As has been tweeted, retweeted, blogged, Facebooked and live streamed (gotta love the internet), the Canes lost their final preseason game to SKA St. Petersburg today/tonight/last night (I still haven't quite gotten the hang of the time difference). I could go on and on about how this was an insanely chippy game (one could probably toss around the word "dirty" without much argument), but instead of a recap filled with quotes and stats, I'm going to let the photos do the talking (with some added commentary).
I sure am glad Eric Stall and Jossi Jokonen were able to make the trip. I hear they're great players!
All of the hope and promise of a great game is present at warm-ups.
The in-arena accomodations are clearly a little different than those in the NHL.
You know, it's a shame the team missed out on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies...I mean pre-game festivities. How often do you get to see violin players rocking out and flying acrobats at hockey games?
Here are the aforementioned acrobats. Yes one of them is wearing a Staal jersey. No that's not some sort of crack at his manhood.
Each player got All-Star treatment as they were introduced individually. Babs got the loudest round of applause (possibly the only time I'll ever type that sentence).
The team stands at attention for the USA national anthem. Fun note, it's only the national anthem for 8 of the Hurricanes (and that counts Brandon Sutter who would probably pick the Canadian anthem if given a choice).
Speaking of Americans...here's Bainer looking...well I'll let you fill in the blank.
See how lovely it is? Such international friendliness-all of these guys coming together to play the sport they love. This is going to be GREAT!
After the ceremonial face-off (I'll give you one guess on who won), the game can finally begin!
Dalpe had some nice chances this afternoon/evening/yesterday. Someone help me out with this please.
Clearly the friendliness and coming together has ended and an all-out brawl has begun. Before the end of the game we'd lose Gleason (fighting), Corvo (to injury), Staal (safety), Ward (safety), Pitkanen (spearing), and Harrison (fighting). That's in addition to all of the time we spent in the penalty box.
For the record, it took Tim landing about 2 punches (with his gloves still on mind you) before this joker was on the ice bleeding. Gleason for Emperor indeed.
And a gratuitous Tim Gleason shot. Just because.
Skinner (completely obstructed by the beastliness of Jussi) scored a goal and had some very pretty plays throughout the game.
This is a nice shot of the players left on the bench by the time we got to the third period.
And Jay Harrison managed to win a fight. I'd be ashamed if I were Golovkov. No one loses to Jay Harrison. NO ONE.
Joni has forgotten that in order for his "sneaky nasty" to be effective, it has to oh I don't know actually be sneaky.
Jeff Skinner (who is a hockey playing doll) received a bright, shiny trophy for being the Hurricanes' player of the game (or Man of the Match). I'm not sure if they do this for every game in Russia or if this was special just for us.
Clearly the game did not go as planned (unless of course "play dirty as all heck" was your gameplan; in which case, congrats Russia), but all of our guys made it on the plane and to Finland in what I can assume to be one piece. Now they can rest and focus on what really matters: hitting the saunas! Oh and bringing home 4 points.
Break out the tuxes gentlemen! Write your acceptance speeches! We are giving out awards here at the Siren to the best and the worst of the Carolina Hurricanes!
Ok so this is a little low rent and there won't be any actual trophies given away, not even the mini ones the NHL gives out. And we certainly aren't lucky enough to have Chaka Khan or Robin Thicke entertain us, but we did manage to convince (read blackmailed) Kris Versteeg to sing Fergie!
:wipes away a tear of laughter: No one tell him this is the Hurricanes' awards ceremony ok? I'd hate to clean up the green room after he realizes what just happened.
Let's get started shall we? The first award tonight is in the Best Post-Game Quotes category. This award is given to the player or coach who best exemplifies humility, humor and self-deprecation to the point of hilarity during a post-game media scrum. Previous winners include Tim Gleason and well...Tim Gleason. This year, however, we are pleased to announce that Manny Legace takes the hardware back to the Shire. Quotes like: "oh yeah I got hit right in the love pillows" and "Well, when you're five foot nothing, you have to use all of your assests" made him the clear favorite from the moment he stepped foot on NC soil. Congratulations Manny!
The Toughest Player award is given to the player that is well...the toughest (sometimes a donkey is just a donkey people). We've been witness to some remarkable moments of strength this season, but one night in Washington, D.C. will always stand out to Hurricanes' fans.
Tim Gleason, we salute you and are proud to give you the Toughest Player award!
Sometimes things happen to force fate's hand. Perhaps we would have added this award anyway, but it'd be hard to argue that the winner didn't help things along. So without further ado, I present the award for Best Facial Expression. The winner showed a dedication and determination to strange and awkward facial expressions, but Eric Staal's baby bird face from the Olympics sealed the deal for him: Without a goalie where would any hockey team be? This award salutes those few men crazy enough to strap on a pillow and block 100 mph shots with their bodies. The award for Best Save has previously been won by Michael Leighton and Cam Ward. I am pleased to announce that our Campion Wardolie is a repeat winner this year for this Camtastic save on Billy Guerin:
Speaking of netminders, it's time to present quite possibly the most frightening award of the evening. The Best Tripp Tracy Moment category always has great entries and this year was no exception. In fact it was so full of Tripp awesomeness that we almost had to name two winners, but after some careful thought and consideration of all that is Tripp we are pleased to announce that Tripp and Zach Boychuk's intermission exchange during a game against Pittsburgh wins the category.
Tripp: Having been selected 15th in the entry draft... Zach: 14th Tripp. Tripp: Blah blah blah Zach: It was 14th Tripp. Tripp: Err ummm what? Oh yes, 14th.
Thank you for that moment young Zach. I sense that many more great Tripp Tracy interactions are ahead of you. Godspeed Zach.
The Best New Regular award is for the player we can no longer imagine our team without. This player can come to us through trade or as a call-up from the AHL. This year, it was the latter. When you are called "the defining player in our lineup" by your coach, wear the A, and basically become the top defensive forward all while racking up only 2 PIMs at 21 years old, you've pretty much locked this award up. Congratulations to Brandon Sutter for his outstanding season!
The next award is the highly coveted Best Goal award presented to the player whose moment of offensive brillance left us breathless and left the opposing goalie sputtering in disbelief. We've had some really great goals this season, but there is one that stands out above all the rest. Please congratulate Chad LaRose on his mid-air goal against the Montreal Canadiens.
You have a gift my little friend.
You can't score a goal without a little help from your friends and sometimes those assists are prettier than the actual goal. The Best Assist category is intended for just those moments. This year's winner showed that you don't have to be 22 years old to have sick moves.
Yeah Brandon. WOW is right. Rock on little mighty mite.
We were lucky enough to get a glimpse of the future of the Carolina Hurricanes and let me say that the future is so bright we're going to need shades. And with that really corny intro, I am pleased to announce the winner of the Brightest Future award is....Jamie McBain. The 22 year old Minnesota born D-man definitely made a lasting impression on fans around the league with his defensive poise and offensive abilities. He is going to be pleasure to watch for a long time.
For some reason hockey and fighting go hand in hand. There's nothing like a good fight to bring a crowd back to life or swing the momentum in a game. It's for this reason that we present the Best Fighter award every year. Previous winners have pretty much only ever been Tim Gleason. And this year is no exception. Check out this beauty:
Our final two awards are perhaps the most highly anticipated thing since Martin Brodeur's post game extra large pizza. :pause for ripples of awkward laughter:
Alrighty then...the Fan Favorite award goes to the player whose personality off the ice and play on the ice inspires fans to chant his name, buy his jersey and support him at all times. There was really only ever going to be one nominee for this award, but like the Edmonton Oilers, we still had to go through the motions of the entire season. Please join me in congratulating Tuomo Ruutu for his efforts this season!!! The smiley Finn always managed to put on a brave face for the media and fans, but really even if he wasn't smiling, listening to him speak made us smile. His refusal to give anything less than 100% inspired his teammates and his fans. The RBC Center has been Ruu-ing since he arrived in Raleigh and we don't want to stop anytime soon. Last, but certainly not least, is the Team MVP award which goes to a player who has been deemed to make the most significant contributions to his team. Past winners have included Cam Ward and Ray Whitney. This year, a first time nominee is bringing home the honor. I am pleased to announce that our winner, with a career high 65 points and an unmatched ability to mesh with anyone and everyone, is Jussi Jokinen!!!! That does it for the ceremony and like all of the best awards shows, we only ran 45 minutes late and had just 2 awkward moments. Congratulations to all winners this evening and remember that while only some of you are leaving with imaginary trophies, there really are no losers here. Well except for A.Ward who is probably still waiting for his invitation to come in the mail. Ok so make that three awkward moments.
In the department of congratulatory gushing, The Hurricane Siren would like to officially congratulate Tim Gleason for being named to the USA Olympic squad to replace the injured Mike Komisarek. Rock on Timmy, go to Vancouver and kick some butt (especially if it's Russian and toothless). We are beyond proud of you.
Some random quotes from the day that I thought were just perfect:
"He's a different player in terms of his psychological makeup -- he's more of a guy who speaks with his actions. He’s not chatty," said Burke, who worked with Gleason while GM of last summer’s American entry at the IIHF World Championship. "Your worst nightmare might be to get stuck in a fishing boat with Tim Gleason for an afternoon."
Jeez Burke, even when you're right you're wrong. I, for one, would LOVE to be stuck on a boat with Timmy. Although I do suppose I should semi-apologize for the "self-portrait" of you from New Year's Day. So maybe we'll call this one even.
”He’s a guy that will go to war for us, and that’s exactly what this team needs,” added Poile.
Oy. You should have asked Hurricanes' fans a month ago and we would have saved the Olympic Committee this whole big headache.
Clearly, JR is cool with the decision. And by "cool" I clearly mean "in the midst of a little man crush on the Timster".
"If Eric Staal wasn't the new captain of the Hurricanes, Tim Gleason would be," Rutherford told NHL.com.
And finally a word from the Emperor himself:
"It's an awesome thing. It's something to play for I guess, other than the Stanley Cup. And it's always been a goal of mine; a dream of mine and it's finally come true. It's a great opportunity for myself."
In the department of massive depression and the horror that is being a seller at the trade deadline, the rumor has been floating around all day today that Niclas Wallin has waived his NTC to go to San Jose. John Forslund is reporting that he waived his NTC in an effort to remain in the NHL next season; a contract extension is supposedly part of the deal. JR has confirmed that a deal is in the works, but declined to say where the Big Swede would be headed.
To further add to the rumor mill, Jiri "Nakey Boy" Tlusty was reassigned to Albany where he can terrorize another fan base with his...errr...ummm...passion for photography. Either a forward is coming off the injured list although tweets suggest it won't be in time for tomorrow night or a trade is in the works and Nakey Boy's spot was needed. UPDATE: JR has attributed Tlusty's return to Albany as a development move saying that they want him to play all the way through the Olympic break. Still no word on who will take his spot against Buffalo tomorrow night.
This is just a sign of things to come for Hurricanes’ fans. The next few weeks will be beyond tough for the diehards as many players are expected to leave North Carolina for greener, and likely colder, pastures. This is the tough side of hockey, the business side that leaves a sour taste in all fans’ mouths and unfortunately it is where this season has taken us.
It's official people-everyone loves Raymond! Everyone's favorite mighty mite (or munchkin) notched two goals and that was all the Canes would need to hold on for a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. By the way, this puts the Canes at over .500 in 2010! Whoop whoop!
Tonight was a fairly decent game for the entire team once they stopped the endless procession to the penalty box. 9 first period penalties including 2 fighting majors (TKO who is still "0 for" in his career and Ruutu) isn't going to get you a win very often. Overall discipline needs to be better no matter what the other team is trying to pull because at some point the opponent is going to capitalize on those freebie chances.
The Six Pack of Rats played with passion and heart which is all you can really ask for at this point in the season. Rod had an assist on the first Whitney goal and A.Ward had one on the second so that's a step in the right direction.
Major props goes to our Campion Wardolie for stopping 29 out of 30 shots while his team managed to only get 20 on Peter Budaj. That's another thing that needs to get fixed and quickly. In the past 4 games, they've only averaged around 23 SOG and have gotten out shot in every single one. That's asking for too much from your defense and goalie. Please guys, shoot the puck. Just do it.
Insane props goes to the Wizard for scoring quite possibly the most beautiful goal of the season:
Holy crap Ray. I didn't even know you still had moves like that (and apparently neither did Colorado)! Keep it up little man.
Ok so as is the case with just about anything, and especially the Canes this season, every yin has a yang. Tonight's yang? Tuomo Ruutu. After sticking up for himself against Darcy Tucker early in the first period, the fabulous Finn left the game with an upper body injury. From the sound of things he'll be out a while. I hope he's back sooner rather than later because we are running out of Rats up there in Albany. Jeff Daniels must just cringe everytime the phone rings.
Ok one last thing before we call it a night. The Emperor got into a fight tonight (yeah I know-NOT THE FACE) and things didn't really...well they didn't go as well as he had probably hoped: Oh Timmy, maybe next time you could just pull your arms in and slip out of your jersey? You're a tough man no doubt about it, but it's hard to take you seriously when your look is less snarl and more... Thanks to Jenniwa30 for pointing out the likeness.
The Canes have one day to enjoy their win and heal any minor bumps and bruises before Ottawa and the newly engaged Mike Fisher come to town. Let's make it 3 wins in four games eh?
Ah...Fenway Park at roughly 4:20. The Bruins had just won the 3rd annual Winter Classic and it was now time to announce the mens' hockey roster for Team USA (aka the team hoping to hold off the rest of the world for fourth behind Canada, Russia and Sweden). This announcement wasn't as hyped up as the Canadian roster announcement (in fact the US accomplished in about 5 minutes what it took Canada 30 minutes and two channels to do), but it had importance for those of us born in the US of A. They trotted out the little mighty mites wearing replica jerseys with player names on the back and everyone not already freezing to death held their breath.
They started with the forwards and there wasn't really much surprise as the talent pool wasn't exactly Mariana Trench deep (yeah that's your nerdy joke of the day). Then they got to the defensemen and my blood pressure shot through the roof. Each name they announced was more puzzling than the last. But what was more shocking was the name they left off. That's right folks, our very own Timmo Gleasonen was passed over for the likes of Paul Martin, Mike Komisarek and Jack Flippin' Johnson.
Let's do a little comparison shall we?
First off Tim Gleason's stats: Not great, but not bad either. For him this is a career year despite playing for the worst team in hockey. Plus you can't discount the leadership and heart he brings.
How about that Paul Martin eh? He's really tearing it up. Oh wait... Stats don't really tell the whole picture here because Martin has been injured for almost the entire season. In fact, as of December 23, he was listed as being out for four more weeks due to complications from a broken arm. That gives him what? Two weeks of games before he's thrown into Olympic play? Oh yeah that should work out well. He may not make it back at all, in which case he'd have to be replaced, something Burke is already acknowledging. Good choice. :rolls eyes:
Then you have Mike Komisarek: His stats are worse than Gleason's while playing for a team that is also statistically a better team than Carolina (but who isn't these days?). It should be noted that he plays for Brian Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs. Yes that's right I am facilitating conspiracy theories. Plus when you have quotes like this it's hard not to:
Burke is president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the defenseman on Team USA is the Leafs' Mike Komisarek. "He's my kind of guy," Burke said.
Finally we have Mr. Jack Johnson who is a -53 for his career and has not fared much better this season: Keep in mind that LA is one of the better teams in the league as they sit at 13th league wide and 8th in the West. While he's put up more points than Tim has (16 to 12), he's shaky at best in his own end. Hopefully he brings that high quality defense with him to Vancouver.
Perhaps Brian Burke was too busy trying to figure out the definition of truculence (which by the way could be used to describe Gleason's game) to actually watch any of Gleason's games this season. Perhaps he missed where Tim Gleason neutralized the world's best players both in the regular season and the playoffs. Maybe he slept through Tim's sisu filled games against Washington. Or maybe Burke already knew who he wanted prior to the season starting; actual play be darned.
Whatever the reason, whatever the rationale, Brian Burke made a mistake when he chose to leave Tim Gleason off the roster. He wants a hard working, gritty team who'll play their butts off? Well guess what, "B": the guy that embodies those qualities is still sitting in Raleigh and his name is Tim Gleason. Best of luck in Vancouver.
Ed. note-thanks to Jenniwa30 for Burke's self-portrait.
Now is the time of year that we look back and relive all of our accomplishments from the past 12 months (things like yes, I did manage to remember to feed the fish every day and didn't burn down my apartment building while making popcorn from scratch-it can be done people). It's also the time of year that we randomly pick a few things to improve upon for next year (I will not procrastinate anymore and I will stop calling certain players by mean and derogatory nicknames). If you're a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, chances are there is a lot to improve upon (we only have 10 wins after all) and the Hurricane Siren was lucky enough to get a list of those resolutions straight from the guys in red. (Note-these are entirely made up by yours truly.)
Andrew Alberts: I resolve to continue to fly under the radar in the hopes that people won't hate me as much as they do A.Ward. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 8-no one could ever hate him as much as they do A.Ward, but he may not escape Caniac wrath forever.)
Rod Brind'amour: I resolve to retire gracefully at the end of the season to spare fans and teammates the awkwardness of my continued presence on the 4th line. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 2-we all know Rod will be carried kicking and screaming from the rink. But there is always the hope and promise of a new year.)
Brett Carson: I resolve never to return to Albany. It's cold up there and I don't like riding buses. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 6-Corvo's eventual return will make it harder for Carson to stick, but there is always the potential for certain defensemen who shall remain nameless to be struck with the "flu" come gamedays.)
Erik Cole: I resolve to spend less time hanging with E.Staal and more time shaving/healing. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 3-Binky loves him some E.Staal.) Joe Corvo: I resolve to return to the game as soon as possible with a positive attitude and cheerful disposition. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 6-he may heal quickly, but Jose Cuervo is neither positive nor cheerful.)
Matt Cullen: I resolve to no longer take hot tub trips with my teammates. Or at the very least make sure Tripp doesn't find out about them. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 4-TRIPP KNOWS ALL!)
Patrick Dwyer: I resolve to practice my “falling with grace” face. Oh and to keep on the lookout for flying hockey players. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 8-chances are he’ll be able to avoid Steve Ott for a while, but there’s no guarantee that he is even safe during practice with the A squad out there and all.)
Tim Gleason: I resolve to continue being fan-freaking-tastic. I also resolve to knock Ovenchicken on his [keister] the next time he acts like a [punk]. (Note-this content has been edited for language.) (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 10. It’s Tim Gleason. Enough said. GLEASON FOR EMPEROR!)
Jussi Jokinen: I resolve to show those jokers over at Team Finland what they’re missing as I make goalies look foolish night after night. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 9-the Staal-Cullen-Jokinen line is pure money for the Canes right now and Jokinen is a huge part of that. Note-one point was deducted because there is the chance that a spot may open up for the Juice.)
Tom K-something: I resolve to decisively win a fight before the season ends. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 3-we’ve seen what TKO has to offer in the fight department and well I think the proof is in the pudding…errr video:
Chad LaRose: I resolve to heal quickly and start earning that ridonkulous amount of money I’ve got coming to me. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 4-almost no one is earning their money this season, ridonkulous amounts or otherwise.)
Manny Legace: Editors note-Unfortunately, Manny could not be reached for comment as he was far too short to reach the pen. Joni Pitkanen: I resolve to stop skating with my tongue sticking out. It’s dangerous and makes me look like Stitch from that Disney movie. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 1. It’s his thing. It’s weird and creepy, but it’s his thing.)
Tuomo Ruutu: I resolve to teach Tripp the proper meaning of sisu or get him to stop saying it altogether. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 5-he’ll try, but we’re talking about Tripp and therefore he may be too late.)
Sergei Samsonov: I resolve to no longer stickhandle for an eon before either shooting it into the goalie's logo or passing it to a teammate who’s long since fallen asleep from boredom. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale from 1 to 10: 2.5-he didn’t get the nickname “Happy Hands” because of his proficiency in the time honored art of jazz hands and spirit fingers.)
Eric Staal: I resolve to no longer pout when a call does not go my way. Instead I will hustle to get back in the play and help my team. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 3-maybe Stevie Y. can beat it out of him during the Olympics, but I’m not holding my breath.)
Brandon Sutter: I resolve to do nothing but eat over the Olympic break in an effort to gain some weight so that I don’t look like four toothpicks tied in the middle. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 4-he may eat, but he won’t gain any weight.)
Scott Walker: I resolve to punch Aaron Ward in the other eye in hopes of fixing him. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: in reality, probably a 1, but in terms of desire it’s at least a 100.)
Niclas Wallin: I resolve to relish in the fact that I am no longer the scapegoat when things go wrong on defense. Woo hoo! (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 9-with A.Ward on the team, Wallin’s naysayers have found a new target and rightfully so. But what happens if we manage to dump A.Ward?)
Cam Ward: I resolve to continue my career year in terms of points-3 assists and counting. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 7-with 3 points in 24 games played, he’s already doing better than the big Swede and Yelle.)
Aaron Ward: I resolve to no longer take a penalty in the defensive zone then stop playing once I've been caught for it allowing the opposing team to have a top notch scoring chance. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: -17 which oddly enough is his actual +/-. Huh. Go figure.)
Ray Whitney: I resolve to be slightly less of a media tramp and play hard to get during interviews. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 0-I think Ray Whitney may actually translate into “seeks attention” in other languages.)
Stephane Yelle: I resolve to infuse youth and speed into the fourth line. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 7-Yelle’s 34 years on this planet make him the youngest member of the Geritol line, but no amount of infusing is going to help that bunch regain their stride.)
Paul Maurice: I resolve to have my ties match my team’s play. (Chances of actually accomplishing this on a scale of 1 to 10: 9-Mo’s ties are ugly and on most nights so is the hockey being played over at Edwards Mill Road.)
Happy New Year Caniacs! Let's hope 2010 is kinder to our boys!
In probably the least surprising moment of the year thus far, the Canes dropped their 12th in a row to Columbus last night. But no one is talking about that today. Instead everyone is insanely concerned about the fate of our Campion Wardolie who was taken to the hospital after getting cut by Rick Nash's skate. Calamity Cam remains in the hospital and is out for, as JR put it, a "fairly long period of time." Ouch. My heart hurts.
Let us all take a moment to offer a prayer to the hockey gods (or the diety of your choice) for Cam's speedy recovery.
Ahem Dear merciful and benevolent hockey gods, I would like to apologize on behalf of all Canes' fans for our blatant disregard of your power and excellence. We shouldn't have cursed you when things didn't go our team's way. We had no right to complain when we lost guys to injury and suspension. How dare we assume we were going to excel this year? That is for you and you alone to decide. We admit we've sinned and we will do anything to repent for these mistakes. If there is anything I can do personally to right this wrong, just send me a sign. I will no longer make fun of E.Staal. I will call Creepie by his real name. I will stop making suggestive comments about Tripp's preferences. But please for the love of Gretzky, give us Cam back. We will never again take him for granted nor shall we question your power over the hockey world if you will give us this one small bit of hope. Amen.
As bad as the Cam in the hospital thing is, what may be even worse is that the fate of goaltending for the Carolina Hurricanes is in the hands of one Michael Leighton. Dear god. Is it too early to cue the locusts and the 7 horsemen? No? Ok I didn't think so. Now to be fair to Leights, he did do admirably well during Cam's absence last season, but that was a much shorter period of time and with a much less fragile hockey club. This is a horse of a different color and it's an ugly one. Leighton is inheriting a mess of a team that usually looks to Cam to be their saving grace. Sadly, I'm not entirely convinced that Leighton has the ability to deal with that situation. And neither Justin Peters nor Mike Murphy are ready to make the leap to NHL level goalie.
So, other than crying (and possibly some heavy drinking-NOTE I am not condoning alcoholism!) what do we do? Should Tripper come out of the press box and mind the nets again? Because I don't know if you knew this, but Tripp used to be a goaltender. Yup that's right, The Hurricane Siren-breaking news first. ;) Should Tommy B. come out of retirement and trade designer suits for Nike-Bauer pads? As fun as both of those options would be, I don't think they're all that realistic. And it's a shame because I had even figured out the perfect tagline John could use when Tripp made a big save-"and the little leprechaun snatches back his lucky charms!" Hehehe. Err...Tripp, I apologize, that was mean and largely uncalled for.
So back to the real world here...I could see one of two things happening. Option 1-JR could do nothing and let Leighton fend for himself with guest appearances from Peters and Murphy as needed. This idea has some merit to it. The season is all but done (let's be honest here people-a MIRACLE would need to occur for this team to pull themselves out of the basement and we may have used up all of our miracles last season) and to make a desperate move to lock up a goaltender may do more harm than good. Why not let Leights earn his paycheck and prove whether he should be resigned next year or not? Is it really going to hurt our standings that much? FYI-we are in dead bang last so the answer is probably NO.
Option 2-JR could make one last ditch effort to get this team together and start their push for...29th? Ahhh...this appeasing the hockey gods thing isn't working so well for me today. He could trade for a current NHL goalie or bring someone in who doesn't have a team right now. Some suggestions-Manny Legace, Manny Fernandez or Kevin Weekes (JR LOVES TO RECYCLE!). I would still expect someone to get traded even if JR signed an out of work goalie. We are so close to the cap as it is that I don't think there would be room for anyone else (unless they are willing to work for delicious RBCC hotdogs and pulled pork sandwiches in which case-get them to Raleigh NOW).
Regardless of what happens with the goalie situation (Cam-heal like you've never healed before please) the rest of the team is going to need to step it up starting with the d-men. Cam will no longer be there to save their collective hineys and they cannot leave Leights hanging out to dry because he will fold like well...like wet laundry. And I think the D core goes the way of Timmy Gleason which leads me to my final thought for the day. I would like to officially endorse the Tim Gleason for Emperor campaign. Give that man a permanent A. Put him on the fast track for Captain. Heck maybe he and Sutter can co-coach the team while they're at it. (Thanks to Jenniwa30 for the picture.)
I sure am glad Eric Stall and Jossi Jokonen were able to make the trip. I hear they're great players!
All of the hope and promise of a great game is present at warm-ups.
The in-arena accomodations are clearly a little different than those in the NHL.
You know, it's a shame the team missed out on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies...I mean pre-game festivities. How often do you get to see violin players rocking out and flying acrobats at hockey games?
Here are the aforementioned acrobats. Yes one of them is wearing a Staal jersey. No that's not some sort of crack at his manhood.
Each player got All-Star treatment as they were introduced individually. Babs got the loudest round of applause (possibly the only time I'll ever type that sentence).
The team stands at attention for the USA national anthem. Fun note, it's only the national anthem for 8 of the Hurricanes (and that counts Brandon Sutter who would probably pick the Canadian anthem if given a choice).
Speaking of Americans...here's Bainer looking...well I'll let you fill in the blank.
See how lovely it is? Such international friendliness-all of these guys coming together to play the sport they love. This is going to be GREAT!
After the ceremonial face-off (I'll give you one guess on who won), the game can finally begin!
Dalpe had some nice chances this afternoon/evening/yesterday.
Clearly the friendliness and coming together has ended and an all-out brawl has begun. Before the end of the game we'd lose Gleason (fighting), Corvo (to injury), Staal (safety), Ward (safety), Pitkanen (spearing), and Harrison (fighting). That's in addition to all of the time we spent in the penalty box.
For the record, it took Tim landing about 2 punches (with his gloves still on mind you) before this joker was on the ice bleeding. Gleason for Emperor indeed.
And a gratuitous Tim Gleason shot. Just because.
Skinner (completely obstructed by the beastliness of Jussi) scored a goal and had some very pretty plays throughout the game.
This is a nice shot of the players left on the bench by the time we got to the third period.
And Jay Harrison managed to win a fight. I'd be ashamed if I were Golovkov.
Joni has forgotten that in order for his "sneaky nasty" to be effective, it has to oh I don't know actually be sneaky.
Jeff Skinner (who is a hockey playing doll) received a bright, shiny trophy for being the Hurricanes' player of the game (or Man of the Match). I'm not sure if they do this for every game in Russia or if this was special just for us.
