WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Game Blog: Hurricanes at Buffalo

By Mike Maniscalco

Jan 17, 2009

Going on the air with Chuck Kaiton: I'll finish my thoughts and blog after the game. Canes need an edge quick.

End of the 2nd period: Canes need to find answers fast...

3:04 left in the 2nd period: Sabres oft injured center Tim Connolly gives the crowd reason to be loud, snapping a wrister over the glove of Cam Ward to give Buffalo a three goal advantage. It is a simple snap shot by Connolly and a save that needs to be made in a 2-0 game . Buffalo 3 Carolina 0

6:22 left in the 2nd period: Canes come up empty on the man-advantage and are 0-3 tonight. Of course the Sabres get a break away as Craig Rivet leaves the penalty box. Luckily he is a defenseman and fires the puck over the net. Canes are rnning out of time.

9:02 left in the 2nd period: Canes back on power play...Staal has deflection go into his skates, but good puck movement so far on the opportunity.

9:27 left in the 2nd period: Canes have been the better team in the period, but nothing to show for it. Canes defense has been stout in front of Ward. Again this crowd is really quiet tonight.

17:04 left in the 2nd period:  Scott Walker misses making this a one goal game after beating Ryan Miller with a deke Walker hits the post instead of sliding the puck into a yawning net. That would have been the jolt the Canes need. But the team in Red and White is playing much better to start the 2nd period.

19:22 left in the 2nd period: Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen struck in the face with a puck. He is alright and on the bench. Canes have come out with a jump, now they have to convert. Rod Brind'Amour is centering a line with Ryan Bayda and Chad LaRose, should provide that edge the Canes are looking for.

Canes back on ice with over a 1:30 remaining in the intermission, must have been short and sweet for Paul Maurice's talk with the team. The usual return is around a minute.

End of the 1st period: The Sabres made the most of their scoring chances. The Canes still don't have a lot of edge to their game tonight, by the score after twenty unless there is some change in the demeanor of the team to start the second period this could be a long night because Buffalo will not quit playing. It is vital that Carolina steps up this period and take the game right at the Sabres. This will not be like Toronto if the Canes fall down 3-0, Buffalo's Ryan Miller doesn't cough up leads. It has been a quiet crowd for Buffalo.

Quick Stats: Joe Corvo is a minus 2, Eric Staal has 2 face off wins and 6 losses, Justin Williams played 1:57.

Shots on Goal: Buffalo 12 Carolina 11

 

3:30 left in the 1st period: Sabres take 2-nothing lead on on long shot that beats a screened Cam Ward. Defenseman Teppo Numminen gets the goal. It's gut check time for the Canes. The effort hasn't been bad, but this is not a team playing with the desparation of being on a four game losign streak. Also Buffalo has been the more aggressive team getting to the net. Buffalo 2 Carolina 0

5:14 left in the 1st period: Canes come up empty on a PP that had a few chances to score.

7:14 left in the1st period: Canes chance to go on the power play and even it up, we'll see if there is anything going offensively for the Canes. One line change of note, Matt Cullen is centering for Patrick Eaves and Scott Walker, we'll see if it produces.

9:53 left in the 1st period:  Canes Scott Walker just whistled for hooking penalty, Canes need to kill this one off. Falling down two goals to Buffalo on the road is murder. Buffalo seems a little quicker to the puck halfway through the first. Ward just makes an excellent save at the 9 minute mark. too easy to get to the front of the Hurricanes net.

12:09 left in the 1st period: Well that didn't take long the Sabres move the puck quickly and a rising shot by Buffalo's Tim Connolly beats Cam Ward. Canes were flat footed. Buffalo 1 Carolina 0

12:11 left in the 1st period: The Canes will have the first power play chance of the game after Jason Pominville was guilty of a hook, and it lasts one second as the captain Rod Brind/Amour is given the gate for tripping...four on four hockey...

Start: The Carolina Hurricanes were a loose bunch in the morning skate and head coach Paul Maurice wants to see his team show some grit and push tonight. The early going has been slow with not many scoring chances. The Hurricanes need this win tonight to avoid a five game losing streak.