Canucks end losing skid

A 4-3 win over the Hurricanes! Has Vigneault found his meal ticket for a 2nd line in Sundin-Demitra-Kesler? MAYBE!
I'm not going to analyze this game. We damned well won it, and the losing streak is over. Sundin looked great out there. So did the whiner Demitra and of course the excellent Kesler, who finally got his promotion and didn't look out of place.
Jump back on the bandwagon you fools! :)
Nah, I'll leave you with a tune. End of fucking story..

Canucks - Hurricanes Preview / O'Brien puckers up / Sundin

The Canes are fighting for their playoff lives and barely hold onto 8th spot. We're fighting for a spot too. There are no more excuses for Vancouver. This team is either going to snap its losing streak and turn it around, or they'll lose again and the barbaric fans and media will continue their verbal crucifixions.
I have a good feeling about tonight's game. I think the team is going to come out playing hard this time. If they don't, they're dead.
We'll see which players are quitting on Vigneault. I don't think there are that many.
Demitra will play with Sundin and Kesler. I like the sound of that line.

4-1 Canucks is my guess.

EAT CROW, SHANE-O

Shane O'Brien has had some time to think about what he ranted about a couple of days ago and today he was the better man for apologizing.

"Mike Gillis never told me I had to fight," O'Brien said after the team's game-day skate at General Motors Place. "He was just talking to me about playing physical. Maybe I took it the wrong way. As a frustrated player, you want to be in the lineup. No one likes losing and it's just a tough situation. I didn't help it by doing what I did and apologize to Mike Gillis and the Vancouver organization and fans. It was just a lot of frustration."

"Mike is a good man, I was never trying to point the finger at him," O'Brien said. "He's got a job to do, AV (coach Alain Vigneault) has a job to do, there are lots of quality, good people in this organization. I am just frustrated at not being in the lineup and my career is not where I want it to be and my team is not where I want it to be. I made it about me and I apologize to my teammates. I was selfish, but like I said, I was frustrated."

Well that's a lot better, Shane. I'm glad he did this. Like I said earlier, a slumping and frustrated team doesn't need players bad-mouthing the GM and coach at times like these, especially when the GM is backing the coach.
His apology hasn't helped his situation though. He is still a healthy scratch for tonight's game. Rob Davison will play again.

SUNDIN NEEDS TO RUSH THE PUCK UP THE ICE

This poster at CDC almost has the right idea. Sundin likes puck possession. I watched him for years in Toronto and one thing he really likes doing is circling around in the defensive zone, gaining speed, and then taking the pass from a D-man and rushing up the ice. With Sundin's size and hands he's awfully hard to contain when he plows into the offensive zone with that much speed.

Rutherford's anger understandable, because he's seen Canes KO'd so often

But that is really about it. The hit by Doug Weight on Brandon Sutter was a beauty, and hopefully Sutter has learned a valuable lesson from it. He's got to keep his head up.

"I've had four players - Erik Cole, Trevor Letowski, Matt Cullen and now Brandon Sutter - get badly injured on hits to the head and only one of the guys who hit them was suspended. So don't tell me the league is concerned about hits to the head because it's not."

I don't mind hits to the head in this fashion. I think Don Cherry has always said the right thing, and that is that the hard plastic shoulder gear needs to go.
Anyways, for your viewing pleasure, here are the video clips of each of the aforementioned hits. I assume the one suspension Rutherford was referring to was Orpik's boarding of Cole? Well that's a different scenario as you'll see below.
Enough to make Canes fans cringe...

Weight hits Sutter



Colby Armstrong smokes Trevor Letowski



Colton Orr decks Matt Cullen



Brooks Orpik boards Eric Cole
(nasty stuff by Orpik. At the same time I hate it when the player turns at the last second as well and goes face first into the boards.)




T Tags: Weight+hits+Sutter Orpik+hits+Cole Armstrong+hits+Letowski Orr+hits+Cullen video clips KO injury Carolina+Hurricanes

Justin Williams out 4-6 months

Torn achilles tendon. Jeez. Williams only played in 37 games last season because of back problems and a torn ACL as well. He had 30 points in those games. He has the potential to be a 70-80 point producer.

The good news about this is:

-if you are creating a hockey pool and enter J Williams as one of the choices, people won't confuse it between Justin and Jason Williams.

-maybe the Hurricanes should pick up Glen Murray, who's still in limbo. Hey, if they can turn Sergei Samsonov's career around, surely they beat some more points out of Murray. Perhaps Mark Parrish is another option.

-The Acid Queen hasn't caught on to this yet.

The bad news is:

- I really don't mind the Hurricanes and am pulling for them to turn it around this season. But losing Williams is a lousy step backwards.

T Tags: Justin+Williams+injury torn+achilles+tendon out+four+to+six+months Carolina+Hurricanes

Canes lose to Panthers and Ovechkin and co. now have a playoff chance

Unreal. The Canes could not clinch the Southeast Division tonight and now the Capitals can finish tops in that division and 3rd in the East. Amazing how lousy that division is. The Canes can drop all the way out of a playoff spot down to 9th on Saturday if the Caps beat the Panthers on Saturday.
Why oh why don't I have NHL Center Ice again? I want to watch that game!
The Panthers are not to be taken lightly though. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. However, the Caps are 9-1-0 in that span.
Geez, the second year in a row that the east has a playoff spot up for grabs right at the end of the season.
Also amazing is how both the Canes and Senators have not played well since their big pre-trade deadline deal, swapping Stillman and Commodore for Eaves and Corvo.
Go Caps! I want to see Alex the Gr8 in the playoffs.


T tags: Hurricanes Panthers Capitals Playoff+spot Southeast+Division

First big trade pre-Deadline: Sens and Hurricanes make swap

TSN's sources say the Senators have acquired defenceman Mike Commodore and forward Cory Stillman in exchange for defenceman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves.
Wow. That is a major deal. I think Ottawa got the better end of the deal in one way: the Stanley Cup experience brought in by Stillman and Commodore from their cup win a couple years back. I don't think Ottawa needed the shakeup as much as the Hurricanes did, as Carolina, who started the season strong have faltered lately and lost their playoff spot.
Even Stillman has lost his offensive edge lately, compacting Carolina's problem. On top of that, both Stillman and Commodore become UFA's this summer. Corvo is signed for 2 more years and Eaves becomes a restricted free agent in the summer.

T Tags: Senators+trade+Eaves+Corvo Hurricanes+trade+Stillman+Commodore

Canucks / Hurricanes Preview

Well here is a true test of where the Canucks are at at this point...by taking on the Hurricanes. The Canes have returned to their Cup contender form and are 4-1-3 to start the season. The Canucks are 4-4-0.
So much can go wrong for the Nucks tonight.
- Luongo isn't known for being sharp after a night off is he?
- The Canucks hardly deserved to win their last game against Columbus, being outshot 14-0 in the second period, taking too many dumb penalties it seemed.
- The Canes are on their game right now and the Canucks are not. I hope that changes tonight and they can put a better overall game together. But I am not counting on it.
The Canes are good, and will burn their sorry asses if Vancouver wants to run around in their own zone and take too many penalties. The Canucks' PP is good for 6th in the NHL. The Canes are 2nd. Their penalty kill ranks are 16th and 17th overall respectively.

The Canes lost their last 2 games in OT. They are going to be hungry tonight.

My Prediction

I'm just not one of those Canucks "rah-rah" types. I could predict that the Canucks would win every game, but I simply refuse. I don't see enough consistency with this Canuck team yet, and I sure see it in Carolina. So I say the Canes take this one 6-3. A win by the Canucks though would be a real moral boost for players and fans alike. But if you have not caught any Carolina games yet this season...prepare to be awed by how much they have changed since last year.

Game time: 4:00 PST
TV: Sportsnet Pacific

T Tags: Canucks Hurricanes Preview

Black Hurricanes

Well, I hate politics. But this joke was sent to me today that I couldn't pass up in regards to Sheila Jackson Lee's (U.S. Rep- Houston) comments last year about Hurricane names not be very racially fair because black people's names are never used. Anyways, a pathetic and irrelevant issue, so here is the joke:

A black congresswoman (Sheila Jackson Lee) reportedly complained
that the names of hurricanes are all Caucasian sounding
names. She would prefer some names that reflect
African-American culture such as: Chamiqua, Tanisha,
Woeisha, Shaqueal, and Jamal. She would also like the
weather reports to be broadcast in Language that street
people can understand because one of the problems in New
Orleans is that regular folks couldn't understand the
seriousness of the situation due to the racially biased
language of the weather report.

I can hear it now: A weatherman in Houston reports...

"Wazzup, mutha-fukkas! Hehr-i-cane Chamiqua be headin' fo'
yo ass like Leroy on a crotch rocket! Bitch be a category
fo'! So grab yo' chirren, yo' Ho, be leavin yo crib, and
head fo' da nearest guv'ment office fo yo FREE shit!"

---

Hey, I have a legit complaint: I want to see more white people on BET and less black people/rap/hip hop music on Much Music. Is that a fair complaint? Haha. I'm only half serious there.

If I offended anyone with this humor, I don't apologize. I find Mizzuz Lee offensive, myself, after doing some research on her. Whatever. I hate politics.

T Tags: Sheila+Jackson+Lee Hurricane joke
Black+Hurricane+joke

Hurricanes and Wild unveil new jerseys

The Wild turned their 3rd jersey into their official home jersey. The other changes are in the stripes, but minimal.


















The Canes are celebrating their 10th anniversary and that is commemorated on their shoulder patch.
Just in case you were ever wondering, the squares along the bottom of the jersey do have some validity, even though they don't completely appeal to my taste. They are actually Daytime Hurricane Warning Symbols. Didn't know that until today.

Video of the Canes' jersey unveiling

The Canes also "unveiled" their new Storm Squad. Yup, a batch of cheerleaders. The video of that can be seen here.


Don't expect many changes from the Avalanche and Devils jerseys, according to Tournament of Logos. And speaking of that site. If you haven't seen it yet, head over there and join in on the "Best NHL Jersey Tournament." Vote for your faves. It's in tournament style, obviously.

Ken Henderson is still creating masterful and comical hockey artwork at his site, including a great spoof of the new Penguins' logo and also a good mock up of the Canucks' logo creation.

T Tags: Wild Hurricanes unveil new jerseys Storm+Squad Tournament+of+Logos

Peca wants to be on Broadway

And his agent is saying that he is ONLY in talks with Rangers management at this point, trying to make something work.

"I'm talking to Glen," Peca's agent Don Meehan said. "If you ask me, I'd say the chances are 50-50 that he'll sign with the Rangers. Michael is extremely interested in them. And we're not really talking to anybody else."

The Rangers need a 3rd line center to replace the departed Matt Cullen, who headed back to Carolina this summer. The Rangers shed themselves of Cullen's $2.8 million salary.
Peca's value is dropping now. He earned $2.5 million with the Leafs last season after earning just under $4 million with the Oilers the previous season. His constant injuries (knee especially) are becoming a factor. So it will be interesting to see what the Rangers or any other team will pay the 33-year old center.
In my opinion, it had better be considerably less than what Cullen was earning, otherwise, what was the point of getting rid of Cullen? It's hard for me to say this, but I'd rather have Cullen on my roster than Peca. What do you think? Can't knock Peca's defensive and leadership abilities though.
Cullen is just as or more gritty than Peca and can put up more points. In a lesser role with the Rangers, he scored 16 goals and 41 points in 80 games. He had 25 goals the previous year with the Canes. His presence was missed in Carolina last year.
The decision on Peca's fate with New York is coming soon. It could be as early as today.

T Tags: Peca+to+Rangers Matt+Cullen

Staal brothers arrested

From the Canadian Press: Brothers Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes and Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins were among 14 people arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after a weekend party.

The incident early Saturday morning occurred at the Lutsen Resort and Sea Villas, about 90 minutes south of the Thunder Bay, Ont., hometown of the Staal brothers. They were gathered there for 22-year-old Eric Staal's bachelor party. Jordan is 18.

''I'm sure that everyone involved is embarrassed about the incident - as they should be,'' Rick Curran, the agent for both players, told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. ''Not to take anything away from the seriousness of it, it's what can happen when you get any group of 15 to 20 people together and there's loud noise.''

According to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's Office sent out Wednesday, police began receiving complaints at 12:30 a.m. of ''approximately 20 people screaming, yelling, and playing loud music.'' The group was warned by police around 12:50 a.m. to quiet down ''or they may be removed from the property, issued citations/arrested, and/or deported from the country.''

Curran said both players were among those who obeyed the first police warnings.

''Unfortunately, those that did get up and go to bed when first warned about the noise, including Eric and Jordan, are still among those that were woken up and asked to leave the hotel,'' said Curran.

Around 3 a.m., according to the Sheriff's new release, the group was ordered to leave the resort with the help of ''Cook County Sheriff deputies, a Minnesota state patrol trooper, and a United States border patrol agent.''

''After leaving the property, the group gathered on Highway 61 and began harassing passing motorists,'' the Sheriff's release said. ''At approximately 4 a.m. the suspects were placed under arrest for disorderly conduct and obstructing the legal process. Some of the suspects fled in to the nearby woods.''

The Staal brothers were among the 14 men arrested. Eric Staal was among the 10 who spent the night in jail. Jordan Staal was released after booking but not before being charged with consumption of alcohol while under 21 years of age, in addition to disorderly conduct and obstructing the legal process.

---

A couple things:
- This story cracks me up. Bachelor parties are great! At least Eric didn't get tied up to a statue naked. We actually duct taped my brother to a statue on Main Street in my hometown for his stag. He was only wearing boxers. Some of the guys also shot him with paintball guns prior to that.

- I wonder what momma Staal is going to say about Jordan illegally drinking. Someone's getting a spanking when he gets home!

- Too bad the brothers didn't run away through the bushes like a bunch of the other kids did. I would have done that as well.

T Tags: Eric+Jordan+Staal+arrested drunk fun busted

New Islanders / Blue Jackets / Hurricanes jerseys?

I pulled that one off a Canucks Board. Not sure if I like it. Too much going on in the front with the number added there.

The following is from NHL 08, not yet released. It could be a true glimpse at the new Canes jerseys.

New Blue Jackets jerseys.




T Tags: New+Islanders+Blu+Jackets+Hurricanes+jerseys

Senators trade Schaefer to Bruins / Updates

With plenty of free agents to sign, especially Ray Emery, the Sens cleared some cap space today, trading Peter Schaefer to the Bruins in exchange for Shean Donovan.
Schaefer has 3 years left on his contract at $2.23 per season while Donovan has 1 year left that pays him $925,000.
This is a decent upgrade for Boston, as Schaefer had 12 goals and 46 points in 77 games last season, while Donovan had 6 goals and 17 points in 76 games.
The Sens were more concerned about saving dollars at this point.

---

The Hurricanes have re-acquired speedy Matt Cullen from the Rangers today in exchange for D-man Andrew Hutchinson, forward Joe Barnes, and a 3rd round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft.
The Rangers had to clear Cullen's $2.8 million from their payroll and got another defenceman in return, an area they are not-so deep in. Cullen is a great speedy and gritty role player. I'm sure the Canes are welcoming him back with open arms.


T Tags: Senators+trade+Schaefer+to+Bruins+for+Donovan
Rangers+trade+Matt+Cullen

How the Carter has fallen!

Anson Carter just can't seem to find himself a home...anywhere. He was benched last Friday to make room for the returning Eric Cole and Ray Whitney, didn't play on Sunday, and doesn't seem to be playing tonight against Florida either.
At least the Hurricanes are not paying alot of his $2.5 million salary! It seems that ever since Carter and his agent inflated his salary in the summer when they left Vancouver, expectations have swiftly risen for him, and he really has not found his game since. Do I feel bad for him? No. He should have stayed where the grass was greener for less 'green'.
What will become of Carter in the offseason? Is any team going to bite on that salary? As long as there are enough stupid GM's out there, the answer is 'quite possibly.'
Until then, Carter is going to perhaps ride the pine in Carolina until someone else gets hurt.
Below are his stats in his first 5 games with Carolina. Yiee. It ain't pretty.

Cam Ward will miss time due to injury

Thanks to Temujin who pointed this out to me yesterday. We thought he was crazy for saying that Cam Ward may miss the rest of the season with a laceration above his left knee, caused by an errant skate in the 2-1 shootout loss to the Rangers on Sunday. But Jin has pointed out that D-Lee at Red and Black Hockey has a post up about it. Wow. This does not bode well for the Hurricanes' playoff hopes, even though they are saying that they are 100% confident in John Grahame, who will be the new #1 guy for now. The Canes are currently in 9th spot in the East.
But let's not put a timetable on it on Ward.
The News and Observer stated:

Ward remained in the game until he could cover the puck and get a whistle. He then skated straight to the Carolina bench and walked to the dressing room. He said it took eight stitches to hold the muscle together and three more to close the wound.
"It actually didn't feel like that much, feel that serious, then I took a look at my knee and you could see something was wrong," Ward said. "The Rangers came in the zone a couple more times, and I froze the puck. Once I looked, you could see the muscle."

There is obviously an issue now with how long the wound heals. Any save in the butterfly position will stretch the skin and open the stitching. So, Ward is going to need some time, and is out indefinitely. This News and Observer story says he could miss a minimum of 3 games only. But GM Jim Rutherford said:

"Cam will take his time to heal."

Sens 2 Hurricanes 0: In point form

- It's amazing how loose Ottawa looks right now. On the offensive attack, they looked like they were playing pond hockey. It looked that easy for them. Their passes were crisp and their speed game was impressive. Ah, it's so easy to be loose when you're winning! The Sens have won 8 of their last 9.
-It was a different story for the Hurricanes. They looked out of sync and frustrated. Whenever they generated a decent scoring chance tonight, Ray Emery stoned them. The Canes are now 6-5-0 in their last 11, and are in danger of missing the playoffs. At the same time, the teams around them-the Leafs and Canadiens- don't appear to be in the mood to put together win streaks.

- Speaking of Ray Emery, it appears that the Sens no longer have problems in goal. Emery looks absolutely confident in the Sens' net as the starting goalie. In 43 games this season, Emery has a 25-13-2 record. He ranks 12th in the league in GAA (2.51), 5th overall in save percentage (.919) and 4th with shutouts (5). I'm sure these numbers would be much more impressive had the Sens not slumped so bad in October, losing 6 of 11 games.
- I'm just babbling here. Canes D-man Tim Gleason seemed to jam his elbow against the boards after chasing down the puck to negate an icing call. The Sens forward in pursuit made contact with Gleason which mostly caused him to crash awkwardly into the end boards. TSN's Lucky Pierre McGuire then went on a verbal tirade about how the no-touch icing rule needs to be implemented SOON. He mentioned that teams would not ice the puck more if the rule was brought in. I agree, because of the rule of no line change to teams that ice the puck. He also said that the rule applies in the World Juniors, and those games are not boring at all. This is where I'm torn.
Maybe I'm a traditionalist of sorts, but I'm not sure I'd like to see No Touch Icing brought in. I like the chase for the puck. I like physicality. Do I care that people get hurt on icing calls from time to time? Not really. I like physicality in hockey.
But there is a code of sorts that players have that there shouldn't be much (or any) contact along the boards when two players chase the puck on a 'delayed' icing call. So the lack of physicality in that aspect is already there. So why not implement the rule then?
I like the chase for the puck. But would I miss it all that much if No Touch Icing was in effect? Probably not.
Perhaps a better concept that would be for players to race for the puck to a certain point, or line. The call depends on which player crosses the line first. This could be the goal line, or a line made a little further back.

Hurricanes take the Stanley Cup to the White House (video footage)

After watching the clip below, there are a few questions that came to my mind...
1. Has George Bush ever watched a hockey game?
2. Is Ray Whitney a true midget?
3. Why didn't Rod Brind'Amour, a good BC boy, punch Bush in the face and say: "This is for the softwood lumber agreement, asshole! :)
A few funny recaps of what Bush said, taken from the transcript:
1. "You know, I'm not sure what is prettier, the Stanley Cup, or Mike Commodore's hair. A little disappointed you got a haircut. But, welcome."
2. "Fine looking lid, isn't it?" -referring to a congressman wearing a championship hat.
3. Players have tested its buoyancy by throwing it into pools and lakes. It does not float. The cup -- this may be hard for you to believe -- but it has been to a lot of bars. In case you're wondering, it holds 14 cans of beer.
Anyway, enough of his dry humor. Here's the clip: