Red Wings at Hurricanes Preview: The Red Wings are bullies

The Red Wings Are Bullies

Go Darkness.

Go Canes.

(Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadians.)

Tampa Bay Lightning's new third jersey: Spellcheck FAIL

All aboard the FAILbolt everyone.

Link to Bolts Report story

That isn't as embarrassing as the Pens' Evgeni "Maklin" jersey though.

Chest bump to The Big Lead.

The Comeback Kings are back: Canes with weekend sweep

Fan A: "Down by two goals again."

Fan B: "We got 'em right where we want 'em then"

The Hurricanes displayed some serious heart and effort in both the opening night 6-4 win over the Panthers and again Saturday night at Tampa with a 4-3 OT decision. What a wild, 24 hour ride for the Caniacs!

Friday night's game:

The opening entrance was pretty cool. I feel sorry for anyone who sat in the lower bowl (Lexus Club side) that had their view obstructed by the impromptu hanging TV screen during all that. The leftover fog seemed to linger around the ice for half of the first period.

Florida came out prepared and walked through an almost non-existent Carolina D to score a few beauties. The Cats made true on their power play chances and Stiller's tip-in goal had the good guys down 2-0 early on. (Methinks Cory Stillman will have a great season with Florida based off Friday's observations and the lack of talent surrounding him.)

After that however, the Canes put on their shit-kickers and started generating pressure by maintaining the offensive zone. Tim Gleason borrowed Wallin's nickname of "The Secret Weapon" and railed out three assists in the game. Pitkanen looked great and scored, as well as Brindy. LaCouture and B-Sutter were workhorses and their efforts paid off as Danny had the game-winner on a feed from Brandon.

Sutter will score at least 3-4 shorties this year - bank it.

In a quip borrowed from the fine folks at The Battle of California, here's your entrusted blogger enjoying the action last night:


Those aren't my usual section 102 seats, but they surely didn't suck. A big thanks and shout-out to reader Bill who provided Wuffy with an adult beverage during the 1st intermission.

On to Saturday's game.

I got home in time to start watching the Tampa game at the beginning of the 2nd period. As I saw the Canes slack around the ice, the Bolts appeared to be taking advantage of a weary Carolina squad. But lo and behold, they crept back into it by waking up and forcing Tampa goalie Mike Smith to do his drama queen act. aside:To Smith's credit, he is a great goaltender that can flat-out play with a suspect defense in front of him. But when he lets in a goal or disagrees with a call, he's more dramatic than the ladies from Desperate Housewives. Exhibit A being the shattering of his stick over the crossbar tonight.

The third period saw Carolina completely dominate play and Tampa in fact looked like the team with tired legs.

In fact, the Canes ate up the Tampa defense, spit them out, swallowed them again and then crapped them out. Outstanding play to come back from being down 3-0 and finish them off with a beautiful Whitney-to-Staal two on one OT marker.

To borrow a line from the boys of The Pensblog:

The FLA Panthers are ready for Opening Night as well

Heres your evidence:

Big glove-tap to the posters at the Hurricanes.com boards. Good stuff.

Bring it? Oh, it's already been broughten!

The day that would never come.

Opening Night is Friday October 10, 2008. As in tomorrow. Really.

At the RBC Center? No more of "The Wiggles Live!":

Instead:

and the old jumbo-tron begins it's final run at glory, as it is reportedly being replaced in the Summer of 2009.



as for the RBC surroundings tomorrow night? Expect quite the celebration.

Windows 95 low-bit MS Paint creation.

Let's do this thing:

Quick hitters

Scott Walker didn't want the trainers in the recovery room to get too lonely, so he hit the IR today after hand surgery. Out 6 weeks, but he can still inflict fear upon opposing teams from the press box if necessary.


With Walks out, Dan LaCouture got signed to the club today. Hey - is it just me - or are we seeing a Jon Favreau seperated at birth thing going on here with Danny boy?:

Dear Jimmy Rutherford: Plze 2 not sign Brendan Shanahan. With all due respect to his career, there is no shortage of damaged goods around here already.

From Puck Daddy via Japer's Rink.. proof that God has forsaken the Sabres fans:



ECU hosting UVA this weekend in Greenville and raising money in the name of Hockey Fights Cancer. The game is Friday night at Bladez On Ice followed by Saturday's football game with the Pirates vs. the Cavs.

4 days until Carolina vs. Florida opening night. Tailgating arrangements are already well underway.

Happy Birthday D-Lee!

Unlike David Lee from Red & Black Hockey, this photshoppin job never gets old:Happy Birthday, David. May you stay forever like my maturity level - 12 years old.