Sunday, at last!
Nov 30, 2008
Sunday, at last!
Hi guys, I missed ya. It's been a long week. It started with four games in four nights beginning last Sunday. Continued through Thanksgiving (not much of a holiday mind you) and carried over to a thrilling OT win in Philly on Black Friday. It's meant I have not been able to hit this space with much this week. I plan on making good on that over the next few days leading up to the "Sid and Geno" show which plays Raleigh on Thursday.
What if?
The Canes are coming off a emotional OT win on Friday. To their credit, they dug out and played hard to earn those two points against the hottest team in the NHL.
Since then Philly has joined the ranks of the "parity party "by losing in regulation in Toronto last night. The distinction of the hottest (if not the best) reverts to San Jose, which won for the sixth straight time with a 6-2 romp in Phoenix. The Sharks hold the mark for the longest win streak in the NHL this season at seven.
Anyway back to topic. What if the "Fly Boys" did not have too many skaters on the ice in the second period, wiping out the Mike Richards goal that made it 2-0? Would the Canes have mounted a surge ? I'm not sure. Philadelphia was the better team to that point and thanks to Cam Ward the Canes were in a position to still be in business.
The Canes picked it up at that point. They actually had four or five fundamentally sound shifts in a row. They cycled the puck down low in the Philly zone and established a little bit of Cane identity. They were rewarded with two goals, the tip by Pat Dwyer and the screen shot from Tuomo Ruutu. It was a solid, hopefully come together effort they have been longing for. When you come out of Philadelphia with a win like that, hang your hat on it and build. But don't get to full of it because it was headed another direction.
Lost in Transmission...
How about the game Joni Pitkanen had against his former mates. He was playing so well he was generating a chorus of boos from our friends in South Philly. That is always a backhanded compliment in the City of Brotherly Love. I've always wondered about that phrase. Anyway, Pitkanen was very strong in both games. Even though the first goal deflected off his stick it was just one of those things. He shook it off, controlled the game on his stick, defended well and punished Jeff Carter with a voracious hit.
Mysteries of Life....
On the injury front, the Canes will go into today's game banged up. Dennis Seidenburg and Scott Walker both have lower body concerns. Although we don't want the opponents to catch wind of this, they each have what I believe is a groin problem.
You never know where this is going in terms of duration. Both should be out tonight and we'll wait and see on that. Tim Gleason (leg) has not skated since being injured last Sunday. Again we speculate here although Momma told me never to speculatei (that was before the NHL's new injury policy) but it appears to be a ankle problem.
I do know that Tim wanted to go a lot sooner than this but the team is airing on the side of caution. His malady may go way "south" if they are not careful. I think Thursday's game could be logical fit for Gleason. Justin Williams is doing a lot of smiling these days. He is getting real close to action. The team has not given any indication on this. But my friends in Philly say that he was saying it could be soon. Could he join the fun on Thursday, maybe.
Music Man...
Erik Cole for many years was the mastermind of the locker room music. Since his departure Chad LaRose has stepped in a little bit but it appears Tuomo Ruutu is stepping up. Not only has he been arguably the Canes best forward all season but now has become possibly the dictator of the I-pod. Ruutu mentioned this yesterday. He might have to step in and change few things. Why do I bring it up? Well, he favors some heavy/hair band stuff from my era. So selfishly I've got something at stake here. It appears "Rudy" knows how to rock on and off, never a bad thing.
Best wishes...
Finally, best wishes to my good friend Brian Burke, who took over the Leafs yesterday. He will bombastically do what he can do and will get the Leafs poised for take off. I've had the privilege to work for him for about 15 months back in Hartford and it was a treat. He was good to me, I admire him a great deal, good luck Burkie!!!
Talk to you guys tomorrow. We will take a look a statement the Canes make against tonight's opponent, the Anaheim Ducks.
