All Entries in the "Erik Cole" Category
Canes, Sabres Take Different Paths
Two cities. Two franchises. Two strategies. Two similar destinations.
Back in the 2005-06, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres were two of the best teams in the NHL, compiling 112 and 110 points, respectively, en route to the Eastern Conference finals.
Both teams were, first and foremost, built for speed.
The Sabres were led by dipsy-doodling Russian Maxim [...]
Leafs at Canes, Preamble
The Toronto Maple Leafs will meet the Carolina Hurricanes today at 5PM at the RBC. The game is the second of a set of back-to-backs for each team, and the third in four days for the Canes. The Canes are sporting a record of 5-3-2 while the Leafs are 5-3-3.
Last night the Maple [...]
Canes Let One Slip to the Oilers, 3-1
The Hurricanes took a lead in the first period, but could not take advantage of numerous powerplays and ended up losing the game on a goal by Ethan Moreau with about a minute and a half left in the contest. Moreau added an empty netter with 35 seconds left to add insult to injury.
Ray [...]
Living in the Past - Oilers at Canes Preview
The Edmonton Oilers are in Raleigh to take on the Hurricanes and many fans will be thinking a bit about the past because of this matchup.
Some folk might be reminiscing about the game played on June 19th, 2006, but others will be focused on the return of number 26, Erik Cole.
Why so much hoopla [...]
Pitkanen on Wing? Say it Ain’t So
I couldn’t make it to practice this morning, but Chip Alexander posted a quickie over on LSB which got my attention. Time for me to put on my “columnist hat” and interject a little opinion.
Chip reported that Joni Pitkanen was wearing a white jersey this morning, and was practicing with the forwards. Specifically, [...]
Carolina Injuries - Bad Training, Bad Skates, or Bad Luck?
Last week, the Carolina Hurricanes treatment room looked like a waiting line at a MASH unit. Ten players were nursing some type of injury. Things are looking better at the moment, but the injury bug is nothing new for the Canes and it’s starting to make fans as well as team management ask [...]
And Then There Were 42
The Carolina Hurricanes made a few more cuts today, sending 11 River Rats up to Albany. The affected players are, Mike Angelidis, Nicolas Blanchard, Stefan Chaput, Nick Dodge, Patrick Dwyer, Bobby Hughes, Harrison Reed, Ryan Weston; Ryan McGinnis, Benn Olson; and goaltender David Leggio.
That still leaves 42 players in Raleigh trying to make [...]
Goalie Rankings Peg Ward Near The Bottom
Maybe it’s for the best, because the last time Cam Ward had low expectations tagged to him, he turned around the Hurricanes’ first-round playoff series and eventually led Carolina to the Stanley Cup, along the way earning himself a Conn Smythe Trophy.
See, back then at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Ward was a rookie [...]
Canes Country Clash, Round 3 - Northwest Division
Today, Cory and I made our respective picks for the Northwest Division. In case you missed it, we did this previously for the Central and Pacific as well. Next week we will be moving on to the Eastern Conference. When we are finished playing “Kreskin“, we’ll post this [...]
Stat Predictions From The Hockey News: Some Fun, Some Curious
At the very back of the most recent issue of The Hockey News, this edition’s Inside The Numbers stats pack features some statistical predictions for the upcoming season. The staff took five categories and listed the top 35 in each. The categories are: Defenseman Points; Rookie Points; Goals; Goaltender Wins; 2009 UFA Points.
Let’s kick things [...]
Tough Enough - Canes Drop Mits 44 Times Last Season
Are the Carolina Hurricanes a tough enough hockey team? They do have some smallish players who have a tendency to get pushed around a bit. Last season before the call-ups of Wade Brookbank and Tim Conboy, the team seemed to be getting physically dominated at times. The December game in New [...]
Canadian Media at it Again
Just when I thought that there was no fresh Hurricanes news to write about, a Canadian sportswriter went and threw a nice big, fat softball down the center of homeplate that this blogger couldn’t help but to take a swing at.
Of course we all know that Erik Cole was up in Edmonton late last [...]
Erik Cole Tribute
Erik Cole came on the scene here in Carolina during the magical 2001-02 season as a rookie when the Canes surprisingly made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Eventually, Erik was placed on a line with Rod Brind’Amour and Bates Battaglia. That turned out to be a fruitful move for Coach Paul Maurice because the [...]
Take It To The Limit - Canes and the Salary Cap
The Carolina Hurricanes roster is starting to take shape, and it’s not a pleasant sight for the Bank of Karmanos. With the recent signings of Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu, the total number of possible, (or probable) roster players under contract is up to 18 at the present time.
Let’s take a closer look.
The following [...]
I Heard it Through The Grapevine - Trade Rumors Galore
This is the time of year for rumors, and there are new beauties everyday. It’s known by everyone that the Carolina Hurricanes are in need of a defenseman or two, so of course the Canes are a big part of the ever-churning rumor mill themselves. But what is a legit rumor and what [...]
Back For More - The Forwards
This is the final segment of our end of year “Back For More” feature. We have already analyzed the defense and goaltending, next we will take a look at the forward position.
The Carolina Hurricanes are in the enviable position of having 10 or 11 forwards (either signed or RFA status), with top nine skill. [...]
Whole Lotta’ Rosie - Hurricanes 6 Lightning 2
Chad LaRose scored his first NHL career hat-trick and the Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning last night, 6-2. The win puts Carolina on the threshold of the Division championship as they just need one more win (or Washington loss), to lock things up.
The Canes started this game much differently than the [...]
Built For Speed
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the fastest teams in the NHL. They also employ a system which gives them the freedom to utilize that speed at just about any time during a game. Carolina also draws a lot of penalties, so many penalties that some coaches and fans around the NHL are [...]
Don’t Stop Me Now - Hurricanes 5 Thrashers 3
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and never looked back as they defeated the Atlanta Thrashers last night by a score of 5-3. In my opinion, the score could have been much worse if the Canes had kept constant pressure on, but with another game tonight in Sunrise Florida, [...]
The First Cut is the Deepest - Hurricanes 3 Blackhawks 0
The red hot Carolina Hurricanes scored 3 times in the first period, then relied upon their defense and goalie Cam Ward the rest of the way as they held on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-0. The win gives the Canes 5 wins in a row as well as a record of 8-1-1 in [...]
Power to the People - Canes Work the Powerplay
I did make it out to practice today and the team was working long and hard on the powerplay. First, they practiced carrying the puck into the zone and setting things up. (dumping it in the zone was not an option.) Then in a separate drill, they practiced moving the puck around [...]
Sheer Heart Attack - Hurricanes 4 Sabres 3, OT
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night by a score of 4-3 in a heart stopping, over-time thriller. For the second game in a row the Canes came right out in the 1st period and dominated play, eventually taking a 2-0 lead. You just had to know that Buffalo was not [...]
Brothers in Arms - Hurricanes 3 Wild 2
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Things got a bit out of hand last night at the RBC Center as the Carolina Hurricanes held on to beat the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2. The Canes came out of the dressingroom and took it to the surprised team from Minnesota right from the get-go. They looked like [...]
Already Gone - Hurricanes 6 Thrashers 3
In my pre-game post yesterday, I mentioned how many of the Thrashers probably wanted to take the Marian Hossa and Dany Heatley route and get the heck out of Dodge, Atlanta. But after watching the game on Wednesday night, it appeared that a few of them have already checked out. The Hurricanes once [...]
Give a Little Bit - Hurricanes in the News
The Carolina Hurricanes might have had a couple of days off recently between games, but they have been very busy doing a variety of things on and off the ice during that time frame. I’m going to try to give a little bit of information on several news items and interviews, just in case [...]
The Best of Me - Players Have Career Years in Carolina
The current talk of the town is that Carolina’s pick up from the waiver wire in January, Sergei Samsonov has had a re-birth of sorts here with the Hurricanes. The skilled Russian sniper went from having zero goals and 4 assists in 23 games for Chicago to scoring 11 goals and 10 assists in [...]
Back in the High Life Again - Hurricanes 5 Lightning 1
The Carolina Hurricanes took advantage of a tired and listless Tampa Bay Lightning squad Saturday night and beat them soundly by a score of 5 to 1. Although the Canes gave up the first goal of the game in somewhat typical fashion for them, they came on strong afterwards and didn’t let up [...]
Yours is No Disgrace - Rangers 4 Hurricanes 2
Sooner or later, the home ice winning streak had to come to an end, and it came to a resounding thud last night as the Carolina Hurricanes lost to the NY Rangers by a score of 4-2. The home team came out of the dressing room flat in the first period and several [...]
Higher - Hurricanes 6 Capitals 3
The Carolina Hurricanes continued to stake their claim to first place in the Southeast Division with a convincing 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. While the Capitals started the game out with the most jump and took a 2-1 lead during the 1st period, the Hurricanes rallied for three goals in [...]
No Surrender - Bruins 3 Hurricanes 2, OT
The Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Boston Bruins last night 3-2 after a shoot-out which the Canes would probably like to forget. They did have a very memorable ending in the last minute or so of regulation though!
The Hurricanes were down to their final minute and 15 seconds in the game and were losing to [...]
Keep Pushin’ - Bruins at Hurricanes Pre-Game
Apparently, everyone made it home safe and sound after yesterday’s fiasco at the Rock in New Jersey. Carolina has no choice now but to put yesterday’s 5-1 beatdown behind them, lick their wounds, and “keep pushin’ on” as the saying goes. The Boston Bruins are in town for a big game for [...]
Soon Forget - Devils 5 Hurricanes 1
Just when you figured that things couldn’t get any worse concerning the health of this team, they did. The Carolina Hurricanes were in New Jersey for a special afternoon game with less than half of their regular roster available and some of their players on the ice feeling less than 100%. The [...]
Crystal Ball - Stillman or Samsonov?
There has been a lot of talk recently among fans concerning the play of Sergei Samsonov. His skating and puck-handling is world class. His forechecking seems relentless. He has a good eye for the net and has outstanding passing and shooting skills. In addition to all of these qualities, [...]
Night and Day - Confusing Weekend for Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals on Friday night 2-1, but then were embarrassed by New Jersey on Saturday night, 6-1. How can a team go from one end of the spectrum to the other, in just 24 hours? You can ask the Canes, but I doubt that they have any answers for [...]
Canes at Caps, Period One
The first period of the game just ended and you would think that these guys were playing for first place or something. There have been 2 fights, (Walker/Bradley - Brookbank/Erskine), and both teams are hitting like it’s a playoff game. Good thing bloggers aren’t required to do the same.
Carolina currently has a 2-0 lead because [...]
Newsbriefs - Cole, Liles, and Rutherford
It’s a beautiful, sunny day in Raleigh today and even though the all-star break is in full swing here, there is still plenty of news to talk about. Carolina Hurricanes General Manager, Jim Rutherford has had two recent interviews with local sportstalk radio stations. JR basically repeated what he had mentioned in [...]
Brief News for a Slow Afternoon
The aftershock of last night’s fiasco is starting to wear off and reality is setting in. Not only do the Hurricanes have the lowest rated penalty kill in the league, they now have allowed more short-handed goals than any other team in the league. Special teams are more important than ever in today’s [...]
Afternoon Delight - Hurricanes 3 Islanders 2, (OT)
I was able to get away for a couple of hours this afternoon and watched a pretty decent hockey game. The Carolina Hurricanes outlasted the New York Islanders 3 -2, in a tightly defended contest which wasn’t decided until overtime. That makes 2 wins in a row for the Canes and 4 home [...]
Sunday Musings - John Grahame on re-entry Waivers
After taking the day off and having a rare Saturday night without a game to play, the Carolina Hurricanes were back on the ice for practice this morning. But according to Lord Stanley’s Blog, Erik Cole took a nasty tumble and had to be helped from the ice. Cole, who has had a [...]
The World Needs Guts - Hurricanes 7 Oilers 2
(AP photo)
Tonight the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 7-2 in a game that seemed to relieve about a month of frustration for the team and it’s fans. Rod Brind’Amour was quoted before the game as saying that this was “gut check time”. The team couldn’t have answered the call any better.
Brind’Amour [...]
