Eight Miles High - Canes Top Pens in OT, 3-2

by Bob Wage on Apr 5, 2009 1:43 AM EDT in Hurricanes Game Related

Ladies and gentlemen, you can officially start your playoff beards. The Carolina Hurricanes are returning to postseason play. The team won their eighth straight game, and franchise record 11th in a row at home as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2 in overtime.

Anton Babchuk rifled in the all important game-winning goal, but this game belonged to goalie Cam Ward.

Ward stopped a breakaway shot by Sidney Crosby. He stopped a penalty shot attempt by the league's top scorer, Evgeni Malkin. He even stopped one shot while laying on his back after he lost his stick. To say that the goalie was "in the zone" would be an understatement.

The Penguins jumped on the Canes early as Tyler Kennedy got open and backhanded a shot past Ward about five minutes into the game. The visitors seemed to have some extra energy early and caused several Carolina turnovers, but the home team came storming back later in the period. Once again it was "Erik to Eric" for another score. Erik Cole took a pass from Tuomo Ruutu and skated behind the net. Then he found Eric Staal right in front and Staal got the puck past Fleury to tie the game.

Staal now has 24 points in the last 16 games.

In the opening minute of the second period, Chad LaRose would continue his hot streak as he took advantage of superior passing by Ray Whitney and Jussi Jokinen, for his 19th goal of the season. The "Wizard" dropped a fancy pass to Jokinen who found an open LaRose at the left slot. The winger, who had two goals on Thursday, blasted his shot past Fleury to give the Hurricanes the lead.

The team was able to hold onto the fragile lead until the third period when Jordan Staal used a lightning quick release to beat Ward and tie the score. The Penguins would control a good part of the final period, but could not solve the NHL's first star for March. Malkin broke free and got a decent shot attempt off, but was still awarded a penalty shot when Tim Gleason tried to wrap him up. The goalie ended up stopping both Malkin shots though, as the Russian star seemed to be undecided as he skated in alone.

The Hurricanes were awarded a powerplay of their own for the final two minutes of the game when Bill Guerin tripped Tuomo Ruutu, but they were unable to take advantage of it, and the game went into overtime.

Carolina dominated the extra period as if they were still on the powerplay and had multiple chances to win it. Finally, Tim Gleason guided the puck over to Babchuk, and the blueliner knocked in his 14th of the season for the game winner.

Game Notes:

It was not the best game for the Hurricanes as the Penguins controlled play for large chunks of time and had higher quality scoring chances. But it was still a fast-paced, up and down exciting hockey game. The difference was Cam Ward, as he stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced. The goalie is now 18-6-2 during his 26 consecutive game streak.

Anton Babchuk had been quiet for a couple of games, but he has been another player who has been red hot the past month or so. "Babs" has scored 10 goals in the past 20 games. No doubt he will get a big raise during the offseason from his current million dollar contract, but will it be with the Canes?

Eric Staal had another great game. When the Pens took the lead, you could see him trying to assert himself and take over the game. His line was able to help contain the high scoring Pittsburgh superstars.

Malkin and Crosby were both pointless and finished with a -2. Were they cherry picking while waiting for their breakways?

Ex-Hurricane Craig Adams had two nice attempts on goal which Ward made tough saves on.

One can not say enough about Cam Ward. John Forslund said after the game that he is the hottest goalie in the NHL right now. Couple that with his history of winning the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup, and at this point no one wants to face this team in the playoffs.

The Canes won 60% of the game's faceoffs, with Rod Brind'Amour winning 75%. (12 of 16)

Dennis Seidenberg led the team with five blocked shots. Tuomo Ruutu had two takeaways and Scott Walker led the way with five hits.

Playoff tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday morning at the RBC box office.

_______

A couple of post game interviews :

Anton Babchuk says that making it to the playoffs and the play of Cam Ward is "unbelievable".

Eric Staal gives the crowd more props.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Fantastic article Bubba!

It is awesome to be back in the playoffs- and the ’Canes organization and fans surely need it. I think that I am going to wear my ’Canes jersey tomorrow here in Crosby-Country . . . but I might change my mind . . . might not be safe :)

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 5, 2009 3:44 AM EDT reply actions

DO IT MAN...........JUST DO IT.

by KenRab on Apr 5, 2009 6:38 AM EDT reply actions

Ken, I wusssed out like a champ!!!! My wife told me that “we live in the city, and you like your car, it would not be smart to aggravate the people around you would it?”…..well, I thought about it, agreed, and well, she won, and if I had a tail, it would be between my legs! But, I did wear one of my ’Canes t-shirts- and when I went to the gas station one of the locals stopped me and asked a stupid question- “what does your shirt say?” I hope that his comment was not indicative of his ability to “read.”

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 6, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

We were sitting in the middle of 4 Pens fans at the game. It was great. After the Canes scored we were high fivin and each time I turned to those guys and motioned to high five then said…………oh you are not happy now are you…….lol. Good stuff.

by KenRab on Apr 5, 2009 6:47 AM EDT reply actions

jeesh. I told my wife we go get tickets if we made the playoffs. I’ve gotta get up there tuesday morn.

Oh the interview with Babchuk after the game was really good. He was even confident in his post game talk with Trip and Jon!

by neaux on Apr 5, 2009 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Corvo show that much emotion before.
I don’t think the people sitting around me will ever get their hearing back (sorry!)
Simply beautiful :-)

by T-Leaf on Apr 5, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

And I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard at LaRose with his “tripping”

by T-Leaf on Apr 5, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

What a game! A great antidote for the Boston/NYR 1-0 snoozefest I napped through earlier in the day.

by nomadologist on Apr 5, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

It was clear in last night’s game. The game played out like I thought it would. If you look at the teams just based on the salaries and their team makup, one may have guessed that Pittsburgh would come out hard and fast because they are top loaded. They are inexperienced so they are like the impulsive child. They throw everything they have at you as soon as they can. The Canes looked like the patient, experienced and calm team. They were strong defensively and waited for the chances to come to them. As the game progressed, the rolling of the lines began to take a toll on the Pen’s top line. At around the half way point of the game, you got the feeling that the Canes were coming in waves and were going to win it. When Cam made the stop on the Malkin penalty shot, you just could feel the win coming. Babchuk was close to getting his shot off several times but the passes just didn’t click. I told the guy next to me, Babchuk is going to get one off for the winner. Then,,,,,,,,,,,bam it was in. He looked at me a little funny. I gave him the Michael Jordan shoulder shrug. This team is very very dangerous. They can beat you in many ways. They can shut you down defensively, they can run and gun, they can slap the speed on you, they can out hustle you, they can smack you in the mouth, they can goalie slap you. It reminds me of the finals in 2002. Detroit looked lost in the first game. They looked bad for most of game 2. Then Scottie Boman changed the style of his team. He decided to beat the Canes at their own trap game. They never looked back. That was impressive. The point here is that this team has the ability to change styles unlike the 2002 or the 2006 team. We have not had a team like this before.

That was the third time I have seen Crosby live. He is smooth but he is no Gretsky. I am left with the feeling that he is a spoiled, undisiplined, cheap shot, cherry picker. A player’s personality translates to the ice. His actions said he cannot be liked by even his own teammates.

He has no respect for others on the ice. I don’t mean he is head hunting or anything like that. He just seem to have no regard for anyone else. "I am a superstar and the rest of you guys cannot even hold my jock strap" This is backed up by his post game comments. You didn’t hear "We got beat" you heard a whining " We didn’t get the breaks. The Canes were lucky…..We are going to win most of the time if we play like that………attitude. No respect. He is a punk. He snowed Cam Ward for no reason. Just to be an ass. Eric Staal put a licking on him in the second period that was like no hit I have seen Staal make. It was like Jordan had said to Eric, that guy is a punk. All you have to do is hit him and you can take him out of his game. That is what Eric did and that is what happened. It was really hysterical. Perhaps I am reading into this a lot but I think you can see inside a person’s head by their actions. I didn’t really see this before. The Penguins are in trouble if they face the Canes in the playoffs.

Who wants to face the Canes right now? Anyone……..anyone?

by KenRab on Apr 5, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

GREAT POST KEN!!!! Although I did not watch the game, you gave me a real “feel” for what transpired. And yes, I really enjoy it when you rip on Crosby- cannot stand him!

by PittsburghCaniac on Apr 6, 2009 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions