Eric Staal and Cam Ward Keep Carolina Rolling: Hurricanes 4, Islanders 1
by Bob Wage on Jan 29, 2010 1:02 AM EST
40 comments
Eric Staal scored his eighth goal in his last five games, Cam Ward stopped 26 of 27 shots, and the Carolina Hurricanes won their third game in a row as they defeated the New York Islanders on Thursday night, 4-1.
Staal earned his 400th career point in the contest as he also assisted on an empty net goal by Jussi Jokinen. The center accomplished this feat in just 450 games. The new team captain extended his current scoring streak to seven games and has 12 points in this streak.
The Hurricanes jumped out to a lead again in this contest as Staal took a very nice pass from Brandon Sutter while on a powerplay and banged his own rebound past Rick DiPietro just 9:40 into the period. The powerplay remains hot as the team finished 1-3 on the night and is clicking at 40% over the past five games, (8-20). Staal has scored five of those eight goals.
Three minutes after that tally, Matt Cullen picked up a turnover in the New York zone and placed a perfect shot in the corner of the net to make the score 2-0.
The second period was a defensive struggle as neither team could get much going offensively. The Canes out-shot the Islanders 5-3.
Midway through the third period, Carolina was killing a penalty and Stephane Yelle got a nice breakout pass from Patrick Dwyer. Yelle took the puck on a rush, shot it through Doug Weight's legs, and roofed another one past DiPietro.
Late in the game with the score 3-0, many fans could not help but wonder if Cam Ward would get his first shutout of the season, but it was not meant to be. With about four minutes left, Matt Moulson picked up a loose puck in the Carolina zone and beat the goalie with a wicked wrister to ruin the shutout bid.
The last time Ward got a shutout was against these Islanders in April of 2009.
Late in the game, Ray Whitney dug out the puck along the boards and gave it to Staal who fed a hard skating Jussi Jokinen. The Finn took the puck almost all the way to the empty net and flicked it in to finish the scoring.
The Canes will not practice on Friday as they rest up before taking on powerhouse Chicago on Saturday night.
Game Notes:
- Ray Whitney joins Staal with a seven game scoring streak. (2 goals and 7 assists).
- Matt Cullen has 16 points in his last 16 games.
- Before this game, Cam Ward had a GAA of 2.22 and save percentage of .933 in his last 15 games. Obviously, he improved upon those stats. Ward has a lifetime record of 13-2-1 against the Islanders.
- The Canes had 20 blocked shots led by Niclas Wallin who had four. Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason had three each.
- Wallin also led the team with four hits.
- Pitkanen had 29:27 of ice time, leading both teams. That is a lot of time on the ice for the second game of a back-to-back.
- Matt Cullen had a team high five shots on goal.
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Canes now a full 5 points ahead of the seriously awful Oilers.
sportstalkbuzz.com
by Great Ice-Pectations on Jan 29, 2010 1:48 AM EST reply actions
Hmm....
Not just three in a row….three dominating efforts. Can they run up a long streak? Hell, get to .500 and you just never know….there is a lot of hockey to play. Just sayin.
was a good game !! but as a fan i felt sorta cheated withvthe " big announcement" that wasn’t…but then again considering a radio broadcast contract here in acity the cize of Raleigh…i can se why that could be seen as a " big deal"…I like and would take Chuck K over tripp Tracey anyday…but i’m a fan, what would I know ?? Go canes !!
If you think you can't, you won't !
I’ll be going to the game on Saturday, even if we have a “Blizzard” of a snow. It will be interesting to see how many fans actually show up, due to how everyone freaks out about the weather.
As long as the Hawks get into Raleigh I don’t care how bad or how deep it is……I’m there!!
I'm Jim Rutherfords assitant and decision maker. -Canescup
by canescup on Jan 29, 2010 9:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
No worries, according to my cop buddies, as long as the two teams are in town, they’re playing. And Chicago should be here this afternoon. Even if theres not a single fan to watch it. Which I know will not be the case, cause I’ll be there even if I have to walk. Or maybe canescup can come pick me up on his way?? ;)
Been waiting for this match up.....
Even if I have to buy a pack of sled dogs were there, oh yea you can jump on.
I'm Jim Rutherfords assitant and decision maker. -Canescup
by canescup on Jan 29, 2010 11:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I have been waiting for this match up for a couple of weeks now, too. Now that we have found our groove it should really be an entertaining game.
"Last season we couldn't win at home and we were losing on the road. My failure was that I couldn't think of any place else to play." - Harry Neale
by hotchipsnsalsa on Jan 29, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
oh, and briney, i was talking about one poster in particular in the original thread. that poster is the only one who never responded to the thread. i thought everyone else was fine but it turned out everyone else took it personally. i didn’t think anyone else was guilty of what i was saying. so, go ahead and hold a grudge when you weren’t caniac carded, nor was anyone else who got mad about it. they did that themselves. i’ve said from the start i loved coming here. but, it’s all gotten twisted by people who were never questioned to begin with.
Love, love, love the 'Canes!
sorry…it was meant as a joke. i thought it had been long enough that it would be funny now…you know, like when you wait the obligatory period of time after an awkward situation and then make a joke about it. thought it would make you laugh!
sorry man. no, i’ve gotten sensitive about it now. i apologize.
Love, love, love the 'Canes!
by Caniac Jack on Jan 30, 2010 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
They’re having a hard time posting right now what with all that crow stuck in their throat.
by drifterscape on Jan 29, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions
it sucks for me to say this, but JR needs to make a trade, and it needs to be very soon.
The tradeables’ value is pretty darn high right now…a team like calgary or ott could be buyers right now. Lets please get a top 3 draft pick!
patience grasshopper.
Corvo isn’t even warmed up yet.
by drifterscape on Jan 29, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Trade
I still don’t think anything drastic needs to happen, but you’r right; the most likely candidates to be traded are really embarking on some nice point streaks which will help their value if/when they are offered as trade bait.
I always worry about messing with team chemistry a whole lot…sure some changes need to be made but you just hope JR makes the right ones
At this point, I doubt they’re too worried about chemistry. Where’s the team going this year, anyway?
No, trading expiring contracts for fresh assets will continue on course, along with anyone that has a contract, but no place on the roster next year.
I suspect that managing and enhancing the team’s assets are now first and foremost in the GM’s mind, moreso than upsetting team chemistry.
was there last night
awesome game. as great as being at the boston game on sunday. :)
If Ray Whitney does not retire a Carolina Hurricane, I'll go egg Jim Rutherfords car and TP his house.
Home record
As a STH, I would like to thank the team for at least posting a home record to date of 12-12-3.
It’s that 6-16-4 away record that’s killing us.
But, at least we’ve had a 50-50 chance of seeing a win this season when they played in front of us, with a handful of overtime losses thrown in.
So, it’s been a familiar Forever 0.500 experience watching them play in 3-D.
Again, I would think that the Wizard or Wallin would be open to waiving the NTC to become a rental for a contender. It seems that, if #13 is to be a perenial 1 year contact Cane until he joins the front office, that he would pitch in to get valuable draft picks. Maybe that is not how it really works, just makes sense to me. In such a case, we would really want whatever team lands him to exit the post season quickly to assure us of the highest possibe pick.
THE QUEST FOR TAYLOR HALL...or maybe Seguin..possibly Fowler...from 30th to the top!!! OR MAYBE 27TH OR SO....
by Caniac233 on Jan 29, 2010 12:41 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Went to the game, except for the second period it was a fun one. The biggest thing I noticed from the Canes’ was the fact that they are having fun again. Now matter how this season turns out, the boys are playing good, smiling and just plain having fun. A. Ward is still an on ice disaster, and Brindy is getting slower by the game, and his on ice stare.. I think is more of a squint and him trying to see without his contacts in, how he missed that steal in front of the open net is beyond me. As for the “female hockey fans”, saw no difference just a lot of lovely ladies enjoying the game of hockey. Heard they were loading the plow on the Zamboni for the lot tomorrow… GO CANES’ woop them Hawks’
I was at the game too. A great game, though I sat on the side (sec 117) where the ‘Canes only shoot once – the once being the dud of a 2nd period. Still, great time, loved Yelle’s SH goal. Cam looked awesome. The only goal against could have been avoided if they’d been able to clear the front — LaRose was open and could have taken a pass, but whoever had the puck didn’t see him.
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