All Entries in the "Joni Pitkanen" Category
Tidbits — Jan. 6
Some notes and stats concerning the Canes:
• Zach Boychuk helped lead Canada to their fifth straight World Junior U20 gold medal, his second consecutive with the team. While draft-eligible superstar John Tavares made the biggest splash throughout the tournament, Boychuk fared well with four goals and three assists in six games.
• Defensive prospect Brett Bellemore’s [...]
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 [...]
Canes Recover to Take Lightning, 3-2
After a slow start, Carolina woke up mid-way through the first period and took over the hockey game last night in Tampa. The Lightning came out with major jump, controlled play in the Hurricanes zone, and took the lead just five minutes into the game on a rebound chance by Ryan Craig.
About a [...]
BOGO Offer For N.J. Game Jan. 6
The Hurricanes will offer Buy One, Get One Free vouchers for fans donating winter clothing to the team’s Dec. 29 to Jan. 6 clothing drive. A donation will also get your name in a drawing for a chance to meet players following the game and a shot at some nice prizes. Here’s more info.
A couple [...]
Playoff Atmosphere: Canes Close Out Season Series With OT Win
Montreal’s Carey Price shook off some early rust and made several key stops late for the Canadiens. At the other end of the ice, Carolina’s Cam Ward had no problem matching his counterpoint down the stretch. In the end, it took overtime to decide the winner, and it was Ward who prevailed against a team [...]
Bruins Wear Down Canes; LaCouture Staying
For two periods, the Carolina Hurricanes held their own against the Eastern Conference’s best team. But an early third-period goal gave the Bruins a lead they would not relinquish, giving the Canes their first regulation loss in six games and Boston their 13th straight home win, 4-2.
Boston scored twice in the third period — once [...]
Corvo Works Magic - Canes 2 Panthers 1, OT
The Carolina Hurricanes came out in the first period skating hard and never looked back as they defeated the Florida Panthers, 2-1 in overtime last night at the RBC. Not only did the Canes outshoot the Panthers in each and every period, but they held the advantage in time of possession and scoring chances [...]
Tidbits — Dec. 17
Some statistical odds and ends through 31 games:
• Plenty have been critical of Eric Staal this season, but his recent spike in production has his numbers looking pretty solid:
His 13 goals are tied for 21st in the league with, among others, Sidney Crosby. He only has nine assists, for a total of 22 points.
His plus-12 leads [...]
Plenty of Practice for Powerplay - Canes 3 Habs 2
In a somewhat bizarre game where 11 penalties were called against the Habs in just the first two periods, Carolina took advantage of the practice time and scored three goals while on the powerplay and defeated Montreal, 3-2.
Eric Staal scored the first two goals of the game, both in the opening period. The first [...]
Canes Powerplay Takes Step Back, Rangers 3 Canes 2, SO
The Carolina Hurricanes had numerous chances on the powerplay including a full two minute 5-on-3 advantage, but failed to capitalize while falling to the New York Rangers, 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday night. Not only did the Canes end up 0-8 while playing with the advantage, they also allowed a short-handed goal when [...]
Like This Year’s Team? Get Used To It
In these times of cost certainty, salary caps and revenue sharing, fans of professional sports have never been so knowledgeable about their favorite teams’ finances. While the NFL and NBA’s budgets are riddled with phantom dollars (NFL) and little “sense” (the NBA’s sought-after expiring contracts), NHL fans can easily wrap their minds around the basics [...]
Signs of Life? - Flyers 2 Canes 1, OT
The Flyers handed the Hurricanes their fifth straight home loss and defeated them last night by a score of 2-1. Jeff Carter got the game-winner on a goal off of a faceoff with about a minute and a half left in overtime. The contest was a defensive struggle as the Hurricanes tightened up [...]
Opportunity Knocks … For Many
It’s the morning after, so to speak, and the shock has worn off … somewhat. To say the Carolina Hurricanes franchise is beginning a new era and starting over would be naive at best, downright silly at worst. It’s still “Our Team” and clearly Paul Maurice was still part of “Our Tradition.”
But at the same [...]
Quarter Pole Grades: Defensemen And Goalies
Here are some grades, analysis and projections for the everyday players on the Carolina roster after 25 games. Grades will be based mostly on expectations, rather than overall skill level and stats. Projections are based on the player’s current statistics and assume they remain healthy. The forward grades can be found here. Let’s look at [...]
Flyers at Canes, Gameday Preview
The red-hot Philadelphia Flyers are in town to take on the up and down Carolina Hurricanes. The Flyers have won their last five games and have not lost in regulation in their last seven. (6-0-1). The Canes have lost their last two, but won three consecutive games prior to that.
Which Carolina [...]
Division Woes Continue - Panthers 3, Canes 2
The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have a tough time winning the Southeast Division if they can not win the majority of their division games. Last night’s loss to Florida gives them a 3-5 divisional record. While they are 2-0 against Tampa Bay and have split games so far with Florida, they have [...]
Staal Breaks Out as Canes Top ‘Yotes, 5-2
Wayne Gretzky had a concern. Some fans had a feeling. Team-mates were confident. They all just knew that when Eric Staal got out of his slump, he would do it in a big way.
The franchise player is officially out of his scoring slump as he notched his fifth career hat trick last night [...]
Familiar Foe: Olli Returns To RBC With Coyotes
Carolina will be looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season when the Phoenix Coyotes visit Raleigh tonight at 7 p.m. The game is the third of four straight home games for the Hurricanes, who won the first two games of the home stand, managing a 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay on Sunday [...]
Caps at Canes, Gameday Preview
The Washington Capitals visit the Carolina Hurricanes tonight for round two of the six round heavyweight bout between division rivals. Last week, the Caps stole two points from Carolina as one of the leading scorers in the NHL, Alexander Semin, lit the lamp twice in the final three minutes to give his club [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 10
More Loose Pucks:
• The Hockey News recently published their annual “Bucks And Pucks” report, which focuses on the financial side of the game. This year’s analysis looks at team finances and the salary cap — mostly how the current economic downturn is affecting the league. We hear enough about the bad economy, but there were [...]
No More Love for Weight - Canes 4, Islanders 3
This blogger has been a fan of Doug Weight for a long time. Tonight, the fandom is over.
In the third period while rookie Brandon Sutter was extending himself and trying to make a play on the puck when approaching the Islanders zone, Weight lowered his shoulder and took out the vulnerable, 19-year-old. [...]
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, [...]
Paint it Black - Wings at Canes Preview
The Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings are in Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight as the Canes put their 2-0 record on the line. Detroit is sporting a 1-1 record, having lost to Toronto in their home opener and then beating Ottawa the following night.
The Hurricanes will be donning their [...]
Hopefully Sweet-Tasting Start Doesn’t Go Sour
Carolina started its season with two big come-from-behind victories against division foes, leaving fans enamored with the exhilarating play, never-say-die attidude and — most of all — four points.
There’s no denying that there are many pleasing things we can take away from this first weekend of Hurricanes hockey. The play of defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Frank [...]
Carolina Outscores Florida 6-4
In a wild and wooley back and forth game, the Hurricanes were able to find the back of the net a couple more times than the Panthers were able to, and came away with a 6-4 victory Friday night at the RBC. The Canes had six different goal scorers and netted two [...]
Leighton and Canes Hold on to 1-0 Win
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Philadelphia Flyers at the RBC yesterday by a score of 1-0. The victory was the first for the Canes this preseason and gave them an overall record of 1-3, with two more games to play.
Sergei Samsonov was the number one star of the game. Not only did he score [...]
Back to Work - Caps 4, Canes 1
Last night, fans were grumbling as they left the RBC.
Even if several of the players on the ice were different, parts of last night’s game looked eerily similar to the worst of last season. Collapses on defense, sloppy passing, and in general, uninspired play was what stood out to many.
The good news is that [...]
Final Thoughts On Preseason Opener
I can say this for sure — no one in the Canes’ locker room was happy with the results tonight. The mood after the game was sullen at best. Here’s some news and thoughts:
• Coach Peter Laviolette was dumbfounded by the play tonight, saying the team “didn’t execute well at all.” Sloppy passing and a [...]
Preseason Opener: Period One Overview
We’re through one period, and the Caps lead 2-0. In the team’s first preseason game, it’s more important to focus on what’s going on than the scoreboard. Here’s a few things I’ve noticed:
• Brandon Sutter has looked very promising in the defensive zone. He had no trouble sticking with the shifty and skilled Michael Nylander. He [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Best And Worst Moves Of The Offseason
With all the vacant coaching positions filled, the draft over and the free agent market pretty well dried up — except for a few big names like Sakic, Shanahan and the Swede (I’m so sick of seeing his name, I can’t even bear to write it), it seems like a good time to look around [...]
Ex-Phantoms Reunited - Dennis Seidenberg Signed for 1.2 Million
The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free-agent defenseman Dennis Seidenberg on a one-year contract worth $1.2 million. More info from the Hurricanes presser-
Seidenberg, 26, played in 47 of the Hurricanes’ 82 regular-season games in 2007-08, earning a career-high 15 assists and tying for third-best on the [...]
Joni Pitkanen Signs for Three Years
The Carolina Hurricanes just announced the signing of recently acquired defenseman Joni Pitkanen to a three year deal worth 12 million. The 24 year old will receive 3.5M in year one, 4M in year two, and 4.5M in year three.
This looks like a reasonable signing. More later….
