Since the last issue, it's tough to find a hotter team in the
National Hockey League than the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes
still sit atop the Southeast Division with a mark of 12-10-5,
good enough for 29 points.
Carolina continues to take advantage of the rest of the division
and has increased its point lead to seven points over second
place Florida. All three teams in the Southeast posted losing
records over the past two weeks.
Earning Respect
Currently only four teams in the NHL have more points than
Carolina: Phoenix 32, New Jersey 32, Toronto 32 and Buffalo 30.
The Canes' 29 points puts them even or ahead of such teams as:
Dallas 29, Detroit 29, Philly 28, Pittsburgh 27 and Colorado 24!
How quiet has the Hurricanes' success been this season? Well, to
put it into perspective, one of the team's web pages recently
conducted a poll asking internet surfers whether or not they knew
the team was even in first place.
Since the last report, the Hurricanes have put together 4-0-2
streak and need a win Thursday December 10 at home vs. Boston to
tie the franchise's longest streak without a loss since 1987 when
the Whale went 5-0-2.
Bitten By the Injury Bug
For really the first time all season, the Canes are starting to
suffer through some injuries. Gary Roberts and Steve Chiasson
both missed the 3-3 tie vs. the Penguins.
Chiasson, the team's leading scorer among defensemen, has back
spasms and Roberts, the team leader in assists, has a sprained
wrist. If that wasn't bad enough, Sami Kapanen, who like Roberts
has 19 points on the year, suffered a bruised thigh in the first
period and didn't return to action.
No More KIDDing Around
Please pardon me while I toot my own horn so to speak. After all,
it's not too often I get to do so.
In my very first LCS column, I wrote how Arturs Irbe won player
of the week/month honors for his outstanding play at the time.
However, I did kind of down play it a bit saying the team will
still eventually need the services of Trevor Kidd.
So, it's certainly no surprise to me that Kidd has posted a 3-0-1
record in the team's recent streak. The former Calgary netminder
picked up a shutout against San Jose, and wins against the
Islanders and Montreal before tying the Panthers.
In the three wins, Kidd stopped 81-of-83 shots he faced for a
save percentage of .976. The wins lifted his season record to
4-3-2 and brought his goals-against average below 3.00 for the
first time all season.
Pittsburgh Homecoming
For the first time since signing as free agent, Ron Francis
returned to Pittsburgh as Carolina and the Penguins battled to a
3-3 tie.
It hasn't exactly been a spectacular season for Francis with the
Hurricanes. After finishing seventh in the league in scoring last
year with the Pens, Francis is currently seventh on his team in
points with 12 (5 G, 7 A).
"I'd be lying if I said, personally, that I didn't think I would
have a few more points by now," Francis told the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazaette. "I don't think I'm playing awful. It just wasn't
happening for a while."
Francis assisted on Keith Primeau's power-play goal in the first
period against Pittsburgh.
Scouting the Schedule
The Hurricanes will get four days off and won't take to the ice
until Thursday when they host Boston. Two more times this season
the Hurricanes will have a four days between games.
On December 12th they'll host the defending Cup champion Detroit
Red Wings and on the 15th Edmonton comes to town. After that,
they'll begin another three-games-in-four-days stretch when they
travel to Ottawa on the 18th and Buffalo on the 19th. Two days
later they'll host the Sabres in a home-and-home series. In their
final game before the Christmas break, Carolina travels to New
York to take on the Rangers.
NHL's House of Style
Canada's new national newspaper, The National Post, recently
rated NHL team jerseys based on "chicness."
Toronto, Philadelphia and LA's purple ones were among the top,
while Carolina, Anaheim, San Jose and Phoenix were at the bottom.
At least they're in first place.
Saying Good-bye
This season, when Fox begins telecasts of NHL games, one thing
that won't be back is that wonderful piece of modern technology -
The Fox Glow Puck. I really don't know which era was tougher for
me to live through - the Glow Puck, or listening to the New Kids
on the Block. Both were rather haunting.
I don't think there was anything more insulting to a hockey fan
then having to watch a playoff game with blue streaks, red
streaks and dancing robots. Think it's any coincidence that this
is the last year of Fox's contract? Please, let ESPN handle the
broadcasting from now on. By the way, Fox will also be saving
$50,000 dollars a game by dumping the concept.
Intermission Changes
For the 7000-or so fans that actually attend Carolina Hurricanes
hockey games, you may or may not have noticed some changes during
the intermissions. The NHL has become a bit stricter in yet
another effort to increase goal scoring.
The changes took place for the first time back on Monday,
November 30 and include:
- On-ice entertainment between periods must now end by the
12-minute mark of the intermission. This will allow extra time
for the ice to harden.
- Teams will not be allowed back on the ice until the one-minute
mark of intermission. At that time, only the six starters of the
upcoming period will be allowed to skate, the other players will
go directly to the bench.
- Players must be off the ice by the end of the 20-minute warm-up
prior to the game.
