is this just another game? Don't think so.
The Pittsburgh Penguins come to town for the first time this year, and it's our first look at the team since they blew the doors off the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final last year, outscoring the Canes 20-9 en route to a four-game sweep of the Canes and an eventual Stanley Cup. It was a humbling series for the Canes, who were gassed after winning two thrilling seven-game series in the first two rounds and didn't put up much of a fight for the Penguins in the third.
Tonight will be our first look at a rebuilt Penguins blue line. Their top shutdown pair from last year, Rob Scuderi (LA) and Hal Gill (Montreal), have moved onto greener pastures, and the replacements (Alex Goligoski, Mark Eaton, Jay McKee) don't exactly inspire a ton of confidence. That said, the Canes still have to contend with a couple of guys named Crosby and Malkin, who simply ate Carolina's defense alive in last year's playoffs and who have led the Penguins to a 5-1 record so far this season.
These games never fail to entertain, and by the end of the night we should have a good idea of just how well the Canes stack up against the NHL's elite.
By the way, for the sake of argument later: Taylor is in the building tonight. Last year when he was here, the Canes went something like 1-43984. Here's hoping the Canes can, um, improve on that record tonight. (And if they don't, you know who to blame.)
Here we go...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
PK or PP: what's the real issue on special teams?
By Brian LeBlanc
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Much has been made over the Canes' sudden infatuation with the penalty box that has led them to the top of the NHL penalty-minutes per game chart, with an average of 24.4 PIMs per game. But the more pressing issue for the team heading into tomorrow's showdown with Pittsburgh isn't penalty killing, where after a dismal early start the Canes have killed 18 of 20 penalties in the last three games.
Rather, it's the power play, where the Canes find themselves 26th in the NHL in power-play conversion percentage, at 12.9% through five games (4-for-31). The most disconcerting part, though, is that the Canes are tied for the league lead with the Flyers and Rangers with 31 power-play opportunities, and of the four teams below the Canes on the power play all but one (Florida with 21 opportunities) have had the extra skater fewer than 20 times.
What's going wrong here?
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Much has been made over the Canes' sudden infatuation with the penalty box that has led them to the top of the NHL penalty-minutes per game chart, with an average of 24.4 PIMs per game. But the more pressing issue for the team heading into tomorrow's showdown with Pittsburgh isn't penalty killing, where after a dismal early start the Canes have killed 18 of 20 penalties in the last three games.
Rather, it's the power play, where the Canes find themselves 26th in the NHL in power-play conversion percentage, at 12.9% through five games (4-for-31). The most disconcerting part, though, is that the Canes are tied for the league lead with the Flyers and Rangers with 31 power-play opportunities, and of the four teams below the Canes on the power play all but one (Florida with 21 opportunities) have had the extra skater fewer than 20 times.
What's going wrong here?
Friday, October 9, 2009
Game 4: Canes 7, Panthers 2
By Brian LeBlanc
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The Canes continue the home cookin' before the State Fair road trip, welcoming the world-traveling Florida Panthers to the RBC Center tonight. The Panthers return to the States after splitting a pair with the Chicago Blackhawks in Helsinki last weekend, so the Canes will hope to capitalize on what could be some tired Panthers legs, especially in the early going.
Paul Maurice's pronouncements to the contrary, Joni Pitkanen's knee is not fine, and he will miss his second game of the season tonight. Jay Harrison will be back in the Canes' lineup in Pitkanen's place, paired with Andrew Alberts on the third pairing. For the Panthers, there are no significant injuries, but there's still a big hole in their lineup, with Jay Bouwmeester gone to Calgary as a free agent. Tonight will be our first look at the new-look Panthers, and it's still an open question what kind of team they will be without their #1 defenseman from last year; they obviously have some skill in splitting a pair with a Western Conference power, but the Canes will need to take advantage of the ridiculous amounts of mileage the Panthers have racked up lately to put two more points in the can against another division opponent.
It's Hockey Fights Cancer night at the RBC, meaning (among other things) some really stylish pink ties behind the bench and Julie Walker, wife of Scott and cervical cancer survivor, sounding the siren tonight. It's always nice to see the NHL do this every year. (Incidentally, the Canes are wearing their black third jerseys for the first time this year as well.)
And away we go...
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The Canes continue the home cookin' before the State Fair road trip, welcoming the world-traveling Florida Panthers to the RBC Center tonight. The Panthers return to the States after splitting a pair with the Chicago Blackhawks in Helsinki last weekend, so the Canes will hope to capitalize on what could be some tired Panthers legs, especially in the early going.
Paul Maurice's pronouncements to the contrary, Joni Pitkanen's knee is not fine, and he will miss his second game of the season tonight. Jay Harrison will be back in the Canes' lineup in Pitkanen's place, paired with Andrew Alberts on the third pairing. For the Panthers, there are no significant injuries, but there's still a big hole in their lineup, with Jay Bouwmeester gone to Calgary as a free agent. Tonight will be our first look at the new-look Panthers, and it's still an open question what kind of team they will be without their #1 defenseman from last year; they obviously have some skill in splitting a pair with a Western Conference power, but the Canes will need to take advantage of the ridiculous amounts of mileage the Panthers have racked up lately to put two more points in the can against another division opponent.
It's Hockey Fights Cancer night at the RBC, meaning (among other things) some really stylish pink ties behind the bench and Julie Walker, wife of Scott and cervical cancer survivor, sounding the siren tonight. It's always nice to see the NHL do this every year. (Incidentally, the Canes are wearing their black third jerseys for the first time this year as well.)
And away we go...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Game 3: Canes 2, Lightning 1 (SO)
By Brian LeBlanc
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It would be easy to say that this is a must-win for the Hurricanes. After all, the last thing they want is to start the season 0-3; just ask the Tennessee Titans. Fortunately for them, the Hurricanes don't play in the NFL, and there are still 80 games to get the ship pointed in the right direction.
That's not to make light of this game. It's not a must win, but it's a should win, because not only do the Canes need to get off the slide, they need to start putting points on the board against division rivals. The Tampa Bay Lightning come to town hungry for their first win of the season as well, so it's not like the Canes will be able to take a night off and get two points.
Erik Cole is out, as you know, with a broken bone in his leg, so the Samsonov-Staal-Ruutu line that played together most of last season is back together tonight. We'll see what that portends as the night goes on, as the Canes will need to generate some almost-instant offense to get the monkey off their back early.
Here we go...
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It would be easy to say that this is a must-win for the Hurricanes. After all, the last thing they want is to start the season 0-3; just ask the Tennessee Titans. Fortunately for them, the Hurricanes don't play in the NFL, and there are still 80 games to get the ship pointed in the right direction.
That's not to make light of this game. It's not a must win, but it's a should win, because not only do the Canes need to get off the slide, they need to start putting points on the board against division rivals. The Tampa Bay Lightning come to town hungry for their first win of the season as well, so it's not like the Canes will be able to take a night off and get two points.
Erik Cole is out, as you know, with a broken bone in his leg, so the Samsonov-Staal-Ruutu line that played together most of last season is back together tonight. We'll see what that portends as the night goes on, as the Canes will need to generate some almost-instant offense to get the monkey off their back early.
Here we go...
Friday, October 2, 2009
Game 1: Flyers 2, Canes 0
By Brian LeBlanc
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And here we are again. It's like we never left...
OK, not quite, but it's great to be back in our old stomping ground above section 323. Opening Night always is tough to call, especially when the team's first game is at home, since the team can sometimes come out too amped up and find themselves trailing before they realize that the puck has dropped. It's still one of the best days on the calendar, and it's always an exciting night to cover.
That said, let's get moving. The Philadelphia Flyers are tonight's guest, one of the few teams given legitimate Stanley Cup hopes before the season starts. Even though they bowed out in the first round of last year's playoffs, the Flyers did plenty in the offseason to give themselves a better than fighting chance this year, adding Chris Pronger to bolster their blue line while bringing back 46-goal scorer Jeff Carter to lead the offensive attack. Needless to say, the Flyers won't be anyone's idea of an off night.
The Canes, though, will look to get in the head of Ray Emery, who returns to man the Flyers' net after a season's sojourn in Russia. They made fewer changes than just about any other Eastern Conference contender, and after a season of tinkering around the edges it's time to see what GM Jim Rutherford has wrought.
And here we go...
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And here we are again. It's like we never left...
OK, not quite, but it's great to be back in our old stomping ground above section 323. Opening Night always is tough to call, especially when the team's first game is at home, since the team can sometimes come out too amped up and find themselves trailing before they realize that the puck has dropped. It's still one of the best days on the calendar, and it's always an exciting night to cover.
That said, let's get moving. The Philadelphia Flyers are tonight's guest, one of the few teams given legitimate Stanley Cup hopes before the season starts. Even though they bowed out in the first round of last year's playoffs, the Flyers did plenty in the offseason to give themselves a better than fighting chance this year, adding Chris Pronger to bolster their blue line while bringing back 46-goal scorer Jeff Carter to lead the offensive attack. Needless to say, the Flyers won't be anyone's idea of an off night.
The Canes, though, will look to get in the head of Ray Emery, who returns to man the Flyers' net after a season's sojourn in Russia. They made fewer changes than just about any other Eastern Conference contender, and after a season of tinkering around the edges it's time to see what GM Jim Rutherford has wrought.
And here we go...
Thursday, October 1, 2009
2009-10 Season Preview: The Western Conference and Playoff Predictions
By Brian LeBlanc
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OK, time to finish up the previews. Again, these are in order of their projected finish. Once you get through the predictions, you get the added bonus of my shot-in-the-dark Stanley Cup playoff predictions.
Here we go...
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OK, time to finish up the previews. Again, these are in order of their projected finish. Once you get through the predictions, you get the added bonus of my shot-in-the-dark Stanley Cup playoff predictions.
Here we go...
2009-10 Season Preview: The Eastern Conference
By Brian LeBlanc
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It's high comedy every April to look back at the previous October and see what kinds of stupid projections hack writers such as yours truly spew. Yet every October, like the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, we throw these projections up on various websites and open ourselves to ridicule and second-guessing. Clearly, we are nothing more than minor masochists. (Either that, or we need something to fill space. I'm going with the former.)
And with that, let's get going! Teams are in order of their projected finish in each conference. (Note: I planned on doing both conferences tonight, then realized that I didn't want to stay up until 3 in the morning. The Western Conference is forthcoming tomorrow.)
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It's high comedy every April to look back at the previous October and see what kinds of stupid projections hack writers such as yours truly spew. Yet every October, like the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, we throw these projections up on various websites and open ourselves to ridicule and second-guessing. Clearly, we are nothing more than minor masochists. (Either that, or we need something to fill space. I'm going with the former.)
And with that, let's get going! Teams are in order of their projected finish in each conference. (Note: I planned on doing both conferences tonight, then realized that I didn't want to stay up until 3 in the morning. The Western Conference is forthcoming tomorrow.)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cam Ward signs six-year extension
By Brian LeBlanc
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Last offseason, the Canes made a statement that they were committed to keeping their important players in place for a significant length of time by signing Eric Staal to a seven-year contract extension just before the season began. This year, they made another statement by sending a Brinks truck to Cam Ward's house.
Ward today signed a six-year extension that kicks in next summer. The new deal will pay Ward a total of $37.8 million, and it will keep him in a Hurricanes uniform until 2016, when he'll be 32. In 2010, when the new deal begins, Ward and Staal will be the two top-paid players on the Canes' roster, and by 2011 Ward will be the third-highest paid goaltender in the NHL, trailing only Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo.
It might be a stretch to say that Ward deserves Luongo-type money, but the record shows that if there's any NHL goalie that deserves over six million dollars a year, it's the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup champion Ward. In his four NHL seasons, he's improved his numbers year-over-year each season, and each improvement has been significant; his goals-against average has dropped from 3.68 his rookie season to 2.44 last year. Ward had a run of six straight playoff series victories until the Canes' loss to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals, and entering his fifth NHL season he's already within ten victories of Arturs Irbe on the Canes' all-time wins list despite playing 84 fewer games than Irbe.
Ward said repeatedly at his press conference that he and his wife love the area, and he said that this deal came together quickly given his intention to stay with the Canes long-term. GM Jim Rutherford said it was important to the stability of the franchise to have both Ward and Staal on lengthy deals, since now they can build a continuous run of success around two franchise players who will both be in place for a long time.
Ward's press conference is attached. Click for audio from Ward meeting the media after the press conference.
League predictions will be up later tonight.
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Last offseason, the Canes made a statement that they were committed to keeping their important players in place for a significant length of time by signing Eric Staal to a seven-year contract extension just before the season began. This year, they made another statement by sending a Brinks truck to Cam Ward's house.
Ward today signed a six-year extension that kicks in next summer. The new deal will pay Ward a total of $37.8 million, and it will keep him in a Hurricanes uniform until 2016, when he'll be 32. In 2010, when the new deal begins, Ward and Staal will be the two top-paid players on the Canes' roster, and by 2011 Ward will be the third-highest paid goaltender in the NHL, trailing only Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo.
It might be a stretch to say that Ward deserves Luongo-type money, but the record shows that if there's any NHL goalie that deserves over six million dollars a year, it's the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup champion Ward. In his four NHL seasons, he's improved his numbers year-over-year each season, and each improvement has been significant; his goals-against average has dropped from 3.68 his rookie season to 2.44 last year. Ward had a run of six straight playoff series victories until the Canes' loss to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals, and entering his fifth NHL season he's already within ten victories of Arturs Irbe on the Canes' all-time wins list despite playing 84 fewer games than Irbe.
Ward said repeatedly at his press conference that he and his wife love the area, and he said that this deal came together quickly given his intention to stay with the Canes long-term. GM Jim Rutherford said it was important to the stability of the franchise to have both Ward and Staal on lengthy deals, since now they can build a continuous run of success around two franchise players who will both be in place for a long time.
Ward's press conference is attached. Click for audio from Ward meeting the media after the press conference.
League predictions will be up later tonight.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Puck Drops Podcast 9/28/09
In this week's edition, Brian and Phil talk to Canes' TV color analyst Tripp Tracy, discuss the depth on the Canes' roster, and preview a tough back-to-back to open the season.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
2009-10 Season Preview: The Southeast Division
By Brian LeBlanc
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It's been a while since the Southeast Division could boast two teams with legitimate playoff aspirations. Indeed, the 2009 postseason was the first time since the inception of the division in 1998 that more than one team advanced past the first round of the playoffs. Ironically, both teams that made it to the second round, the Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, were knocked out by the same team, the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Interestingly, in a division that's long been marked by coaching changes almost at the drop of a hat, the Southeast saw remarkable stability this offseason. Following a season in which four of the five teams either started the season with new coaches (Florida, Atlanta, Tampa) or replaced their coach midway through the season (Carolina, Tampa again), there are no changes behind the bench to start this season, and even the front offices have stayed consistent; the only GM departure was Florida's Jacques Martin to Montreal.
Will this be the season that the Southeast takes the next step and puts three teams into the postseason for the first time in its history? The teams are listed in their projected order of finish.
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It's been a while since the Southeast Division could boast two teams with legitimate playoff aspirations. Indeed, the 2009 postseason was the first time since the inception of the division in 1998 that more than one team advanced past the first round of the playoffs. Ironically, both teams that made it to the second round, the Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, were knocked out by the same team, the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
Interestingly, in a division that's long been marked by coaching changes almost at the drop of a hat, the Southeast saw remarkable stability this offseason. Following a season in which four of the five teams either started the season with new coaches (Florida, Atlanta, Tampa) or replaced their coach midway through the season (Carolina, Tampa again), there are no changes behind the bench to start this season, and even the front offices have stayed consistent; the only GM departure was Florida's Jacques Martin to Montreal.
Will this be the season that the Southeast takes the next step and puts three teams into the postseason for the first time in its history? The teams are listed in their projected order of finish.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
2009-10 Season Preview: The Defensemen and Goaltenders
By Brian LeBlanc
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Where the forward corps stayed mostly the same in the offseason, Canes GM Jim Rutherford saw his team get pushed around a bit too much for his liking, and so the defensive corps for the new season will see its biggest upheaval in one offseason since the lockout. Gone are the likes of Frank Kaberle (buyout), Dennis Seidenberg (free agency, Florida) and Anton Babchuk (parts unknown, but probably Russia). In come a bunch of new faces: Andrew Alberts, Jay Harrison and a new face who looks strangely familiar, Aaron Ward.
Just looking at the names that came and went, it's obvious that Rutherford accomplished what he set out to do. Now, will adding that extra bulk pay off for a team that's always been undersized on the blue line? And behind the defensemen, can Cam Ward repeat last season's performance that carried the team for long stretches?
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Where the forward corps stayed mostly the same in the offseason, Canes GM Jim Rutherford saw his team get pushed around a bit too much for his liking, and so the defensive corps for the new season will see its biggest upheaval in one offseason since the lockout. Gone are the likes of Frank Kaberle (buyout), Dennis Seidenberg (free agency, Florida) and Anton Babchuk (parts unknown, but probably Russia). In come a bunch of new faces: Andrew Alberts, Jay Harrison and a new face who looks strangely familiar, Aaron Ward.
Just looking at the names that came and went, it's obvious that Rutherford accomplished what he set out to do. Now, will adding that extra bulk pay off for a team that's always been undersized on the blue line? And behind the defensemen, can Cam Ward repeat last season's performance that carried the team for long stretches?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Puck Drops Podcast, 9/21/09
In this edition, Brian and Phil discuss Erik Cole and Chad LaRose's new contracts, how tough the Canes will be to play against, what to expect from a full season under Paul Maurice and more.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
2009-10 Season Preview: The Forwards
By Brian LeBlanc
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It's no surprise that the Canes' forward corps saw significantly less turnover this offseason than the defense did. The only significant changes were on the bottom of the roster, where Ryan Bayda (free agent, training-camp tryout in Pittsburgh) and Patrick Eaves (trade, to Detroit via Boston) were replaced by the likes of Tom Kostopolous and Stephane Yelle. Indeed, even in the first few days of training camp Paul Maurice was able to put some lines together, a rare occurrence at a time when all-stars and untested rookies tend to play together for a few days.
The Canes managed 236 goals last season, good for 16th in the league, but 171 of those came in the final 57 games after Paul Maurice took over behind the bench for Peter Laviolette. Although a 3.00 goals-for average under Maurice is a welcome change of playing for 2-1 games in his previous tour of duty, the Canes have always relied on an offense by committee, and with the exception of Eric Staal the Canes again have no real threats to light up opposing goaltenders on a regular basis. To be successful, they'll need to repeat their Stanley Cup-winning committee of 2005-06, when six players scored at least 20 goals and four topped 30.
We'll run down the list in order of the projected lines. Projected totals are nothing more than a guess, as well as something to laugh at me for around the beginning of April, and they assume no injuries (which clearly won't be the case).
Here goes nothing...
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It's no surprise that the Canes' forward corps saw significantly less turnover this offseason than the defense did. The only significant changes were on the bottom of the roster, where Ryan Bayda (free agent, training-camp tryout in Pittsburgh) and Patrick Eaves (trade, to Detroit via Boston) were replaced by the likes of Tom Kostopolous and Stephane Yelle. Indeed, even in the first few days of training camp Paul Maurice was able to put some lines together, a rare occurrence at a time when all-stars and untested rookies tend to play together for a few days.
The Canes managed 236 goals last season, good for 16th in the league, but 171 of those came in the final 57 games after Paul Maurice took over behind the bench for Peter Laviolette. Although a 3.00 goals-for average under Maurice is a welcome change of playing for 2-1 games in his previous tour of duty, the Canes have always relied on an offense by committee, and with the exception of Eric Staal the Canes again have no real threats to light up opposing goaltenders on a regular basis. To be successful, they'll need to repeat their Stanley Cup-winning committee of 2005-06, when six players scored at least 20 goals and four topped 30.
We'll run down the list in order of the projected lines. Projected totals are nothing more than a guess, as well as something to laugh at me for around the beginning of April, and they assume no injuries (which clearly won't be the case).
Here goes nothing...
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