Well, it hasn't been the best of weeks for the Canes. They seemed
like a hockey team content to limp into the playoffs until
Tuesday night against the Devils (I'll get to that later, in the
game recaps...don't hurt yourself in anticipation). Thanks to
some completely horrible play by the Florida Panthers, a
season-ending injury to Pavel Bure, and some gritty effort
(FINALLY!), the Canes now have an eight-point lead over Florida.
This practically reserves the Panthers' tee times in April and
gives the Hurricanes some serious momentum to build upon come
playoff time. Now they need to avoid the classic Whaler dance of
doom, which will land them beached up on the Carolina Country
Club's 1st green.
LEAFED IN THE STORM: How's that for clever, using two
teams' names in one pun! You know you want to be able to that.
Now why would I resort to such a crappy, pathetic pun like this?
Well, it's mainly because the Hurricanes played a crappy,
pathetic game against both the explosive Maple Leafs and the
exploded Lightning. The Canes blew a 3-1 lead going into the 3rd
to tie the Lightning just after being schooled by the Leafs in a
7-2 rout (which was 7-1 before Paul Ranheim's hard work paid off
in a very late 3rd period goal).
This was completely pathetic, and the team knew it. The Canes
were becoming the Whalers in some sort of sick hockey
metamorphosis and teams were actually hoping to get the 6th spot
just to play them. That hurts.
IRBE INKS DEAL: The Canes signed everyone's favorite
goalie, Arturs "Like Wall" Irbe, to a three-year contract worth
$5.8 million. The contract helps the journeyman settle down and
includes several bonuses that will net the minder of the nets
some spare change. The big thing about the contract is that it
includes a no-trade clause which means that the two million a
year backup, Trevor Kidd, is guaranteed to be either exposed in
the expansion draft or traded to a team that takes him. Irbe is
accredited with leading the lackluster losing team to the
division title this year thanks to his powerful play in the first
half.
Wow, what a wonderful week. Canes keep being kept.
LADOUCER TO SUIT UP: After having called up Marek Malik,
Steve Halko, and Mike Rucinski to suit up for the Canes, Paul
Maurice must be sympathetic for the Beast of New Haven's
defensive corps. Not only is Florida pulling up New Haven d-men
(The Beast are affiliates of both Florida and the Hurricanes) but
we are as well. Randy Ladoucer, who has gained a few pounds since
retiring a few years ago, is being scouted heavily by the AHL
squad. He declined the invitation, explaining that the Penguins
had already signed him to a two-year contract. Terms were not
disclosed.
STEVIE RETURNS: Steve Chiasson underwent what some said
could be career ending surgery on his shoulder January 5th.
Chiasson, perhaps the Canes' most offensive defenseman, has just
been cleared to play after three months of waiting for Saturday's
game against Gilligan's Islanders. Chiasson not only is happy to
return but is suspected to be the iron lung to the Canes' power
play, which has almost run out of scapegoats. I said almost,
naturally, because the checking line hasn't seen any power-play
time. But when they do, we'll be there to whine about their lack
of effort and goal scoring. That's a promise, slugger!
GAME RECAPS:
NY Islanders, 3/24, 2-1 W: Thanks to the stellar play of
Arturs Irbe, stopping several mid-game breakaways, the slumping
Hurricanes pulled out a win due to Kovalenko's goal and Bobby
Kron's game-winner. Irbe had to make 23 stops, but just one in
the third period.
Toronto, 3/26, 7-2 L: Irbe let in three goals in his first
three shots and Kidd helped the other four get in as Toronto
punked the Canes in what can only be described as a good ol'
whipping. Despite the general lackluster play of the team,
Carolina managed to score late in the game due to Paul Ranheim's
hustle, and Keith Primeau scored early in the first before the
game burst open.
Tampa Bay, 3/29, 3-3 T: Defensive miscues and some hustle
from the last place Lightning resulted in this tie, which looks
awful on paper and was worse in person. The Canes let in two
goals in the 3rd to blow their lead against the wretched Bolts.
Ron Francis, Sami Kapanen, and Ray Sheppard all scored for the
Canes.
at Philadelphia, 3/30, 3-3 T: The Canes managed a comeback
on this nationally televised game against the injury-decimated,
Lindros-less Flyers. Trevor Kidd let in a soft goal early in the
game, and the Flyers took a 3-1 lead into the 3rd before Marek
Malik (yes, I know this sounds wrong) scored...on the power play.
Don't worry, it was Hextall's fault. And Gelinas scored to tie
the game, because Gelinas is clutch, and clutch is what it's all
about.
at Chicago, 4/3, 2-1 L: Tough guy Bob Probert, a short
time after being placed on waivers, scored to finish off the
Canes, who looked pathetic all night despite leading the game for
a while on Jeff O'Neill's goal. The Hurricanes played with a
severely decimated defense which was without four normal
starters. But still, it was a loss to the Blackhawks. Ouch.
New Jersey, 4/7, 4-2 W: Four different Hurricanes scored
and Irbe posted a shutout (until I left, I must have jinxed
him...) for most of the game in this domination of the powerful
Devils. A definite wake up call for the Canes, they played hard
and reaped the benefits, which included - I kid you not - another
power-play goal, this one scored by Jeff O'Neill. What would have
been Paul Coffey's 3rd goal of they year was disallowed on a
crease infraction by Keith Primeau, this goal almost being the
Canes' 2nd power-play goal in the game. Hold all gasps of
amazement until after this - Gary Roberts scored again. Roberts,
having been snakebit for three months, scored on a fluke bounce.
Sheppard and Primeau were the other goal scorers for the Canes,
which broke a four-game winless streak and several sticks.
There's no place like home, even, sometimes, for people who live
in Jersey.
