All Entries in the "Tuomo Ruutu" Category
Hurricanes Mid Season Grades
The Carolina Hurricanes have completed 41 games and are officially half-way through the regular season. Let’s take a quick look at where they stand and grade the players based upon their individual performances so far.
The team has a record of 21-15-5, good for 47 points and seventh place in the Eastern Conference. While [...]
Carolina Holds on to Beat New Jersey, 3-2
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then held on as New Jersey made a game of it late in the third period, 3-2. The victory was the fourth in a row for the Canes, their longest winning streak of the season.
The Hurricanes took an early lead on a goal by Ray [...]
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 [...]
Ward Shines as Canes tip Blues, 2-1
Cam Ward made 30 saves on 31 shots as the Carolina Hurricanes were able to fend off a furious third period St. Louis rally, and held on to beat the Blues 2-1 last night at the RBC. A couple of his saves were spectacular as the visitors out-shot the home team by a [...]
Wild Night: Hurricanes Visit Minnesota — UPDATED
Carolina heads to Minnesota for the third game of a four-game road trip, hoping to start Christmas early with a second straight win.
The Canes are coming off a solid 3-2 victory in Montreal Sunday and will play the Wild for the lone time this season. The Canes are currently tied with Buffalo for the final [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Sunday News
For the first time in what seems like forever, the Hurricanes have a Sunday off. The team did have something to announce though as Bryan Rodney returned to Albany. Here’s more information from the Carolina press release-
Rodney, 24, played in two games during his first career NHL recall, earning a +1 plus/minus [...]
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 [...]
Improved Drafting Makes Team Deeper
The Hurricanes started their season eight deep on defense, with GM Jim Rutherford looking to part with one of his NHL blueliners to make his budget. Fast-forward two months, and not only has Carolina seen all eight play at least half of the team’s 28 games, but they’ve recalled three AHL d-men to fill in [...]
The Song Remains the Same - Pens 5 Canes 2
Scotty Bowman himself could have been behind the Carolina bench last night and it would not have mattered. The Hurricanes turned the puck over, gave it away, mis-handled it, and couldn’t keep it out of their own net. They pretty much kept on doing what’s been happening all too much, all year [...]
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: Forwards
Here are some grades, analysis and projections for the everyday players on the Carolina roster after 22 games. Grades will be based on mostly expectations, rather than overall skill level and stats. Projections are based on the player’s current statistics and assume they remain healthy. We’ll look at the forwards today.
Ryan Bayda (22G, 3-4-7, plus-5, [...]
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 [...]
The Better Life - Hurricanes 2, Canadiens 1
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 2 to 1 last night, as they played one of their best games of the season. The Canes opened up the contest with 18 shots in the first period and closed the door with 20 more shots in the third.
The game totals were [...]
Canes Prevail Over Lightning in Shootout, 3-2
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday to break a three game losing streak, two of which were at home. It was also the team’s first shootout win of the season. The Canes lost their only other shootout game this year in Montreal, a team [...]
Carolina Blues - Thrashers 3, Canes 2
The Carolina Hurricanes traveled to Atlanta desperate for a win. While they played with a bit more urgency than their two previous losses and certainly tried to pull out all the stops near the end of the game, they still came out on the short end of the stick to the Thrashers.
Poor discipline, selfish [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 7
A few things worth checking out:
• The Hockey News’ Web site has an article on Canes prospect Nate Hagemo.
• THN.com also has a blog post on Tuomo Ruutu.
• Prospect Bobby Hughes‘ return to the ice is documented on NHL.com.
• AHL.com has an article on the River Rats’ Jerome Samson.
• Prospect Mike Murphy was named CHL [...]
Sens Come To The RBC; Michael Ryan Recalled
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Last night, Ottawa notched a convincing win over the Flyers in Canada’s capital. In the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C., the Canes suffered their most crushing loss of the young season.
The Sens have won four of five and head into Raleigh with confidence, creeping [...]
Heartbreak at the Verizon - Caps 3, Canes 2
The Carolina Hurricanes lost a tough one to the Washington Capitals Thursday night as Alexander Semin scored the game-winner with just 10.9 seconds on the clock. The Canes built leads of 1-0, and 2-1, only to watch the game, as well as the important points, slip away.
Scott Walker opened the scoring just three minutes into [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 5
I figured I needed a name for these random things I find that really don’t deserve their own posts — so Loose Pucks is born!
• Three Hurricanes are will be on the ballot for this year’s All-Star Game in Montreal. Rod Brind’Amour, Eric Staal and Ray Whitney all made the cut for the voting, which [...]
Wallin Lifts Canes over Leafs in OT, 5-4
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a big lead in the first period, but then held on for dear life to force overtime as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the extra period, 5-4. It was another Jekyl and Hyde performance for the team as they looked like world beaters in the [...]
Canes Outscore Leafs, 6-4
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 6-4 last night in a wild, rollercoaster ride at the RBC.
The game didn’t quite start out the way that fans had envisioned. The Canes came out flat and Toronto was still sky high after their come from behind victory the previous night [...]
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 [...]
Defense Shines as Canes Blank Blues, 1-0
The Carolina Hurricanes shut out the St. Louis Blues last night 1-0, as the team played their best defensive game of the year. Cam Ward was also very solid in goal for the Canes and earned his first shut-out of the season.
After allowing a franchise record 60 shots on goal Saturday night [...]
Florida Quietly Moves up to First - Canes at Islanders Pregame
Don’t look now, but while the favorites to win the Southeast Division have recently faltered, the Florida Panthers have climbed up to first place. The Caps have lost their last three games and the Canes have lost three of their last four, but the Panthers have won three in a row.
While Florida will be [...]
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 [...]
Wild Side - Canes 4, Lightning 3 OT
After falling behind 3-0, the Hurricanes eventually turned on the pressure and fought back to win a thrilling game with just 24 seconds left in OT. Eric Staal zipped in the game-winner on a perfect pass from Ray Whitney.
It was a game of two extremes. The Lightning controlled the first part of [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Canes at Caps - Pre-game Hype
Tonight the Hurricanes find themselves up the road on I-95 to complete a back to back series with the Washington Capitals. The Canes will be looking to improve upon their lackluster showing last night which resulted in a 4-1 beatdown by the Caps.
According to CH.com, Carolina’s lineup will be as follows-
Sutter-Eaves-Bayda
Helminen-Bowman-LaCouture
Jensen-Chaput-Dwyer
Blanchard-Angelidis-Samson
Melichar-Kaberle
Seidenberg-Flood
Conboy-Rodney
Michael Leighton and [...]
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 [...]
Ruutu on Board for 1 Year
Tuomo Ruutu accepted his qualifying offer of 2.25 million and is officially on board the Canes Train for at least one more year. While both sides were hoping for a longer term deal, at least this agreement avoids the arbitration mess and allows both sides to regroup for next season.
Ruutu is certainly [...]
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 [...]
Patience - Plenty of Work Ahead for Canes
So far this off season, new contract signings have been few and far between for the Carolina Hurricanes. Other than Sergei Samsonov, Trevor Gillies, Michael Leighton, and Patrick Eaves, the rest of the unsigned Canes are still waiting for contracts.
LSB recently reported that negotiations between Jim Rutherford and restricted free agents Tim Gleason [...]
