Ken Medlin
Ken Medlin is a Bailey native whose WRAL reports range from the ACC to the Hurricanes to high school sports.
By Ken Medlin
Jul 1, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes needed Erik Cole, but Cole may have needed the ‘Canes even more.
One day before the free-agent deadline, it appeared the two parties were on their way to a split. Negotiations were breaking down and Jim Rutherford was dropping hints that Carolina was moving on without Cole.
Then both sides blinked.
Erik Cole may never again be the goal-scoring machine he seemed on the path to becoming before Brooks Orpik’s infamous hit left Cole with a truly frightening neck injury.
But one thing is for certain: Cole was a much better player when he rejoined the Canes than he ever was in his half-season with Edmonton. And the Hurricanes were exponentially better with Cole in their lineup, as evidenced by their 12-3-2 record after reacquiring Cole.
Some players just “fit” with certain teams. Erik Cole “fits” the Hurricanes, and the ‘Canes seem to “fit” him.
Cole’s
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By Ken Medlin
Jun 24, 2009
Roy Williams has heard enough criticism of Tyler Hansbrough's game.
"It's funny," Williams said Tuesday. "It's demeaning, it's ridiculous. It's all those emotions."
Over the course of his four years at North Carolina, Hansbrough's style of play drew more than a few unfavorable comparisons. And Williams has heard them all.
"Like a bull in a china shop, he looked uncoordinated or he looked spastic, however you wanted to color it." he said. "But it's hard to look like a great athlete with two guys hanging on you and the referee pinching you on the arm."
Williams may feel more than a bit vindicated by Hansbrough's performance at pre-draft camps. Hansbrough's performance in athletic skills tests have been surprisingly good.
Williams even says a "reliable source" told him Hansbrough's vertical leap measured higher than that of former Duke standout Gerald Henderson.
Did anyone see that coming?
"I
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By Ken Medlin
May 24, 2009
There’s speed, and then there’s Penguin Speed.
In nature, that’s not all that impressive. But in the NHL, Penguin Speed is a difference maker.
Pittsburgh’s two top lines, centered by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, have another gear the Canes simply cannot match. Carolina has, at times, kept pace with the Penguins during this series.
But over the span of 60 minutes, the relentless March of the Pittsburgh Penguins tends to wear even the quickest of teams down, and the Hurricanes are not immune.
Don’t get me wrong, the Canes are no slumbering sloths. They can skate with just about anybody. But the Pens are not "just about anybody." They bring two of the top players of their generation in Crosby and Malkin, and when they’re on their game – as they have been over three games against Carolina – they can be overwhelming.
There’s just no margin for error in this series. The
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By Ken Medlin
May 4, 2009
It's starting to feel a lot like 2006.
Think about it: the Hurricanes are engineering one playoff comeback after another, anchored by the stellar play of Cam Ward in goal.
Like Yogi Berra once said, It's deja vu all over again.
Cam Ward came of age in the 2006 playoffs. Forced into action due to Martin Gerber's sickness, Ward took the reigns and guided his team to a Stanley Cup.
But for the following two seasons, Ward's play was inconsistent. At times we saw flashes of his Stanley Cup brilliance, while at other times we saw him give up the kinds of goals that leave you scratching your head.
At the time, it was easy to shrug off Ward's inconsistency as the inevitable side-effect of growing pains. After all, he won the Cup at the ripe old age of 22.
But it was equally easy to wonder when Ward would regain the form he found in the post-season of 2006, and if he would ever maintain that form on a regular basis.
Well, he's there now.
Without
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 29, 2009
Another thrilling Carolina-New Jersey playoff series… what else could we expect?
The Canes looked about as done as month-old leftovers, trailing 3-2 late in the third period of Game Seven. But goals from Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal in the game’s final 1:21 turned a Devils series win into a Canes series win.
I have to give credit where credit is due here. After Jokinen’s goal, our colleague Ryan Craig predicted the Canes would win in regulation.
I’ve since asked Ryan to also predict that I win the lottery and start dating a supermodel… I figure the guy may be on a roll.
Nostradamus, eat your heart out…
But, this Canes Comeback is just another installment in what has been an amazing decade of playoff hockey between these two teams.
How ironic was it that Staal and Jokinen – the authors of the two most dramatic stories to come out of the Devils-Canes playoff rivalry – just happened to be the
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 25, 2009
After watching him stop 44 of their shots in a Game Five shutout, the Carolina Hurricanes are adopting an in-your-face approach with New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur.
“We need to get right in front of Marty,” said Canes winger Tuomo Ruutu. “Not just on the sides. That will make a huge difference.”
Carolina found success in game four by keeping a steady stream of traffic in front of Brodeur… The Canes clearly frustrated the future Hall of Famer,
But in game five, it was Brodeur frustrating the Canes.
“He's a real good goaltender, so you have to have some traffic - bodies in front of the net so he can;t see pucks cleanly,” said Canes forward Erik Cole. “And you have to be there to battle for rebounds when they’re there.”
“Hopefully, you catch him in a moment of weakness when he gives up a rebound or something,” said Hurricanes winger Ray Whitney. “You’re
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 21, 2009
There’s something missing from the Carolina Hurricanes this post-season. Their power play,
After an 0-for-5 power play performance in Game Three against New Jersey, Paul Maurice has seen enough.
“Oh, we gave it to those guys something fierce today,” Maurice said after Monday’s team meetings.
To be fair, the Canes did score one goal essentially as a result of a power play. But, Chad LaRose’s second-period goal game seconds after a power play ended, so technically it’s considered an even-strength goal.
Regardless, the Hurricanes’ play with a man advantage left a lot to be desired in Sunday night’s game.
“Power plays ebb and flow, and when you’re confident you see more motion and more quickness, “ Maurice said. “When it’s not going, it’s stagnant and standing. And I think we’re at that point in the offensive zone.”
It goes without
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 20, 2009
They may be down a game in their playoff series against the Devils, but if the Carolina Hurricanes continue playing with the kind of intensity they brought in game three they have no reason to panic whatsoever.
In three words, defenseman Tim Gleason summed up the Canes' perspective on Game Three.
"They got lucky," Gleason said of New Jersey's 3-2 overtime win.
I'm sure the Devils will disagree with that, but I think Gleason's on to something.
Carolina took the game to the Devils, winning the physical battle for the second game in a row. Except for a sleepy start in the second period, the Hurricanes were the team dishing out the punishment.
One stat I love to look at during the playoffs is the "hits" count. It tends to be a great indicator for which team is controlling the play. And for the second game in a row, the Canes outhit the Devils -- in this case by a 36-21 margin.
And yet, New Jersey won the game -- thanks in no small part
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 18, 2009
Around this time of year, most college football teams are searching for a quarterback.
That's one quarterback. Singular.
NC State has two that could start for a lot of teams.
Russell Wilson dazzled at times last season, making first-team All-ACC despite missing two full games and parts of others with injuries.
So Wilson would be the player every wanted to see in the Kay Yow Spring Game, right?
Not really... Mike Glennon came in with tons of hype, and after redshirting last season he made his Wolfpack debut in the Spring Game. And Glennon did not disappoint.
Glennon fits the "Tom O'Brien Prototype" for a quarterback. He's tall with a cannon for an arm. One play in particular sticks out for me from the Spring Game - Glennon rifling a pass between two defenders and completing it to tight end Mario Carter.
The kid can play, which begs the question: "Is there a quarterback controversy?"
Personally, I don't
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By Ken Medlin
Apr 5, 2009
What a difference a year can make.
Flash back to April 2008. It's Final four Saturday and Roy Williams is about to send his North Carolina squad out to face his former employer, Kansas.
Meanwhile, back in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes square off against the Florida Panthers -- a team they had owned in Raleigh -- with a playoff spot on the line.
The results were disastrous. The college basketball-playing Carolina looked lost against the Jayhawks, falling behind 40-12 in the first half. At roughly the same time, the NHL's Carolina was finding a way to lose to Florida 4-3, despite out-shooting the Panthers 46-17.
It was Black Saturday for the "Carolina" teams.
So how ironic is it that, one year later, the Tar Heels again take the court at the Final Four on the same night the Hurricanes have a chance to clinch a playoff spot?
This time, history does not repeat itself. The 'Heels will play for a national championship and the 'Canes will get
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