The Canes have talked all season about trying to get a puck handling defenseman. They have talked about shaking the team up and trying to get on a winning streak. Well, February 11, 2008 was the day the changes began. The Carolina Hurricanes traded left wing Cory Stillman and defenseman Mike Commodore to the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Joe Corvo and right wing Patrick Eaves. Stillman and Commodore were both important elements on the 2006 Stanley Cup team for Carolina. To see them leave is shocking and somewhat sad even though it is expected in professional sports. 

Joe Corvo (6’0” 204 lbs Age: 30) is hopefully the defenseman that will be able to jumpstart the Canes defensive corps. He has played 51 games and logged 6 goals, 21 assists, 18 penalty minutes, and he was a  +/- 13 for Ottawa this season. Joe was originally drafted in 1997 by the Los Angeles Kings in the 4th round, 83rd pick overall and currently leads the Senator’s defensemen with 15 power play points this season. Patrick Eaves (5’ 11” 190 lbs Age: 23) has played 26 games with 4 goals and 6 assists for Ottawa this season. Eaves missed 24 games earlier this season with a separated shoulder and he has missed the last six games with a neck and shoulder injury. Patrick was the Senator’s first round pick in 2003. 

Luke DeCock at newsobserver.com stated that Corvo wanted a trade to an American team since his family was not happy in Ottawa. Ottawa General Manager told the Ottawa Sun “I don’t know whether it was the pressure or never having a life away from the building, but he felt that Joe would enjoy going to an American team. He wanted to play where there was less scrutiny. He just couldn’t handle the pressure here. People like to talk hockey here and they live hockey. They don’t talk (hockey) in Raleigh very much. He’ll probably thrive in that environment and I like guys who thrive under pressure.” Luke said that the Senators made similar comments about former Hurricane and current Senator Goaltender Marty Gerber. Luke stated in his column “Ottawa coach John Paddock has repeatedly mentioned that Martin Gerber flourished in Carolina because ‘they only have one beat writer.’” 

Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford stated this trade was a move to help the team now and in the future. The Cane’s defense is one of the oldest in the league and changes are needed to make them more competitive. Hopefully, all four of these guys will have good luck with their new teams. I just remember Cory Stillman being interviewed after the 2006 Stanley Cup game and stating that the reason he signed with Carolina after the lockout was because they were the only ones that wanted him. It will be interesting to see how the season finishes for all of these guys. 

Forward Chad LaRose was placed on injured reserve today due to a broken leg he received in the game at Nashville last Tuesday. Forward Ryan Bayda was recalled today from the Albany River Rats (AHL). Bayda should be available for the Carolina-Boston game tonight at the TD BankNorth Garden tonight in Boston. Forward Keith Aucoin was called up on February 4, 2007 from Albany and is still with the Canes. The Hurricanes have logged a lot of miles this season between Raleigh and Albany. I’m just glad we have players in Albany that can help out.

Rod Brind’Amour has logged 7 points in the Hurricanes last five games with 3 goals and 4 assists. In the last 5 games, being teamed up with Ray Whitney (5 assists) and Sergei Samsonov (2 goals and 2 assists) has definitely boosted his game performance. Since joining the Carolina Hurricanes, Rod has had a major impact on this franchise. He currently leads the Carolina Hurricanes franchise stats with 250 assists, 399 points, and 9 shorthanded goals, and he ranks second in goals with 149 and power play goals with 52. Rod is third in games played with 526 behind Jeff O’Neill with 536 and Glen Wesley with 701. It’s safe to say the 2006 Stanley Cup Banner would not be hanging in the RBC Center right now if it had not been for Rod Brind’Amour. Let’s hope he is around for a lot longer.

In the twelve games played between the New York Rangers game December 26, 2007 and the Ottawa game on January 17, 2008, Carolina in that span had a record 3-8-1. After crashing in the Ottawa game, they have a record of 4-1-0 and have outscored their opponents 19-13. Even the game they lost 6-3 to the New York Islanders on January 22, 2008, could have been winnable if you take away the three shorthanded goals and the open-net goal at the end. The team’s defense seems to have stepped up strong particularly in the past two games. They appear to play tighter around goaltender Cam Ward and have been credited with saving several goals in those games. The defensive players have also helped out on the scoreboard with Mike Commodore (2 goals, 1 assist), Tim Gleason (2 goals, 2 assists), Nic Wallin (1 goal), Bret Hedican (3 assists), and Wade Brookbank (1 assist) adding 5 goals and 7 assists (12 points).

Toronto, the center of the hockey universe, is still buzzing about Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford replacing the recently dethroned John Ferguson. The Toronto Sun has reported that Rutherford has stated that he has not spoken with Hurricane’s owner Peter Karmanos about breaking his contract. Rutherford stated, “It's flattering that I would be mentioned like that. There is no doubt [the Leafs] are one of the most storied franchises in the league. But that's not an issue. My focus is completely on the Hurricanes and getting them into the playoffs." Karmanos has stated that he would not stop Rutherford from taking the job; yet, the Leafs would have to make sure he was in control of the franchise in a position similar to a GM-President position. Karmanos told the Toronto Sun, “First of all, it's not appropriate to be discussing this when Jim's in the second of a five-year contract, and a lucrative one, too. But I would not stand in his way, only if the situation did not allow him to do his job. I would grant permission for the Leafs to talk to him, but I would want to hear the level of control he has. It might be something I could help him negotiate." These two guys must have a close relationship since it’s very unusual for your current employer to help you negotiate a contract for a job with another organization. As we all know, the Toronto ownership group is pretty much a split entity that appears to have almost destroyed one of the most historic franchises in hockey. That’s just sad. I know the Maple Leaf fans are ready for this franchise to get back on track. It’s been a long time since 1967 when the team won their last cup.

HURRICANES INJURIES:

Matt Cullen: Vision problems from concussion, day-to-day

Dennis Seidenberg: Ankle injury, day-to-day

David Tanabe: Concussion, injured reserve

Justin Williams: ACL/MCL, injured reserve, 4 to 6 months

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Carolina Hurricanes have won three games in a row only one time this season. Those games were won during a five day period between October 9th through October 13th when the Canes won three games on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and the Montreal Canadiens. The Hurricanes outscored the opposition in those games by a combined total of 15 to 5, and they have not won both ends of back-to-back games this season. Carolina is 7-4-1 on the front end of these games and they are 4-6-1 on the back end of these games for a combined record of 11-10-2. After coming to win in overtime yesterday afternoon in New York, the Canes were hoping to break that pattern and finally win both ends of this series.

The Hurricanes came out in the first period and played solid for the most of the period. New York Islander’s Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz made some solid saves to keep the Canes off the scoreboard early. While Carolina was on the power play, the Islanders were able to get the puck down the ice into the Cane’s zone. The Hurricane’s defense followed the puck behind the net leaving Islander Mike Sillinger parked out front in the slot. Of course, the puck came out to Sillinger who scored in front of Hurricane’s Goaltender Cam Ward in between the circles. Ward was caught looking behind the net as he never saw Sillinger until he put the puck in the net at 8:11 in the period. This was the first of three shorthanded goals Carolina would give up in this game. The Canes came back 1:21 later and scored on the same power play as Eric Staal parked in front of the Islander’s net and put one past Dubielewicz on a redirection on the heal of his (Staal’s) stick at the 9:32 mark to tie the score 1-1. The Islanders received three penalties in the period with Carolina only getting one. The Canes outshot the Islanders 10-6 in the period.

The Hurricanes came out in the second and Mike Commodore immediately took a hooking penalty at the :32 mark. The Canes were able to kill that one off and the Islanders were called at 3:58 for having too many men on the ice. This power play sequence would end up being a major embarrassment for the home team. While on the power play, Erik Cole attempted to get the puck deep in the zone from the blue line. An Islander player was able to shoot the puck out to Richard Park in the neutral zone who was able to outskate Frank Kaberle to put one top shelf past Ward on a 22 foot wristshot from between the circles at 4:53 in the period. Next, while on the same power play, the Canes were attempting to keep the puck in their zone when the Islanders were able to pass it out to Mike Sillinger in the neutral for a breakaway. Of course, Sillinger was able to score another shorthanded goal on a breakaway with a 12 foot wristshot at 5:38. The Canes gave up two shorthanded goals in 45 seconds. This disaster would continue a few minutes later as the Canes headed down the ice into the Islander’s zone. Eric Staal attempted to pass the puck to Ray Whitney. The puck was deflected out to Sean Bergenheim who was tripped as he went to the net. Bergenheim was able to slide the puck around Cam Ward at 7:52. While on the Canes were on the power play again, the Islanders took the puck into the Cane’s zone around the 8:36 mark. Luckily, Cam Ward was able to make several saves to stop another shorthanded goal. Mike Commodore was able to score on a 58 foot slapshot from just inside the blue line at 15:27. At 16:50, Mike Commodore took a hooking penalty and eventually took another two minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Canes remained on the penalty kill for the rest of the period and into the third. The Canes were outshot 17-18 in the period even though the Islanders took the first ten shots in the period.

The Canes entered the third period down 4-2. Matt Cullen was able to score on a 40 foot wristshot from the right circle at 6:20 to pull the Canes within one at 4-3. Carolina would also get two more power plays in the period with no success before the Islanders would score again. While in the Islanders zone, the Canes again turn the puck over to the Islanders giving them a 3-on-1. As they approached the net, they passed the puck back out to Islander Brendan Witt who was able to score at 17:25 on a 47 foot wristshot from beyond the left circle. The Canes pulled Cam Ward out of the net with approximately 2 minutes to go. While attempting to keep the puck in the Islander’s zone, the luck popped out to Islander Blake Comeau who outskated everyone down the ice to score an open net goal at 18:45. The Canes outshot the Islanders 20-7 in the period for a disappointing loss of 6-2.

The second period collapse killed the Canes again. They gave up four goals to the Islanders at the RBC Center on New Year’s Eve and eventually loss the game 4-1. The turnovers and breakdowns seem to never stop particularly in games in the second period at home. Carolina Coach Peter Laviolette stated after the game on the Hurricane’s website, “Our second periods have been terrible – especially here. We’ve given up too much at the start. This one was no different. We came and took a penalty right away and then gave up goals.” To further punctuate their shorthanded goal problem in this game, Mike Commodore stated, “You can’t give up three shorthanded goals and expect to win a game. The odd one once in a while is going to happen, but three in a game is unacceptable. Those are supposed to be opportunities for us to score.” The Islanders scored three goals in 2:59 in the second period two of which were shorthanded goals scored in 45 seconds. That’s really bad. Even though most of the health problems for this team have been clear up, the breakdowns and lapses leading to goals for the opposition still continue. In the two games with Islanders at the RBC Center, the Canes have given up seven goals in the second period. This team is definitely at a crossroads. With only thirty games left, time is getting short and they will probably have to watch the scoreboard more and let their fate be decided by other teams as far as post season play. Of course, a few more games like tonight and it won’t make a difference either way. The Canes are off for a week for the All-Star break. Hopefully, they can get some rest and find a way to consistently win games down the stretch. 

GAME STATS

Shots on Goal: Canes 47 Islanders 31

Hits: Canes 15 Islanders 17

Face-Offs Won: Canes 41 Islanders 28

Power Play: Canes 1-8 Islanders 0-5

Venue: RBC Center A-15,675

HURRICANES INJURIES:

Dennis Seidenberg: Ankle injury, day-to-day

David Tanabe: Concussion, injured reserve

Justin Williams: ACL/MCL, injured reserve, 4 to 6 months

The biggest question coming into this game was whether or not the Cane’s 7-2 win again against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday was a legitimate turnaround for this team or just a one shot win and then a return to their old ways. The Canes are 3-6-1 in the their last ten games and they have struggled to say the least since they lost to the New York Islanders at home 4-1 on New Year’s Eve. The Hurricanes won the first game of the season against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on October 27, 2007 by a score of 8-3. The Hurricanes came into this game with the worst penalty kill in the NHL (76.4%) and a poor defense that has allowed 3.22 goals (27th in the NHL) on average this season. The only plus is the Canes are 4th in the league with goals scored with 151 (3.02 goals per game average). It has been a long season for the Hurricanes, who at the beginning of the All-Star break, will have played more road games than any other team in the NHL. They will play 18 of their remaining 32 games at home at the RBC Center, which could be good or bad since their home record this season is 11-10-2, and coming into this game, they have a road record of 12-13-2. The Islanders are 3-3-3 in their last nine games and have lost three straight at home 0-2-1.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell dropped the ceremonial puck at the beginning of this afternoon game at Nassau Coliseum. The Canes came out in the first period and played a little looser than in their previous game. They were lucky that several of the Islander’s early chances did not go in the net. Near the 12:54 mark into the first period, Cam Ward went behind the net to stop the puck and got caught in no man’s land. Luckily, with help from Glen Wesley and Mike Commodore, the puck did not go into the net. Cam Ward fanned on a clear behind the net at 9:15 in the first period and again almost got into trouble again. The Canes held their own in the period even though it was clear from about the 10:00 mark that the Islanders were in control. The Canes outshot the Islanders 9-6 in the first period.

The Islanders came out in the second and dominated the entire period. They were more energetic in the period as the Hurricanes came out and started the flat play we have been so used to in the past. Approximately three minutes into the second period, New York Defenseman Freddy Myers dumped the puck into the Cane’s zone from the red line. The puck hit the glass and bounced back out into the slot to Andy Hilbert who put a backhand shot past Cam Ward at the 3:17 into the second period. This was not a good sign since the Canes are 9-20-2 when other team scores first. Islander’s Winger Miroslav Satan received a pass from Blake Comeau and scored on a 30 foot wristshot from the right circle to put the Islanders up 2-0 at 12:57 in the second period. Former Hurricane Josef Vasicek helped to provide a screen in front of Cam Ward for the score. A minute later at the 13:55 mark, we had the battle of the Tim’s, in other words a knock down-drag out between Tim Gleason and Tim Jackman. Both players received five minute major penalties for fighting. The Islanders continued to dominate the period and the Canes were lucky with all of the turnovers and giveaways they were able to survive without being scored on again. The Canes had trouble at times clearing the puck and getting caught in their own end. They had no puck support in clearing the zone, and when they could get it out, they would turn it over in the neutral zone to the Islanders. Even though the Canes got some scoring chances, they were unable to convert on any of them. Mike Commodore got called for hooking at 19:43 for the first power play in the game for either team. The Canes were outshot 13-10 in this period.

The third period started a little better for the Hurricanes, and their play picked up as the period proceeded. First, they were able to kill off the remaining 1:43 of the Commodore penalty with no problem. Then at 3:39 in the period, Mike Commodore scored on a shot from the right circle that caught an enormous amount of traffic in front of Islander’s Goaltender Rick Dipietro. The Canes seemed to get some energy at that point. Nic Wallin scored on a 56 foot slapshot from the right point at 15:20 in the period on a pass from Sergei Samsonov. Cane’s Captain Rod Brind’Amour helped to screen Dipietro on that score. Islander Radek Martinek got a boarding call at 18:37 for crunching Eric Staal into the boards. This gave the Hurricanes their first power play with 1:23 to go in the third period. The Canes were unable to score in regulation and the game went to overtime. Just as Martinek was leaving the penalty box at :37 in the overtime period, Andy Sutton was called for cross-checking Rod Brind’Amour in front of the Cane’s net. The Hurricanes went back on the power play and Cory Stillman was able to score on a pass from Eric Staal on a broken play in front of the Islander’s net. This is the fourth game in a row that Canes have scored a power play goal, and they have given up one goal out of eight attempts on the penalty kill in their last two games. The Canes outshot the Islanders 9-6 in the third period, and they had the only shot on goal in overtime, which was the game winner.

I have to admit this game appeared to be over after the second period. The Canes looked pretty bad in that period and had a hard time controlling the puck. Mike Commodore stated on the Cane’s website after the game, "It was a gross game. The ice was terrible. Pucks were bouncing all over the place. Each team got a couple of lucky goals. We were all just trying to get pucks to the net. That's how we got the first two." Luckily, the Canes had a strong third period to get them back into the game. Carolina has scored 65 third period goals this season giving them the most in the NHL. This team earned a much needed two points in the standings from this game. With Atlanta and Washington coming on, they need to pick all the points they can before the All-Star break. Nic Wallin is still a killer on shots from the right point. That seems to be his best scoring position. Also, I have noticed that Rod Brind’Amour spends a lot more time lately in front of the opposition’s goaltender to provide screens and pick up any rebounds. Both of these guys were an important part of this team’s success today. The Islanders will play tomorrow night at the RBC Center at 7:00 p.m. Hopefully, the outcome of that game will be a win like this one. 

GAME STATS

Shots on Goal: Canes 29 Islanders 25

Hits: Canes 15 Islanders 18

Face-Offs Won: Canes 25 Islanders 30

Power Play: Canes 1-2 Islanders 0-1

Venue: Nassau Coliseum A-16,234

HURRICANES INJURIES:

Dennis Seidenberg: Ankle injury, day-to-day

David Tanabe: Concussion, injured reserve

Justin Williams: ACL/MCL, injured reserve, 4 to 6 months

Monday, December 31, 2007

Let’s see, what would be the best way to bring in the New Year in great hockey fashion? How about inviting 17,091 of your biggest fans to watch you take out the old year with a victory and ring in the New Year with a big party. Well, that’s what they attempted to do last night at the RBC Center in Raleigh, except for one problem. The home team forgot to show up. Let’s see if this story sounds familiar. The Canes come out and survive the first period, only to collapse in the second by giving up four goals and scoring one, and then trying to muster some kind of energy in the third to put some points on the scoreboard. That seems to be the scenario that lately we see repeatedly. The photo above of Carolina Hurricanes’ Coaches Jeff Daniels and Peter Laviolette says it all.

The Canes hit the ice with Matt Cullen back after literally being knocked out of the New York Rangers game on December 26th. Even though he received the loudest amount of applause during the player introductions, he was only able to play for six shifts for a total of 4:23 in the first period. He did not return in the game due to feeling ill. This was the second of four meetings of the season between the Canes and the Islanders. The Canes spanked the Islanders 8-3 on October 27th at Nassau Coliseum in a one-sided affair. The Canes should have known that the Islanders would want revenge and they appeared to have gotten what they wanted. The Canes again came out in the first period and played well enough to keep the period scoreless as they outshot the opposition 9-8.

Then in the second period, the collapse started early. The Islanders came into this game with a power play rated at 15.5% (21st in the NHL). That would change quickly. After a Rod Brind’Amour slashing penalty at 1:49 into the period, Marc-Andre Bergeron scored on the power play in the slot at 2:06. It appeared to be a 29 foot shot from between the circles that went straight in with no obstructions. That power play lasted 17 seconds. Next at 2:47 in the period, Mike Commodore received a hooking penalty. Bill Guerin scored :41 later at 3:28 in the period on a 43 foot shot near the same point as the Bergeron score. Next at 5:45, Islander Andy Hilbert brought the puck into the zone and got a pass to Ruslan Fedotenko, who was going through the slot and scored. Three goals in 3:39 and that was it for Grahame for the night as Cam Ward was brought into the game. The Canes finally got on the scoreboard at 6:17 when Craig Adams got a backhand shot past Wade Dubielewicz. That would be all the celebration the Canes would get in this game. After Craig Adams got a Hi-sticking penalty at 12:54, Marc-Andre Bergeron scored again at the 13:20 mark on a shot from straight ahead at the blue line. Bill Guerin was coming through the goalmouth at the time of the score and appeared to have shielded Cam Ward. The Canes were outshot 11-12 and that was it for this game. The Canes came out in the third and continued their subpar play until the end even though they outshot the Islanders 9-4. What a way to end the year.

The Canes second period breakdown was an embarrassment. In the recap on carolinahurricanes.com, Coach Peter Laviolette in discussing the second period stated, “We were flat. The first five, seven minutes cost us. We lost battles right off the bat, battles to get it in, battles to protect the puck. We took careless penalties. Both penalties – there was no need to either one of them.” The Canes frustration was clear in the five penalties they took in the second period as the Islanders went through the second with no penalties. As far as the Canes giving up three power play goals, Coach Laviolette advised, “The penalty kill is comprised of a lot of little things. The shots came from the middle of the ice and we should have had a person there blocking all of them. And there were other things that wrong as well – a bunch of little details.” The penalty kill was terrible to watch. On the three power plays where the Islanders scored, the Canes were on the penalty kill for a total of 1:24.

After the game, Mike Commodore stated in a post game interview, “We just didn’t play well, flat out didn’t play well. D turned over pucks, goalies turned over pucks, forwards turned over pucks. Everybody was turning over pucks, and they just kept coming down on us. “ In this game, the Canes continued with constant defensive zone breakdowns and giving up the puck at the wrong time. They constantly let the opposing players come in behind the defense and skate unobstructed to the front of the net. They were slow to pick up the puck when they were closer than the opposition. The Hurricanes showed the entire audience why they are last in the NHL on the penalty kill. All three power play goals were shot from the point straight ahead. No one went down to stop the puck and no one when towards the shooter to stop or alter the shot. The Beatles song from the White Album entitled “Helter Skelter” pretty much describes the penalty kill. To say that the confidence of this team is fragile at best is an understatement. On the power play and now at certain points in the game, the Canes seem to be content to pass the puck around instead of shooting. When your confidence is down, you are less likely to shoot. Of course, giving up three goals in less than six minutes will kill your confidence. The goaltending by Ward and Grahame has been average at best over the past few weeks. They both seem unable to come up with the important stops at critical points in the game.

The Canes are halfway through their season and appear to be at a crossroads. Are they going to find the leadership that was once present in the locker room and find a way to right the ship? Will Jim Rutherford be forced to make a trade to shake the team up and turn their season around? Will Michael Leighton be brought up from the AHL to shake up the goaltending tandem even if it would cause some waiver issues on moving players? I guess we will see soon since something has got to happen if they plan to save this season.

GAME STATS
Shots on Goal: Canes 29 Islanders 24
Hits: Canes 25 Islanders 16
Face-Offs Won: Canes 27 Islanders 27
Power Play: Canes 0-4 Islanders 3-7
Venue: RBC Center A-17,091

HURRICANES INJURIES:
· Bret Hedican: Sprained knee, 10-14 days
· David Tanabe: Concussion, Day-to-Day
· Justin Williams: Grade III (complete tear) sprain of his ACL; Grade II (partial tear) sprain of his MCL, 4 to 6 months