Canes on Cloud Nine, Outlast Sens, 2-1
by Bob Wage on Mar 26, 2009 2:37 AM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
22 comments
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The Carolina Hurricanes tied a franchise record by winning their ninth game in a row at home last night with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators in front of 17,146 at the RBC. After a cautiously slow opening two periods, which almost seemed like a chess match between two strategic teams, both clubs opened it up in the third. Carolina had a bit more fire in their game than the visitors did though, and scored the two goals needed for the win.
Just a minute into the deciding final period, the Senators got on the board when a loose puck got by Anton Babchuk right in front of Cam Ward. Ryan Shannon was there to flick the puck in the net for Ottawa, and the Canes were down 1-0. The defenseman slammed his stick on the ice in anger, but he would atone for his mistake later in the game.
The home team seemed a bit flat right then, but Paul Maurice put the fourth line into the game. They responded in a big way by driving to the net, hard. Ryan Bayda and Dwight Helminen mixed it up with a couple of Sens, and then Tim Conboy tried to join the scrum. The brief skirmish got the crowd back into the game and seemed to inspire the bench as well. Conboy took a roughing penalty along with the Sens Jarko Ruutu and the teams played four on four for two minutes.
About a minute into the "advantage", Rod Brind'Amour joined a rush along with Ray Whitney and Joe Corvo. Whitney put the puck on net and the rebound bounced out to the captain. Brind'Amour sent the puck right back to the net very quickly to tie the score.
The Hurricanes were outplaying the Sens at this time, but could not connect on several close plays. They finally were able to draw a penalty though because of the hard work of Chad LaRose and the powerplay unit came on the ice.
While the first unit came up short, the next group came out and for the second consecutive game, Joni Pitkanen would serve up a perfect game winning assist, this time to pairing partner, Anton Babchuk. In what's becoming a familiar sight to fans, the red hot "Rocket Man" rifled in another blast from the point to give the Hurricanes the only lead they would need.
Game Notes:
As usual, Tuomo Ruutu played a very physical game and was credited with five hits, one of them a crushing blow to Christoph Schubert near center ice. The Sens winger didn't see the Finn come at him and was almost knocked cold. He laid on the ice for several minutes afterwards, but seemed to gather his wits on the bench. After the game Ruutu said that he was concerned for the other skater and hoped he was all right. "You always want to have a clean hit, but you are never sure when it happens. I asked the ref after the play, and he said it was clean".
Rumors of Rod Brind'Amour's early retirement are greatly exaggerated. The captain has been on a tear of late and has 6 goals and 14 points in the last 10 games. He picked a perfect time to crank up his game.
Eric Staal shadowed Jason Spezza all night long and if you looked at the scoresheet, you would think that the Ottawa center didn't play. Zero points and zero shots in 21 minutes of action. He was a non-factor. The Carolina first line completely neutralized their counterparts, all night long. On the other side of the ice, Staal made a magic move through the defense only to hit the post on what would have been a highlight reel goal.
Ray Whitney just keeps doing what he does every game. Scores points, sets up plays, and leads the team on and off the ice. It's a shame he does not get any Hart Trophy consideration.
If Anton Babchuk gets any hotter, he'll have to put his stick down on the ice and pretend that he can't pick it up. As we have mentioned before here on the blog, not only has he been racking up points but he ranks near the very top in the NHL regarding plus/minus since the All Star break.
Once again, Joni Pitkanen led the team with 23 plus minutes of TOI and was very solid on defense, to go along with his game winning assist. Did the Oilers give up on him too soon?
Who was in front of the net blocking the goalie's view on Babchuk's game winner? None other than Jussi Jokinen, who has done yeoman's work at filling in for injured Matt Cullen.
Cam Ward started his 23rd consecutive game and is 15-6-2 during the stretch. He is quietly looking like one of the top goalies in the NHL.
Since the Hurricanes just defeated the hottest team in the league, what does that make them? They are 9-2-1 in the month of March, have won nine in a row at home and five in a row, overall. Their next game is in New Jersey on Saturday night.
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the theme of Hurricanes Rock..
worst part of the night. Hurricanes Rock with David Cook??? WHAT?
best part of the night was Ruutu’s hit. That made me smile.
The hurricanes are surprising me every game and I"m happy. But I think the reality for our greatness lies in our depth. When the 4th line can step it up, you’ve got depth that isn’t recognized by the other teams.
Strange but good
The ice made the game a bit odd, the puck didn’t want to bounce in anybody’s favor, but it did do a lot of bouncing. I’m glad we pulled through it better than then Sens. Great effort and great physical play! RUUUuuuuuu!
And despite the unsoldout crowd, I assure you we were loud enough to make up for it. :)
David Cook….yea….whatever. Agreed that was stupid. Shoulda brought in Carrie Underwood to distract Fisher.
I could go the rest of my life and not see or hear anyone or anything from American Idol (David Cook, Keri Underwood, Clay Stupid, WHOEVER….) and it would be fine…. that joke of a talent contest definitely does not have any place at a hockey game!
Great game last night…. I’m glad RUUUuuuuutu didn’t kill that guy……
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 26, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions
Dude…. There are some people who (regardless of how beautiful they are) just need to go home and stay there…..
This would include ANYONE who has ever appeared on American Idol……
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 26, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Best part of the night was Jaws and Sharko going at it – surprised no one got bit…
:)
by Andrea's evil twin on Mar 26, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
haha, that is the first thing I thought of when I read his name up there…and that scruff mcgruff song on 99.9 the fan- taking a bite out of crime….(i hope they stop airing that!!)
by PittsburghCaniac on Mar 26, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions
Ironic
I think it is funny thinking back to earlier this season about all of the people(including some on here) who said Ward was an average goalie at best and how the team better get another goaltender to take his place, i.e, Leighton. Ward is one of the main, if not the main reason why this team is playing so well as of late. Ever since Maurice came in and they made the D a little more sound this guy is playing unreal. I agree with Bubba that he is quietly becoming one of the best goalies in the league. The Canes better plan on giving him a long and high dollar contract in the off season as we have all now seen that this guy is the real deal!
The dude was the MVP of the playoffs in his rookie season….. and followed it up w/ two very mediocre seasons….. He may be the hottest thing going right now…. but he still has a lot to prove…..
In the NHL you can only be considered to be the “real deal” when you are consistent…. which means being just as good next year as you are this year and the year after that….
There is a reason guys like Brodeur are so rare……
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 26, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
That is great for him that he was the MVP of the playoffs but I dont think its fair to him or yourself to expect that type of performance on a nightly basis the next year especially after the team lost multiple key players. That to me showed what type of player he can become (which I think he is coming into that player now) not what to expect immediately.
I never once said that Ward is like Brodeur. I did say that he is the real deal though. I dont know how you can say that he was very mediocre last year when he was tied for the 4th most wins in the entire NHL. That doesnt sound too mediocre and if it is I will take him being very mediocre every season! :)
Maybe the team was very mediocre but thats not the point being made….
He was 4th with wins because he had to play almost every game because we had no backup goalie(sorry Graham cracker). So how many games did Cam play compared to other goalies…….
Cam played 69 games last season (good number).
This year he has played 63 so far with only Kiprusoff and Backstrom have played more.
and Turco.
Cam and Lundqvist have had eerily comparable seasons, and while Lundqvist’s numbers haven’t been quite as good as the last two seasons (when he was a Vezina finalist), they are pretty close.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare him to Brodeur, b/c that’s the top of the pile, but I think you could argue Cam is the best of the NHL’s young goalies (with Steve Mason, though new to the scene, in that group). Look here at the youngest guys to play this year. Anyone you would take over Ward other than Mason? None for me.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 26, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Would it be fair to compare him to Jesus Price???
;-) I’m joking…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 26, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
All I said was that he has still not proven himself….. He is playing great RIGHT NOW…. But he (much like a lot of guys on our team) have yet to prove that they can sustain such play from season to season…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 26, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
He has three-straight 30-win seasons while playing behind a team that didn’t help him a lot of nights. I don’t think he has to prove anything … the league is one of “what have you done for me lately” (see all the people who called for Brind’Amour to retire a couple months back despite years of consistency) and right now Cam is one of the top five goalies in the league.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
I dunno, I think Rod has something to prove. Ward maybe not so much. If you look at it objectively, he’s a 4th liner and he dam sure oughtta shine once in awhile in that role…….and that’s about all he’s done. Get him back on a playing level of 1st or 2nd and then we are talking. He is still playing WAY BELOW what he was. Rod’s little streak as a back up may put some starch in your panties, but I expect more from a guy wearing the C. As for Ward, he’s carried this team now and a again and has been hung out to dry a few times. He’s also had some stinkers, but all in all I think he’s a number one and has alot of potential. I think Mo has had alot to do with Cam’s improved stats and the teams as a whole. Be interesting how the PO’s shake out here the next week or so. I think the ‘Canes could make it through the first round and while I think they are outgunned from there on, once you get through the first round, it’s a whole new ball game. Could get interesting and fun.
A
4th liner? He’s been playing between 17-20 minutes a night. He has points in 10 of 12 games this month. That’s not once in a while. Do you think it’s coincidence that he took time off, shook off the bumps and bruises that would affect any near-40 y/o player and bounced back to play incredibly well? Captains lead their team when they need it most … they also don’t make it public when they’re hurt (which Brind’Amour was).
So who’s being objective?
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 26, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah…. I think that most of Brind’Amours problem early on in the season is that he was simply injured and may have tried to do too much too soon…. Not everyone can heal as quickly as Justin Williams….
From watching him in games (you can tell more in person than on the TV) I think that Rod is almost back…. he may still be slightly “off” but it is obvious that he is feeling and playing much much better lately…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 27, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
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