Ron Francis: Hurricanes' Quest for the Cup

CANES WIN!!!

2006-06-20T00:29:00.000-04:00

Great Job! It was a great job by the Canes to come back and play the type of game that made them so successful all year. It was a great job by all of you to make that building as loud as it was and give the guys a huge lift. Before I go any farther, I want to say great job by the Oilers, what a great series they played, and to their fans, what a class act. I hope the Oiler fans and the Canes fans have started a new tradition of singing both countries National Anthems, man was that beautiful to watch. To all of you that stuck with the team even when it looked like the ship was starting to go down, congrats, you were rewarded for your loyalty tonight. For those of you that jumped off, its okay, we'll throw you a rope so you can get back on board. I was extremely disappointed when we didn't win in 2002 for 2 reasons. One, I really wanted the Cup to come to Raleigh and its great fans. And, two, I never got to tailgate with any of you outside the rink. Well, I am happy to say that after tonight, I got to spend some time in the parking lot with y'all and also watch the Cup come to Raleigh. What a great night! Great for the Hurricane organization. Great for city of Raleigh. Great for all the players and staff to be able to accomplish a dream. Great for all of you to experience what I think is the greatest trophy presentation in professional sports. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end at some point. This is my last blog. I can honestly tell you that when I was asked to do the blog, I wasn't quit sure what a blog was. For a guy who hunts and pecks on the keyboard, it was at sometimes difficult, but overall I really enjoyed you letting me express my thoughts and views on the games. I also enjoyed reading a lot of your responses and from all different parts of the world. To Ken in Iraq, thanks again for all you and your comrades are doing to keep our country safe, and to the rest of you bloggers out there, THANK YOU for letting me be a part of the fun.

Odds Still Good

2006-06-17T23:20:00.000-04:00

I know what y'all are thinking. How can the Canes possibly win game 7 after how they played tonight? Yes, Edmonton skated better, their special teams were better and overall, they totally outplayed the Canes. Yes, Edmonton looked fresher and with a long trip across the country 2morrow, it will be tough for the Canes to reverse that perception. Yes, it's hard to win when your not getting a lot of shots on net. However, last time I checked, the Oilers didn't win the Cup tonight. They still have to win 1 more game, and that game is Monday night, in Raleigh. The Canes worked hard all season just in case a series came down to a game seven, that they would be able to have that game 7 in Raleigh. On Monday, they will get the opportunity to win a agme 7 at home for the Stanley Cup. Let's stop and think for a second. If I said to you last Sept. that the Canes would have a chance to win the Cup in a game 7 in Raleigh, everyone of you would have jumped at the chance. Well, the Canes have that chance. Everything that has happened to this point means nothing. All that matters is Monday night. Anything can happen in a game 7. A bad bounce, a bad call, a hot goaltender, etc., can determine the outcome of the game. The best team doesn't always win a game 7. There is a 50/50 chance the Canes will win the Cup on Monday, I'm excited about that, and so should you be. Do your part, be loud, show this team how much you have appreciated the season they gave you to this point. Believe it or not you can make a difference, and the players will be able to sense your level of belief by the amount of noise in the building on Monday. Now is not the time for doubt.

One More Twist

2006-06-15T00:43:00.000-04:00

Ouch, that hurts. You always here that the 4th game is the hardest to win in a series, but I, like you, thought that they were going to do it tonight, especially when they got the PP in OT. The PP had been so effective all night, that I think everyone felt that when Edmonton took the penalty in OT, the game and the Cup were well within reach. That is why this one hurts, nobody saw it coming. Give the Oilers credit, they came on the road and played a real good game. They started off the game as good as you can with the goal in the first shift. But when the Canes, who I thought also played a good game, came back to take a 2-1 lead, I thought Edmonton was in a lot of trouble. A huge moment in this game was in the 3rd with the score tied 3-3, Ray Whitney took a pass from behind the net and had Markannen beat only to hear it ring loudly of the post. If that goes in game over. So the bottom line is the Canes did play well enough to win but didn't; the Oilers played well enough to win and did. That happens in sports. Now the Canes have to go back on the road to try and win it in Edmonton. Will it be easy, no, but then again, you don't expect something this important to come easily. I know everyone is disapointed the Canes didn't win the Cup tonight at home, especially the players, but as a player you prepare yourself for a 7 game series, and they are still in control of the series, so I believe their state of mind is still very positive. We talked early in the playoffs about this being one hec of a roller coaster ride and I'm sure that you will agree when I say this was like a corkscrew in the dark, a part of the ride you didn't see coming, but keep the faith. The building was electric tonight and it was a real pleasure for me to experience it from the seats instead of the bench, y'all were great. However, don't take it personally when I say I hope I don't get to experience it again this season

PS.-Just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading the comments expressed by both Edmonton fans and Carolina fans in my previous blog. It is great to see when fans can root passionately for their own team without having to slam the opposing fans and players. As a player who always appreciated good sportsmanship, I commend all of you on yours.

One More!

2006-06-12T22:20:00.000-04:00

Well as I start to write this blog, the 2nd period has just ended with the Canes up 2-1 and in a real good position to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Tonights game is a lot different for the Canes compared to Game 3. In this game the Canes are skating much better than they did in the last game and have had numerous good scoring chances to take a big lead. They have been nothing short of outstanding on the PK and once again did an excellent job of killing a 5 on 3. Their PP has done a great job of moving the puck and creating good scoring chances. The PP goal immediately after Edmonton had scored was a huge turning point in the game. We talked before about the PP needing to score at important parts of the game and Stillman's goal could not have come at a more important time. The 3rd period is about to start so I'll be back to recap the outcome in a bit, but I must say I have a real good feeling about this one.
Defense! Defense! Defense! Much has been made of the Canes offense and for good reason, but the 3rd period was another great example of why defense wins championships. The Canes turned in a perfect 3rd period with the lead and honestly, I never felt the were in any trouble of losing their lead. Now the tough part. They say the 4th win is always the hardest. The Canes get to come home to Raleigh and their fans with what every hockey player dreams of from the time they are little boys, a chance to win the Stanley Cup. I have to believe that the RBC will be louder than it ever has been before. Everything you work for as a player all year long is now just 1 win away. Once again, I am getting that good feeling.

Something Not Right

2006-06-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Well I guess we all kind of knew it wasn't going to be easy. We've talked before about playing on the road in the playoffs. You know the home team is going to come out hard, you know the fans will be loud and you want to make sure you get through the first part of the game in a manner that gives you a chance to win. Obviously giving up a goal early is not what the Canes wanted to do, but at the end of the first period, they were only down by that 1 goal. To me, it just seemed like something wasn't right for the Canes from the start. Maybe it was the long flight, maybe the nerves that come with being this close, or maybe the hostile environment. For whatever reason, they didn't seem to be skating like they can and although the ice wasn't totally tilted in one direction, the Oilers could have been up by a larger # at the end of the 2nd if not for the play of Cam Ward. The Canes seemed to start to play better the last 5 minutes of the 2nd and when they came out in the 3rd period and started to play more and more like themselves, I felt it was only a matter of time before they found a way to win the game. I, like you I'm sure, felt that when Roddy scored it was now a game for the Canes to take. On the road, scored tied 1-1 and around 10 minutes to play with the momentum on your side is a good place for the road team to be. Unfortunately, this time it didn't turn out the way the Canes had hoped it would. Ryan Smyth scored a typical Ryan Smyth goal to win it for the Oilers in a period that I thought the Canes played their best. The Canes did a good job of keeping the Oilers to the outside for the majority of the period and skated more like themselves in the 3rd, only to have the game taken away from them late. In some ways, this game resembled game 1 with the 3rd period rally we have all come to expect and enjoy, falling a little short. The good news is that the Canes are still up in the series and still have a chance to put the Oilers in a deep hole with a win on Mon. night. On Mon., I would expect to see more of the way the Canes played the last 25 minutes of this game and less of how they played in the first 35. If that is the case, we will all be anticipating a visit from Stanley to Raleigh next week.

'Canes Take Control In Game 2

2006-06-08T00:15:00.000-04:00

That's more like it! With all the talk surrounding the Oiler goalie
situation, it was important that the Canes not give them any life in
this game. From the Canes standpoint, their game was much better than
in game 1 in all areas. They skated better tonight and as a result were
able to put a lot more pressure on Edmonton and as the game progressed
that showed, as Edmonton became more and more frustrated, taking bad
penalties and giving up odd man rushes. The special teams have played a
key part in these playoffs and tonight was no exception. For me the key
part of the game was in the 2nd period when the Canes had a 1-0 lead
and a 5 on 3 PP. Edmonton was able to kill it off and should have
gained some momentum from this but instead they took another penalty
and the Canes were able to score a very important PP goal to take
control of the game. Any time you score 3 PP goals, chances are good
you will win the game and that was the case tonight. As good as the
Canes looked tonight, they must refocus on the next game in Edmonton.
It's tough when you know your opposition has to win 4 of the next 5 to
beat you, and it's tough when your mind starts to entertain thoughts of
just how close you are to attaining your dream, but Edmonton will give
everything they have in game 3 and the Canes must be ready. Lose it,
and you let a team that is on the verge of being down and out back into
the series with momentum; win it and you will be able to hear the fat
lady warming up. I hope to hear some music Saturday!

Where Do I Start?

2006-06-06T00:37:00.000-04:00

I really struggled with where to start tonight. What were the turning points of the game? What were the keys? Certainly the Canes killing the 5 on 3 in the first period was huge. I thought the Oilers decision to sit back and trap when they got the 3 goal lead in the 2nd period was big also. I felt it let the Canes start to find their legs a little since it gave them more room to skate out of their end.

I thought Whitney's goal early in the 3rd gave the home crowd and the Canes the spark they had been missing for the first 40 minutes. Once again the PP scored a big goal at a big time in the hockey game. Anytime you score a short-handed goal it is a huge momentum swing, and Williams goal did just that.

Let's not forget the save Ward made on Horcroft when Horcroft had a wide open net in the 3rd period( like you were going to forget that save), and the save at the end of the game again on Horcroft. Certainly the miscue by Conklin and Smith that resulted in the game winning goal by Roddy was also a huge part of this game.

But, having thought about all the above, the biggest turning point in this game and most likely the series was when Ladd was knocked into Roloson, and from all indications so far, that has knocked Roloson out of this series. That leaves a huge hole for Edmonton to fill. Conklin has to be a little shaky after how the game ended, so I would not be surprised to see Markkanen be the starter for game 2.

Either way, Edmonton will have a tough time being the same team they were throughout the playoffs without Roloson in the pipes. I must give the Oilers credit. They were faster than I thought they were and played a lot better than I thought they would coming off a 9-day break. I really thought they played well enough to win the game but the Canes once again, found a way to win(a good sign).

The Oilers fired 38 shots at Ward and a lot of those shots were not easy saves. Cam Ward should have been a star tonight! In game 2 I expect the Canes to be better. They need to skate for 60 minutes like they did the last 20 minutes.

In game 2, however all the questions will be with the Oilers and whether or not they will be able to overcome the loss of Roloson. The last thing a team wants in the Cup finals is a question mark surrounding their goaltending, and right now, that is exactly what the Oilers have.

Edmonton vs. Carolina

2006-06-04T23:35:00.000-04:00

Are you Ready? I must admit, I have not seen a lot of the Edmonton Oilers so I had to call a few buddies who were former players to help get everything in perspective for this series. The goaltending seems to be fairly even according to my sources,but for me, the Oilers seem to give up a lot of shots. We will have to wait and see if those shots are coming from the outside or if they are quality scoring chances. If there the latter, the Canes will be in good shape. The defense is again pretty even, with perhaps a slight edge going to the Oilers because of Chris Pronger. Ironic that he was once a part of the Hurricane franchise when it was in Hartford and is now probably the biggest obstacle standing between them and the Cup. Up front I think the Canes have an edge. They have a lot more depth and experience, and this is where I think the Canes need to be better than the Oilers if they want to win. A couple of suprising comments I heard from friends were that the Oilers will be the quickest team the Canes have faced so far in the playoffs and that the Oilers are an extremely physical team. Here is a little point of interest for you. Every team who has had an extended break between series, has lost the next series in 5 games or less( ie. Colorado against Anaheim, Anaheim against Edmonton, and New Jersey against Carolina). Edmonton has had 9 days since their last series. The other thing to look for in this series will be, once again, the special teams. Carolina comes into the finals with the #1 power play in the playoffs, and Edmonton comes in with the #1 penalty killing unit. It's to easy to say who ever wins the special teams battle will win the series, but I do beleive it will play a big part in who ultimately wins the Cup. The last series was great, but with the stakes a lot higher and the prize a lot closer, this series looks to be even better. You've had your rest, now it's time to get back at it!!!

Road to Stanley Continues!

2006-06-01T23:48:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why y'all bought seats to the game tonight, after all, nobody sat in them!! What a great game! What a great series! First the Sabres. They had no business playing in a game seven based on the injuries to their team. Yet, not only did they play in it, they led after 40 minutes of it. Truely a gutsy effort! What about the Canes? They too played a great series, and tonight, I thought they played a great game. I must admit I was a little nervous when they had the 1-0 lead in the 2nd period and were doing everything right except score that 2nd goal. The 2 goals scored by the Sabres to take the lead at the end of the period could have rattled the Canes, but instead they came out with a great 3rd period. The tying goal early gave them the extra jump they needed, and when they got the opportunity they were looking for on the PP, they took full advantage of it. Another huge goal by Roddy and this game was over. The Sabres had nothing left at that point. As hard as they played all series, I think they realized when that goal went in that their fate had been sealed. Rarely in sports does a match up live up to all the hype, but this one certainly did. Both teams gave everything they had, both teams never quit, and as a result we were all treated to a fantastic display of hockey. I can also tell you the players appreciated the loudness of the building tonight. That is always a big help in such emotional games. Great job. Now for the really good news. We get a couple days rest before climbing back on that emotional roller coaster ride yet again. The road to Stanley continues!!!

Game Seven

2006-05-30T22:43:00.000-04:00

Well, as exciting as game sevens can be, I know nobody in this area was looking forward to watching one. This game reminded me in a lot of ways of game 5. In that game I thought the Canes didn't play a great game but won, and tonight, I didn't think they played all that bad a game and they lost. The first period was definitely all Buffalo, but at the end of it the Canes were only down 1 and that is not a bad spot for a visiting team in a hostile environment. You want to weather the storm and still be within striking distance at the end of 20 minutes of playoff hockey on the road, and the Canes did that. As the 2nd and 3rd periods progressed, I thought the Canes did a good job of slowly taking over the game. When Hedican scored, I'm sure a lot of you felt like I did, the game was now theirs. But again, similar to game 5, there was a great scoring chance near the end of the game, this time by Brindy not Afiniganov, and this time the save was by Miller and not Ward. The similarities don't end there. In overtime, this time it was Weight penalized and not Dumont, and this time Buffalo scored on the PP and not Carolina. So here we are. A game seven on the horizon. A game seven in the RBC. As a player I never wanted to have to play a game seven when my team was up 3-2, but I always wanted to play a game seven when my team was down 3-2. I also, always wanted that game seven to be in my building, with my fans, in a comfortable surrounding. That is where the Canes are now. The reason they worked hard all year was just incase there was a game seven, it would be in their building. The focus has to be all on game seven. Nothing that has happened this far in the playoffs or the regular season means a thing now, only Game 7. Historically game sevens are awesome. You think your heart has taken a beating to this point, game seven will show your heart that everything up to this point is childs play. There is no tomorrow. You win, you get to play for the Cup. You lose, you take out your Titleist Clubs and head for the links. As much as I love my Titleist Clubs, I would still like to watch hockey in Raleigh for a few more weeks.

Found A Way

2006-05-29T00:08:00.000-04:00

Well, if I'm going to be totally honest with you I must say that tonights game was not at all what I expected. I really thought that after the last game the Canes were ready to make a big statement tonight at the RBC in front of the home fans. I thought they would come out flying and most likely have the game and series in control by the end of the first period. So much for my thoughts. I didn't think the Canes played as well as they are capable of. They seemed to not be skating as well as usual. I'm not sure if that had to do with understanding the importance of winning this game, or having the same thoughts I was having about Buffalo really being in a tough position with 3 top defenseman out as well as a top forward, and having to come to Raleigh for game 5. Whatever the reason, I didn't think they played their best. I also must say that a lot of the Canes problems were caused by the play of the Sabres. Buffalo showed a ton of character by competing the way they did, especially when it seemed that everyone(myself included) had counted them out of this series. They had every excuse to use, but instead played a gutsy game. There is no way I would have beleived you if you told me they would be able to hold the Canes to 1 shot in the 3rd period. But they did, and actually, for even longer than 20 minutes. In the end though, the Canes FOUND A WAY to win, and that is the most important stat of all. Thanks to great PK ing(Buf was 0-4) and 2 huge goals by the PP(2-7), not to mention 2 enormous saves by Ward(1 in the dying minutes of the 3rd on a breakaway, and 1 in OT on the pass across the crease), the Canes were able to find a way to win the game. In the playoffs you need a lot of things to go right to win the cup. You need to stay healthy, you need good bounces, you need lots of luck, great goaltending and you need to win some games when you don't play your best. Tonight's game was yet another good sign for the Canes. I would like to be able to say to you this series is over. I would like to be able to tell you that Buffalo won't be able to bounce back from this devastating loss. But the truth of the matter is both these teams are talented, both are deep, and both have a great deal of pride and character in their respective locker rooms. So, I guess the only thing I can say is there has been 5 real good games in this series and I expect game 6 to be another beauty. I can't wait til Tuesday.

Welcome Back Martin

2006-05-26T22:25:00.000-04:00

Now that is what I was talking about when I said they were still okay. Other than the chances the Canes gave up early, (Gerber was huge early), I thought the Canes settled in nicely to their game. They did a good job defensively in all areas of the game. Their PK was much better tonight and their PP scored an important goal at a crucial point, both real good signs. The Canes did a good job of working a depleted Buffalo defense that actually played better than I thought they would. A defense though, that once it was behind, had a tough time igniting the Sabre transition game and as a result had to take more chances which led to opening themselves up more than they would have liked to. Martin Gerber did a nice job returning to the net tonight. He made some big saves early and that seemed to give him the confidence he showed all year long. As well as he played tonight, I don't think he won the game for the Canes. I don't say that to sound mean, but rather just like I didn't think he was the reason the Canes lost the first 2 playoff games, I think the team that played in front of him tonight was more like the team that played in front of him all season. The team that played in front of him the first 2 playoff games was not! So all in all the Canes did what they had to do, regain home ice and in a convincing fashion. I fully expect a loud RBC Center on Sun. and that will lead to a huge start for the Canes. If Buffalo is to win this series, it will be imperitive they survive the first period of that game. If not, there will be no looking back for the Canes.

We're Still Okay

2006-05-24T22:37:00.000-04:00

Wow, I didn't see that coming. After the first two games in Raleigh, I felt the Canes were pretty much in control of this series, having dominated 5 of the first 6 periods. Tonight kind of reminded me a little of game 1, where the Canes played well in periods 1 and 3 but not in
period 2. Buffalo's dominance in period two, which was helped by the numerous penalties the Canes took, turned out to be the difference in the hockey game. Carolina, however, should gain a lot of confidence by the fact that they were able to come back and almost tie the game up. The focus now shifts squarely on game 4. The Canes needed only to win one game in Buffalo and still have that opportunity on Friday night, where as Buffalo needed to win both games in order to maintain home ice advantage in the series. The Canes need to stay out of the penalty box and avoid a lull like they had in period 2 tonight and they will be fine. I think we are still okay.

Mission Accomplished

2006-05-22T22:37:00.000-04:00

Although the Canes didn't start the way I expected, they started to take over the game about half way through the 1st period and didn't look back. The 2nd period was complete domination as noted by the 16-4 shots on net edge by the Canes and the 28-10 edge over the first 2 periods. The final 4-3 score was in no way indicative of the way the game was played. I really expected the Canes to win this one, since they found out in the 1st round just how tough it is to come back from a 2-0 games hole. Now that the Canes have climbed back into this series, the must gear themselves up for a very critical game 3 in Buffalo Wed. The Canes PP was good again, but their PK needs to be better, especially now that they are going on the road where special teams can make a huge difference in determining wins and losses. The Canes for most of the first 2 games were the better team, but the series is tied with the next 2 games in Buffalo. The Canes obviously need to win at least 1 of the next 2 games but the pressure would be greater on them to win game 4 if they were down 2-1 after game three, and conversely, the pressure would be greater on Buffalo if they were down 2-1 with game five looming in Raleigh, so game 3 is a huge game for both teams. The Canes need to play the same way they did for most of the first 2 games and also must realize that the Sabre team that will they see in Buffalo will be different from the one they saw in Raleigh. Tonight the Canes did exactly what they needed to do; mission accomplished. However, there is not much time to enjoy it since the next mission is only 2 nights away. It should be another beauty!

Fast Enough?

2006-05-20T15:44:00.001-04:00

Wow! Was that fast enough for you? What a fast paced game. It was kind of different games within the game. I thought the first period was pretty much dominated by the Canes. After the first goal by the Sabres, the Canes seemed to settle down and get into their game. As a result, they had the majority of scoring chances and really could have had a big lead after the first. I must admit I was a little concerned when the Canes played as well as they did in the first and the game was only tied 1-1. The second period was totally different from the first. It seemed like the Sabres gained some confidence in the first intermission, knowing they had not played their best in the first and were still in the hockey game. The second period was a totally different period. Buffalo was skating much better in this period and the Canes weren't. As a result the Sabres took over the game and if not for a skate save by Commodore it could have been 3-1 at the end of 2 instead of the 2-1 score. In the 3rd, things changed once again. The Canes dominated the period but in the end still lost the game. Overall this was a close game on most fronts. PK,PP,shots, scoring chances, etc. were fairly even. As we said before this series started, it will be a close one. The Canes don't have to change much other than finding a way to score on some of their chances and changing the end result of the game. They will have a chance to accomplish that on Mon. night.

ROUND 3-Buffalo

2006-05-19T08:54:00.000-04:00

Alright, almost time to get back to work! When these 2 teams look in the mirror they must see each other. Both teams have rookie goaltenders in net and a very capable backup ready to go in if needed. They both have unheralded defences that are vastly under rated, and a group of forwards that are both very talented and very deep. The Canes and Sabres both could be considered the poster team for the new NHL. They like to play an up tempo, aggressive, high paced game. If you like offense, you are going to love this series. I don't expect to see any 1-0 games in this round. On special teams, The Canes will need to keep producing on the PP and be mindful of the Sabres PK which has already scored 5 short handed goals. Although it will be hard to duplicate their performance in the NJ series, the special teams are critical to the success or failure this time of year. The Canes are now in the drivers seat in these playoffs( they are the highest seed left), but this will be their toughest test yet. Having said all that, I think the key to this series will be which team plays better defensively. The better you are in your own end the less time you spend there, and the less time you spend in your end the more time you get to spend in your opponents end, thus giving you a better chance to win. Also, there will be goals scored in this series, and how each team deals with that fact will play an important part of who wins this round. You will need to have a very short memory. The speed will cause a lot of mistakes and the team that does a better job of correcting those mistakes, and being able to let go of a mistake made and refocus on the task at hand with unwavering confidence, will be the team that gets to play for the Stanley Cup. The Canes are half way up the mountain, but the climb will be a lot tougher from here on out. If they stick to their game plan and play at the level their capable of they should be fine. Only one thing is for certain in this round, you the fans are going to be treated to some extremely exciting hockey. There will be a lot of momentum swings during these games; there will be an extremely fast pace to all the games; and your emotions will once again tug at your heart. Only this time with the stakes a little higher, the tugs will seem a little harder and the success will seem a little sweeter. ENJOY!!!

Half Way Home

2006-05-14T22:00:00.000-04:00

Well other than the start, I felt the Canes did exactly what they needed to do to close this series out. The early goal could have been harmful, but they did a good job of recovering from that, and killing the 4 penalties that could have caused them to be in a big hole had they not done so. Once the Canes settled in after the first 10 minutes or so, I thought they took over the game. Again they won the special teams battle and it turned out to be the difference in the game. As I said at the start of this series, I liked the matchup, and I think as the series progressed, the Devils lack of depth up front compared to the Canes, and the inability to handle the Canes speed with their defense, turned out to be the difference in the series. I think the Devils had a good run, but I expect them to be a retooled team come next Sept. As for the Canes, I said earlier I liked the matchup against Montreal and I liked the matchup against NJ, but with Buffalo up next, things will get a little bit tougher. Let's all take a few days to rest and relax before the next series begins( my guess is Sat.) and I will get back to you later in the week to preview the next round. It should be a beauty! As for now, let's enjoy the fact that we're half way home, and let's all hope that Stillman's injury is not that serious!

Mom's Day at the RBC

2006-05-13T20:27:00.000-04:00

Alright then, where do we start? I guess we could talk about the 11 penalties, or getting beat on the special teams. Or, we could talk about the fact that the bounces didn't go the Canes way today. But to me, I thought that NJ was the better team today. They seemed to be quicker than the Canes, who didn't bring their "A" game to the Meadowlands today. I have to think that part of the problem was the fact that the Canes spent the last 2 days sitting around in their hotel waiting for the game to be played. But whatever the reason was, it was one of those days. The key is not what happened today, but rather being able to put that game out of your mind and refocus on what is ahead. With the short time in between games, there will not be much time to address things on the ice so you can be sure the coaches will be reviewing tape on the flight to Raleigh, and expressing the changes needed in meetings tomorrow. For the Canes the short turn around is both good and bad. Although they still have a solid hold on the series, NJ has the momentum from the last game and there is not a lot of time for them to regroup before they are back on the ice for game 5. But, any time you lose like that you want to get back on the ice as soon as possible to try and change things and the Canes don't have to wait long for that chance. I would expect Cam Ward to be back in net tomorrow and I would also expect to see a hungrier Canes team step onto the ice with a mission to close this series out. You don't want to go back to NJ for a game 6. Also, Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's and remember, it's not ever year you get to spend "your day" tailgating at the RBC. Enjoy!!!

Special Teams! Special Teams! Special Teams!

2006-05-11T08:24:00.000-04:00

Sorry again for the delay on posting my thoughts. Read most of your comments and it seems to me y'all had some pretty good observations on the game. Anytime you are up 2-0 in a series and heading into the oppositions building for game 3, you expect them to come out hard and toss all they have at you. NJ did that at the start of the game and was able to take the 1-0 lead. AS the road team it is important in these kind of games to stay patient and wait for some breaks, and the Canes did that. They weathered the storm early and then got a PP. Once again, they were able to score on the PP and that seemed to turn the tide somewhat. Another break came shortly after the goal when NJ turned the puck over in their own end and J Williams was able to take advantage of it. To be up 2-1 at the end of 1 is a good spot to be in as the road team. However, the intermission gave NJ some time to regroup and it showed early in the 2nd when they came out hard and had the Canes on their heels. With the score tied 2-2, the Canes got a great opportunity to take control of the game with the 4 min. PP at the latter part of the period, and once again the PP took full advantage of the chance it was given. A real positive for me is the fact that for, I believe, the third time in the playoffs the Canes went into the 3rd period with a 1 goal lead and were able to protect it. That is huge this time of the year. There is no doubt that in playoff hockey there will be times within the game were the tide seems to be changing and the key in those times is to maintain your focus and simplify your game until you can get a chance to turn it around. There is no question that the Canes are getting some breaks in this series( just look at Staal's goal in Game 2), but the key is to take full advantage when those opportunities present themselves and the Canes are doing that, especially on the special teams. That has been the difference in the series. As for game 4, the extra day will give NJ some time to look at the tape and see what they did that worked and what didn't. The Canes will try not to sit around the hotel for 2 days waiting, but instead try to rest and get ready for the next game knowing that it is important to not let NJ get any momentum. The clinching game is always the hardest to win, especially when your facing a proud franchise like NJ that has had a lot of playoff success in the past. Saturday's game sets up to be a good one.

Your Thoughts?

2006-05-10T22:08:00.000-04:00

I hate to say this but I haven't seen a lick of the game tonight. I had a dinner function to attend and as a result I am just getting home. But, through the wonders of TIVO, I am about to sit down and watch the game. I do know the Canes won, and I do appologize for not being able to post my thoughts on the game yet, but I will do that in the morning. In the mean time don't hesitate to voice your observations. Be back to you soon!

JUST REWARD

2006-05-08T23:07:00.000-04:00

What? You didn't think it was going to be as easy as Sunday did you? Other than the first period, where I thought the Devils played better than in game1, and the Canes didn't play as well as they played in game one, I thought the Canes showed once again why I like this match up. The Canes outshot the Devils in the last 2 periods and overtime 30-9. They owned the face off circle 40-23. Yes it was lucky to score a goal 17 seconds after NJ went up 2-1, but I felt they had really taken over the game in the 3rd priod and deserved to win the game. Defensively, the Canes did a good job of keeping the Devils smaller forwards on the perimeter, and not giving them a lot of real good quality chances. Offensively, they did a good job of causing confusion for the Devils buy using their speed to pressure and by using the area behind the NJ net to their advantage. Once again they won the special teams battle and have yet to allow a NJ PP goal in the series. Yes, this game was a lot closer on the scoreboard, but a lot of that was a result of Brodeur bouncing back with a tremendous game( like we all expected), and not because the game was played evenly. In the end, I'm sure NJ feels they let one get away, and I'm sure the Canes feel they got what they deserved. Both teams are right. The Canes were lucky to get a goal with 3 seconds left, but they also were the better team for most of the game. The Canes did what they had to do winning 2 games at home, now the focus turns to NJ and the goal becomes winning game 3. NJ on the other hand understands the situation they are in and have a lot of playoff experience to help dig themselves out of the hole they're in. Wednesday night should be another beauty.

Great Start

2006-05-06T17:12:00.000-04:00

When I said I liked the match up, even I didn't like it(6-0) that much. The Canes did exactly what they had to. They played their best game defensively in the playoffs and also showed that relentless pursuit of the puck that made them so successful during the regular season. They also shut down NJ's PP and obviously were very successful on their PP. They also did a great job of getting traffic in front of Brodeur. Having said all that, I would expect a different NJ team on Monday. Today the bounces went the Canes way, and NJ looked like a team that had a week off. NJ did not have the usual loose puck battle mentality that you would expect at this time of year. I expect that to change next game. The Canes on the other hand don't have to change, but rather maintain the same grit and determination they displayed in today's game. This was clearly their best game so far and I'm not saying that because of the score, but because of the way they played. The challenge for the Canes is similar to it was early in the first round when they were down 0-2, not letting themselves get down to low and stay focused on the game at hand. Now, they must do the same thing, not let themselves get to high after that win and be ready to do it all over again Monday. Keeping your emotions in check are a huge part of the playoffs.

Canes/Devils

2006-05-06T07:56:00.000-04:00

How's it going ,eh?( that was for my Canadian friend) Hope everyone is rested and ready to buckle up once again because the emotional roller coaster ride of the NHL playoffs is about to begin once again. Let me start by saying I like the match up. I know what your saying. How can he like a match up against a team that has won 15 straight? For starters, Ottawa and the Canes were on par for the whole season, so I would like to save that match up for the next round, if they get there. Buffalo is clicking on all cylinders right now and came into Raleigh and put on a pretty impressive show in the last game, so again, save them for the next round. That leaves the lesser of three evils, The Devils, a team that won 11 straight down the stretch and easily handled the Rangers in the first round, but hasn't played in a VERY LONG time. Interesting match up. In net the Devils have an experienced, extremely talented, future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur. The Canes have a guy who grew up idolizing Martin Brodeur. But the good news is they both play a similar game. They both handle the puck real well and they both see the whole ice very well and have great hockey sense. If you don't think Ward has hockey sense, just ask Mike Robeiro. So this should be another great duel in net. Up front, this is not the same Devil team you are use to seeing. Yes they are still good defensively, but not as good as they were in the past and I think the Canes will be able to generate a lot more scoring chances. They do, however have a much better power play than they have had in the past, so they Canes will have to do a good job of both limiting their PP opportunities and when they do give them one, do a good job of limiting their scoring chances. In the face off circle, I think the Canes should have a big edge, which shoud lead to more puck possession over the course of the game and series. But, the whole key to the Canes having success in thie series will once again start in their own end. They must do a good job defensively in limiting the Devils quality scoring chances. I feel that NJ has more guys who can take advantage of turnovers or sloppy play in the defensive end than Montreal did, so solid defense is a must for the Canes in this series. This series, like the last one looks to be a good one. Enjoy!

Movin' On

2006-05-02T23:12:00.000-04:00

As I sit down to write this blog, it occurs to me that nobody is going to read it tonight because y'all are going to be at the airport waiting for the plane to come in. Oh well, maybe y'all will read it after you wake up in the morning. Where do I start? Was it the best series the Canes could have played? Probably not, but they found a way to "Get R done", and that is really what the playoffs are all about. There will be times in a series when things go right, and there will times when they don't, hec, there will be times within a game when things will go from good to bad or vice-versa real fast. That is why it is important to remain focused on the big picture and not let yourself get caught in the moment. Don't get too high when things go well and don't get too low when they go bad. This series was a great test in that regard for the Canes. Down 2-0, it would have been easy to feel sorry for themselves but they didn't, instead they battled back and found a way to change the momentum in the series and eventually win it. Was it easy? Absolutely not! Five 1 goal games, (2 in OT, and 1 in double OT), now that's a real good series. This series was a real good test for the Canes in many different ways and the confidence they gained from winning this round will help them as they head into the next round against the Devils. We'll leave that discussion for another blog, but for now, let's just enjoy the moment. The Canes faced adversity in this series and it made them stronger, that's a good sign for what lies ahead. We're movin' on.

"Get er done"

2006-04-30T22:18:00.000-04:00

Finally, a home team won a hockey game in this series! Where do I start? Let's start with the good news. 1) The Canes won game five and are in the drivers seat. 2) Over the years, 80 percent of the teams who won game 5 have gone on to win the series. 3) The Canes special teams were very good tonight both on the PP and the PK. 4) The Canes had 2 breakaways in the game, and 5) Cam Ward was once again outstanding. Having said all that, I was not totally happy with the Canes game tonight. I really felt that in game 4 they had found their game again. They played very solid defensively in that game and did a great job of limiting any quality scoring chances by the Habs forwards. I thought that in game five the Canes would come out clicking on all cylinders after the 2 big wins in Montreal and start to dominate this series. They actually started well I thought, but Montreal did a good job of weathering the storm by dumping pucks off the glass and out into the neutral zone. As the game progressed, I felt that the Canes had to many turnovers in this game that resulted in a lot of opportunities for the Canadiens. Hey , the bottom line is the Canes won and the Habs didn't, and that is all that matters, but this game was won as a result of some good plays on the special teams and some key saves by Ward and not by a solid 60 minutes of hockey like we saw in game 4. Maybe it's the excitement of trying to put on a good show in front of the home crowd, and maybe the Canes will be able to play their game on the road in Montreal on Tues., only time will tell. The fact is the Canes are up 3-2 and in the drivers seat with two chances to eliminate the Habs. Lets not wait to game seven. "Get er done."

THEY'RE BAAACK!

2006-04-28T22:03:00.000-04:00

I think y'all would agree with me when I say that's the team we were waiting to see. Right from the start I thought the Canes were solid. In the first they played a very smart, good defensive period. Exactly what the road team is suppose to do. The Canadiens on the other hand for the first time in the series were under pressure and seemed shaky. As a result, the Canes were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead. In the second, I thought the Canes still worked hard, but didn't seem to work as smart or execute as well as they did in the first and that opened the door for the Habs to climb back into the game. And give them credit, they took advantage of the opportunity. In the third the Canes were back to playing a solid game. They limited the Habs chances and were able to get the go ahead and eventual game winning goal. Once again Roddie played a huge role in the outcome, and for me it was also a great sign to see JustinWilliams elevate his game at such a critical time and under tough circumstances. This series reminds me in many ways of some heavyweight bouts. Early in the match the underdog comes out swinging, staggering the favorite, but unable to finish him off. Then the favorite is able to regain his senses and climb his way back into the match. That's where I think we are now. The Habs realize they had the Canes on the ropes. They also realize they couldn't put them away. They know they blew a great chance and now must try and find away to regain the advantage. An advantage that is clearly on the Canes side. I would expect the Canes to step on the ice Sunday night at the RBC to a deafening roar and that will help them to continue to play the game they were so successful with all year, a game that they finally found again in game 4. They're back!

It's Far From Over

2006-04-26T23:06:00.000-04:00

That was just what the doctor ordered! In a game the Canes could not afford to lose, they showed a lot of heart and character in finding a way to win a game that was not easy to win. The Canadiens did not make it easy for the Canes, but the Canes never quit and in the end were rewarded for perserveering. What can you say about the performance turned in by Cam Ward? Earlier today I said I wasn't sure he was ready for the test but that the future looked bright. Well, the future showed up in the Bell center tonight and it was impressive. He looked totally at ease right from the start of the game. He went from being part of the questions, to making an exclamation point. At no time did he look like a 22 year old kid who was playing in the biggest game of his young hockey career. Great job!!! As for the rest of the troops, I thought once again Roddie was impressive. He has clearly been the best player for the Canes so far in the series and his effort on the 1st goal tonight was nothing short of remarkable. Congrats to Staller on what will always be a very memorable 1st playoff goal. This game has now changed the dynamics of this series. Instead of being down 3-0, and fighting for their playoff lives, the series is now 2-1 and the Canes, although still down in the series must feel much better about themselves and their game. The Canadiens now will have more pressure on them to win game 4 because if they don't, the series becomes a best 2 out of 3 with the Canes having home ice again. Cam Ward has also put an interesting twist into this series. The Canes go from having a problem in net to giving the Canadiens a problem to try and solve. Ahh, you have to love the emotional ride the SC Playoffs take you on.
On a seperate note, as a player, I had a serious eye injury in my first year. Every time I see someone get cut in that area I cringe. Having had the opporunity to get to know Saku over the years I can tell you there are no guys in the league who have had to deal with the issues he has had to deal with, and very few guys in the league who exhibit the kind of class he does both on and off the ice. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope his injury is not serious and he is back out there soon. The NHL is a much better place with him out there.

No Music Yet

2006-04-24T23:27:00.000-04:00

Where do we start. I expected the Canes to come out with more urgency then in game 1 and despite the score early, I thought they did that. However they did make some mistakes and had some bad breaks go against them early. A breakaway goal, a power play goal, and a deflected goal, spelled a 3-0 lead and the end to Martin Gerber's night. The 2nd period started with new line combinations and produced what I thought was the best period of hockey the Canes had played in a long time. 2 goals allowed them back in the game, and then in the 3rd they took the lead, gave it back, tied it up, and eventually lost in OT. I do think there were a lot more positives in this game then the first, but that doesn't make it feel any better. The bottom line is we are down 2 games to none with games 3 and 4 in their building. That being said, we did win there twice already this season, and the Canes showed tonight, they can play like they did before E Coles injury without him in the line up. The special teams were much better tonight in both areas. The PP scored 3 times and at critical times to help get the Canes back in the game and take the lead. The PK gave a goal up early but then did a stellar job of shutting down the Canadiens PP and at important times. The kill late in the 3rd allowed them to tie the game late and the 3 kills in OT gave them a chance to win. However, the defensive game was their problem yet again. With a 3rd period lead they got caught on a bad line change that led to a goal, gave the Canadiens 3 chances to score on Kovalev's goal, and sloppy work led to both the 5th and deciding 6th goal. The good news was Souray didn't play after being hurt in the 1st period which will affect their D, the bad was Whitney didn't play much late and that could mean he aggravated his lower body injury, and he sure helped the PP be more effective tonight. I know you are all going to hammer me on the next statement but I don't think Coach has an easy decision on who to start next game. Although Ward played extremely well tonight, it will be a lot harder for him to come in as a starter in a very hostile environment then it was tonight, and although Gerber hasn't played his best in this series, he is the guy who is responsible for getting the Canes in this position. I'm glad I don't have to make that call. I know the mountain seems a lot harder to climb right now, especially when you realize that it will take winning 4 of the next 5 games, but it can be done. The canes did beat them 4 straight times this year and it has happened in the NHL before, 14 times. The focus has to be on the next game and the next game only. Find a way to win that game and don't worry about anything else. Start with a good first shift and then a good second and so on, and you must realize that every time you step on the ice could be the difference in the series. It is true, there is little room for error now, but the fat lady isn't singing yet. Game 3 is a must!!!!

Start Gerber In Game 2

2006-04-23T00:43:00.000-04:00

Well, that was unexpected. Before I get into my observations, let me start by answering the question I think is on most of your minds. Yes, I start Martin Gerber in game 2 Monday. Though he will receive a lot of the blame, I don't feel he deserves all of it. There were a lot of mistakes in front of him. I think he would be the first guy to tell you he needs to play better and he can, but tonight was one of those days at the office when nothing went right. Guys falling down at the wrong time, Turnovers in the defensive zone, bad special teams, goals going in off the post, they were all part of tonight's result. Some nights things are bad and tonight was one of those nights. Let's hope we got them all out tonight.

Give the Canadiens credit also, they played a solid, simple, but effective game. They were a little rattled with the early goal against them but settled down to play a great game. The playoffs are hard enough without helping to beat yourself, and in this game the Canes helped do just that. A crucial turning point was in the 2nd period when the Canes had a great chance to get back into the game with a 5 on 3. Not only did they not score, but right after the power play expired, the Canadiens went down on a breakaway and scored. Game over.

This was only one game of potentially seven and there is a lot of hockey left to be played, but you don't want to head back to Montreal down 2-0.

The Chase Begins

2006-04-22T09:36:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are. It finally starts today. The Hurricanes chase of the Stanley Cup once again begins today after 4 long years. I'm sure everyone is both excited and nervous as to what lays ahead. As nervous and excited as you are, imagine the players. After a long summer of conditioning, training camp, exibiton games, and then 82 regular season games, finally they get the opportunity to compete for the cup. The ultimate dream for every hockey player that ever laced up a pair of skates.
As exciting as this time of year is for the players it is also the most demanding. Physically and mentally the chase for the cup is the most emotional roller coaster ride out there in pro sports. You understand that if you lose, it's over. All the hard work, all the success you enjoyed during the regular season means nothing, all you have is bitter disapointment and another 10 months of hard work ahead of you to hopefully get a chance to compete for the cup again next year. So as a result, you know that you have to give everything you have every night, leave it all out there on the ice. That's the easy part. The hard part is that you have to find a way to elevate your game to the highest level possible not for one game, not for a week or so, but instead you will have to find a way to raise your game to it's highest level, potentially, every second day, for hopefully 2 months. You will have to play with injuries, and with pain, and that's the easy part. Mentally you have to prepare for just about everything possible. Making sure you are getting the proper nutrition, hydrating your body with the right fluids to help replace those 4-10 lbs. of mostly water weight you will lose every game are an absolute must. Preparing yourself for your opposition is aslo very important. What are their strenghts/weaknesses, do any of them have certain tendencies that they will consistently use, which guys are shooters/passers, is there a certain way the centermen take draws, special teams, the goalies strenghts/weaknesses, the list goes on. There is also a different kind of pressure that comes with playoff hockey. You expect more from yourself, you expect more from your teammates, so do the fans, so do the media, and all these things factor in on your ability to succeed. If things are going well, there is nothing better, if things aren't it seems like the world in on your shoulders. If things are going well, when the game ends, you get a bite to eat, replace your fuids, and climb into bed to get some rest. You might replay some of the game in your head before peacefully falling off to sleep. If things are not going well, you still eat and get your fluids, but when you climb into bed, you replay the whole game in your head, and revisit all those things I mentioned earlier about preparing for the oppenent to try and see where you might change things to help your team find success, and before you know it your still awake at 3-4-5 in the morning. Think about it, you have to elevate your game both physically and emotionally to the highest level possible to play the game, then immediately after it's over you have to replace fluids, eat, and try and bring yourself down from that emotional high of the game and get as much rest as you can because in less than 48 hours you are going to have to do it all over again, and this hopefully is something you get to do for 2 whole months. And that doesn't even factor in the possibility that you are doing this with at least some amount of physical pain.
For the first time since I retired, I wouldn't mind being out on the ice tonight when the chase begins. Put your seatbelts on, it is one hec of a ride!

The Key to the Cup

2006-04-21T11:38:00.000-04:00

Goaltending, how important is it? I can guarantee you won't win the cup without good goaltending. In this series, there will be a lot of questions that will need to be answered concerning the goalies. How will Gerber handle the playoff pressure? The pressure of being the favorite? Can Huet play at the level he did in the stretch drive for Montreal? How will he handle the pressure of the playoffs and the pressure of the Montreal fans and media? From what I have seen from both goalies this season, I see no reason to speculate that either one of them will be greatly affected by the pressure of playing for the Stanley Cup.