Despite an ass-kickin' new logo and the fact that this was their 3rd consecutive ECHL playoff appearance, the Checkers fell to the Gwinnett Gladiators in a series sweep last weekend, thus ending their 15th anniversary season. Hey, at least they made it to the playoffs...
After the Caps clinched the division, this is what I woke up to on Sunday morning, as the Canes were officially out of the playoffs.
I can't even fathom the words. Leave it all out on the ice tonight.
H/t on vid to the Insider.
The last thing that the Carolina Hurricanes wanted heading into Tuesday night's game in DC was for it to mean anything other than a final tune-up before the playoffs. Thanks to a loss at the hands of last place Tampa Bay on Saturday and the fact that the Capitals have beaten the tar out of everyone they've played; they find themselves fighting for their very lives among the crapshoot that is the Eastern Conference.
All of a sudden, at 90 points, the Canes would be in 9th place if not for their automatic 3rd seed as division leaders. Washington refuses to lose behind the hard-charging puke-yellow skate laces Alexander Ovechkin and their ragtag group of youth and veterans carrying the load. Overshadowed by A.O. has been the resurgence of Cristobal Huet playing with a chip on his shoulder. He's out to prove to Montreal GM Bob Gainey that he is the real deal, franchise carrying goaltender after he was cast away from Les Habs at the trade deadline this year.
Wade Bloodbank is still out for tonight's ATL game, but it doesn't appear that he'll be needed as the Thrashers players are fighting themselves.
Might Garnett Exelby get his temper out of hand tonight? No worries, their Captain Bobby Holik will jump in and rectify.
Wow. Burnside over at ESPN sums up everything one could try and say about ATL here. (h/t Bubba)
It's one thing to have scrapping teammates in the pre-season behind closed doors. But on national television? Ouch.
If you have any intention of attending the Hurricanes' upcoming final 4 home games, may I suggest that you jump on that notion. Just checking in on the upcoming Capitals game on Tuesday, the entire lower level is sold out already.
And then.....
It's playoff time baby!
A friend of mine made an interesting comment the other day. If your team gets all the way through the playoffs, and you were to buy a ticket to every single home playoff game -- you end up spending more money on those games than you would for a whole 41 game regular season ticket. Nobody ever said hockey was a poor man's sport.
Let me preface this by saying that I had an elaborate, in-depth post about the college playoffs in draft mode that the blogger gnomes must have really liked, because it disappeared into thin air. Awesome. Not.
So I'm at the rooftop Rudino's in N. Raleigh watching Sabres/Senators Game 2. I thought at around the 10:45 mark in the 1st period, that we might see the emergence of Marty Gerber (after two quick BuffaSlugs goals that were not Emery's fault). Talk about a salary goalie who is itching to get in and prove he's worth his signing bonus. Even though he faltered (supposed flu, lost 12 lbs. in 3 days or something) in the playoffs (leading to Cam Ward being kickass in the Pros) last year with the Hurricanes:
Martin Gerber Is A Badass
For he had a large share:
In being the reason the Canes hardly ever lost last season.
Was a highlight reel of saves most nights.
Unleashed an unforgettable performance in the '06 Olympics backstopping the underdog Suisse to an upset over Team Canada.
Video: European Feed of Swiss vs. Canada '06 Olympics as Gerber made save after save. Regardless of what your opinion was on this beauty (robbing Rick Nash), this was officially a save.
I thought of John Grahame a little tonight. When he's good, he's an amazing goaltender and he's ON. When he's bad, he can be terrible. But Karman-O pays Grahame Crackers the right price for what he does. Our future is invested behind the net with Mr. Conn Smythe. It had better be, that is, after his new contract with us this summer.
It was a beautiful weekend almost everywhere, especially in Raleigh. However, NHL Playoff games are actually on network television and we certainly wouldn't want to miss the action.
You'll find the Wuf with the proper setup in the shade:
The CLT boys beat the Augusta Lynx in another OT thriller 3 to 2.
Recap: Checkers 3, Lynx 2 (OT)
Moving on to the 2nd round, they will face the Florida Everblades (a member of the Carolina Hurricanes farm system!). Tix on sale now!
Go Checkers!
The Checks are in the playoffs and off to a solid start.
Checkers 2, Lynx 1 (OT)
Hockey fans in the greater Charlotte area, SUPPORT YOUR TEAM!
More Info on how to do this @: GoCheckers.com
Lost to the TB Lightning last night.
Players and fans alike - don't you feel like doing this?
Insert this season for the copy machine.
Hurricanes come from behind with the leadership of Brind'amour and heart of Chad LaRose to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in OT.
Cats jumped on the boys early, but with two late 3rd period goals and the Whitney ovetime winner the Canes prevailed.
As of 8:46 - We're 3 behind Toronto, who is 1 behind the Habs in the final playoff spot. 3 games left.
Very somber on and off the ice today at the RecZone. Even the hyper kids who are usually running around screaming at the players for an autograph seemed sedated today.
Lavi and Coach Mac spent a good amount of time with Staal, Willy, Whit, Cole and Seidenberg doing 3 on 2's with Grahame in net. Crackers looked sharp, everyone else just seemed pissed off.
Brindy, Ladd, Carter were taking shots at the top of the net @ an empty goal.
Then Coach pulled them into the locker rooms for a closed-door team meeting.
They know what they have to do. All hope is not lost, stranger things have happened.
But they'll need a little help from the hockey gods...
With their chance to defend Lord Stanley on the line and five games left before the playoffs start; apparently the boys are.
Flyers 5, Canes 1
This is where the ECU Pirate in me says "AARRRRRGHHH" in frustration.
Oh well, at least Mike Commodore will be able to show up at everyone's Cup party this summer.
Perhaps participating in some Molson/Labatt's drinking competition Monday night in Toronto?
After last night's 6-1 sloppy loss, I'm just wondering that's all.
It's got to be tough as a Toronto Maple Leaf fan. That sympathy won't last past 7:30 tonight for Caniac Nation. With MTL, NYI, and Carolina all competing for the final playoff spot, the Leafs once again are on the outside looking in. Our canes are rocking right now, and Cason's skepticism department is losing steam with each game played.
Let's hope Coach Mo, Jeff O'Neill, and Lucky B don't have that '02 come from behind magic in them anymore.
Yes, that's the most recent of their championships.
