Clicks and Clippings: Here and gone

The Carolina Hurricanes are back in town tonight hosting the Boston Bruins. This is the last home game for nearly two weeks as the NC State Fair starts this weekend. They play four games on the road, before returning to Raleigh in about 2 weeks, when the Ottawa Senators bring their crew of rookie talent to the RBC Center on October 25.

Tonight's game has a 7:30 start because it will be aired nationally on Versus. We'll have our game preview up later but for now some links and stories about tonight's game and other news for the Carolina hockey fans.

[Ed note: I didn't rate them all, but the feature posts that are marked with ★★★★★ ratings are my Must-Read's for today. ★★★★ is worth making time for]

Game Previews

Canes looking for first win tonight - Chip Alexander, NewsObserver.com The Hurricanes are not feeling well about their 0-2-1 start. The same can be said for the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, who are off to a 1-2 start heading into tonight's game at the RBC Center.

Carolina Hurricanes to host Stanley Cup champions on national stage - Raleigh Sports Examiner.com The Big Bad Boston Bruins are coming to Raleigh, N.C. on Wednesday night.

Krejci out after practice injury - The Boston Globe After Monday's 1-0 loss to Colorado, Bruins coach Claude Julien hinted that a shakeup of his unproductive first line might be in the works, as the Milan Lucic - David Krejci - Nathan Horton unit was shut out for the second time in three games this season.

Corvo's style of play a welcomed addition to Bruins - Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.com In many ways Corvo is actually the polar opposite of Kaberle: A frequent and dangerous shooter with a quick skating stride and the willingness to speed the puck into the offensive zone with his quick bursts of speed. ★★★★

Profiling the Hurricanes

Jeff Skinner was on the primetime Sportstalk program at NBC last night. Good one. If this screen below doesn't load, here's the link. (2:44) ★★★

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Other interviews

Tim Gleason - Interview with Mike Maniscalco  - aired pregame Monday talking about the defense and the goalies. He even talks about Skinner's fight. (6 minutes) ★★★★

Justin Faulk - interview with Mike Maniscalco recorded last week and aired prior to the game vs Washington, Saturday. Really well done. He even giggles when Mike asks him if he's brought out his NCAA Championship ring to show off here. (6 minutes) ★★★★★

More on the team 

5 questions after 3 - Matt Karash , HockeyBuzz.com Quickly 3 games deep in the Canes 2011-12 season, here is a set of 5 questions and 5 statements based on what we have seen so far.

 

The Future of the Blueline

Rookie Justin Faulk, like his Hurricanes, in early-season learning curve - Jesse Spector, Sporting News After three games, the numbers are as ugly for rookie defenseman Justin Faulk as they are for his team, the 0-2-1 Carolina Hurricanes. With no points, a minus-6 and 10 penalty minutes, Faulk, 19, is getting a rude welcome to the league. ★★★

"We like where he’s at," Maurice said. "You see that young players show the (wear of) three games in three-and-a-half days first. The older guys are a little used to the grind. I think he showed that a little bit today, but overall we’re very happy with him. … He’s a little quicker, a little more physical."

Sanguinetti's Healthy Return - Paul Branecky, gocheckers.com Entering the new season, Sanguinetti has a chance to start over. After recording three assists in the Checkers’ first two games against Norfolk last weekend, he looks and feels like he’s back to his old self. ★★★

Boston College’s Brian Dumoulin consistent to the highest degree - U.S. College Hockey Online  The junior defenseman returned to school despite being told he was ready for the pros. ★★★★★

"Obviously, it was very tough especially when an NHL team expresses how much it wants you to play for it," Dumoulin said. "Just hearing it from [director of hockey operations] Ron Francis and [general manager] Jim Rutherford was eye-opening. They said they thought I was ready, so they must have known what they were doing.

"But I came to BC to get a good, quality education and get a degree (he’s enrolled in the Carroll School of Management). Obviously, my parents (Peter and Deb Dumoulin) wanted me to make the right decision. I also had a 1½-hour talk with Mr. Rutherford. It all came down to my wanting a degree from Boston College and to be close enough to graduate at some point. If I had left after my sophomore year it would have been difficult someday to get my degree. That means a lot to my family and me."

 

For a broader look on when it's best to make the jump to the NHL:

Rushing Young Prospects Into The NHL, And Why Teams Do It - SBNation.com NHL teams are faced with tough decisions when 18-year-old prospects try to push their way onto pro rosters. The options are few, and many NHL teams make hasty calls that can negatively impact player development.

 

Goalie chirps

Goaltender Abuse: Where’s The Line Between Right And Wrong? - Justin Bourne, Backhand Shelf | theScore.com   includes a video from Monday's game prefaced with:  That’s Patrik Elias basically kneeing Cam Ward in the face in the process of mowing him over like he’s one of those inflatable kids punching bags with sand in the bottom.

Former Checkers/Everblades goaltender Bobby Goepfert responded: After reading your article and sitting in disbelief at how you dehumanize the men behind the mask, I as a member of the Goaltending Fraternity "Gamma Omega Alpha Lambda Iota Epsilon: Minors & Abroad Chapter", I feel it my duty to challenge you to a duel.

 

Alignment chatter and other fallout from the Atlanta to Winnipeg move

Red Wings in Southeast? Jets in Central? NHL wimps out? - Puck Daddy Bob McKenzie of TSN stuck his finger in the wind on NHL realignment, and has discovered the NHL may give the finger to a number of teams not named the Detroit Red Wings. ★★★

On night of celebration, jabs toward Atlanta unnecessary - Jesse Spector, Sporting News It was financial reality that led to the Thrashers’ demise, and fortunate for Winnipeg that Mark Chipman was so dedicated to reviving the Jets. That’s all it was. Hockey can flourish in non-traditional markets if given a chance—just ask San Jose, where there is not a natural patch of ice to be found, but the Sharks have had 100 percent or greater average attendance each of the past three seasons. Or talk to people in Tampa, Raleigh or Anaheim, where the local NHL outfits have captured the Stanley Cup along with the hearts of the people. ★★★★★

Prospects and Alumni

Whalers Get in the Pink for the Week | MLive.com Goaltender Scott Wedgewood is a four-year veteran of the Pink Out! and decided to go with a blow-dried look after working with a Mohawk in other years. Alex Aleardi looked sharp in a pink do that was slicked back. Matt Mahalak continued with the tradition of a Mohawk. Nick Malysa decided to get his fu-manchu mustache pinked out.

OHL Network - Storm's Scott Walker Named Team Canada Assistant Coach Hockey Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Friday that Scott Walker (Cambridge, Ont./Guelph, OHL) will join the coaching staff of Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship from Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 5, 2012 in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta.

Here's the hometown story from Guelph - just for the ★★★★★ photo.

 

Hockey Kids

Strong spirit helped support disabled teen - NewsObserver.com Cameron Gray Williams, a former state and local ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, died Thursday, after crafting a too-short life at an unusual intersection of disability and sport. ★★★★

Hockeymom Special : @EhStew13: Pre game nap. #eatsleephockey on Twitpic Mason Carter Anthony Stewart, born Sept 29, 2011. 5 lbs or so. ★★★★★