In-Game Notes: Carolina Hurricanes vs Montreal Canadiens

Staal and Hurricanes finish at home with 2-1 SO win over Canadiens

 

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in a shootout at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday night.It was captain Eric Staal’s winning goal that not only gave the Hurricanes a win at...

In-Game Notes:

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens for the final home game at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. on Thursday night.

The Hurricanes are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games while Les Habitants come in at 3-3-4 and on the end of a back-to-back set after beating the Tampa Bay Lighning 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Cam Ward starts again for Carolina following a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

Both teams are playing for pride tonight and should put together an emotional and energetic game.

Puck drop in five minutes.

1st period:

 

• Hurricanes win the faceoff and Eric Staal and Chad LaRose get a quick shot on Canadiens goaltender Peter Budaj
• PK Subban takes a penalty and Hurricanes get an early PP opportunity
• Carolina moving the puck well and getting shots on goal during the extra-man set-up - still 0-0 with 16:26 to play
• Montreal''s Gabriel Dumont sends Tim Brent into the photographers bench and is greeted by Hurricanes' Derek Joslin who didn't take kindly to his teammate getting dumped
• Joslin heads to the penalty box and the Habs will have their first PP of the game
• Play is going back and forth as both teams make changes
• A lot of PP opportunities already as both teams are keeping the puck moving but can't generate much offense yet
• Hurricanes swarming around Budaj on the PP but can't beat the Habs goalie yet
• Skinner and Ruutu getting good chances that Budaj turns away
• Even with the PP chances Montreal outshooting Carolina 6-5  - still 0-0 score with 6:51 to play
• Canadiens continue to find ways to get shots on Ward who has to stay sharp as Montreal now has 10 shots against
• Hurricanes seemed to be getting pushed off the puck easily during the latter part of the period
• Still scoreless with less than a minute to play

End of 1st period: Carolina 0, Montreal 0 

Interesting notes:

Carolina is 5-6-3 in previous 14 games when neither team scores in the opening period

Montreal is 5-6-2 in previous 13 games when neither team scores in the opening period.

A wash more or less.


2nd period:

• Period starts with Hurricanes trying to break into the Montreal zone but LaRose takes a hooking penalty and will be shorthanded after not even a full minute of play in the period
• Max Pacioretty lets a shot go that beats Ward but hits the crossbar as Montreal continues on the PP
• Ruutu with a steal and a chance to score on Budaj but can't convert it
• At the other end, Blake Geoffrion scores on a wraparound at 4:32 to put Montreal ahead 1-0
• Montreal continues to dominate puck possession and outshooting Carolina 14-8 - leading 1-0 with 13:02 to play
• Tim Brent dumps Aaron Palushaj into the photographer's booth - Palushaj serves Montreal penalty for too many men on the ice - Hurricanes on the PP again
• LaRose jams his rebound into the net to tie the game 1-1 at 10:02
• Carolina worked the puck around until LaRose had the chance to put it away while sitting on the crease in front of Budaj
• LaRose leading a lot of the Hurricanes offensive chances along with linemates Jiri Tlusty and Eric Staal
• Hurricanes' closing the gap as they have outshot the Canadiens over the last four minutes
• Budaj continues to stone the Hurricanes and is sharp on a wraparound slider from Staal - 1-1 with 6:10 remaining
• Brent dumps Dumont as payback from first period hit
• Palushaj tries to start something between the benches and is called for roughing - Hurricanes on PP again
• As the Hurricanes are on the PP, Skinner takes a stick to the face - no penalty
• Justin Faulk takes a shot from the point that is blocked and breaks a stick and Montreal's Tomas Plekanec gets a breakaway on Ward who makes the sprawling pad save - still 1-1 with 2:40 to play
• Line of Ruutu, Skinner, Jokinen continuing to create chances to score on Budaj but can't finish it
• Play entering final minute as Staal's line pressure the Habs defense 
• Ruttu and Skinner have the last chance to put the Hurricanes ahead but the puck doesn't make it through the crowd in front of the net

 End of 2nd period: Carolina 1, Montreal 1

Interesting note - Hurricanes got back on the board and outshoot Montreal 13-8 for the period

3rd Period:

• First four minutes of play highlighting Carolina Pressure in the Montreal zone but the Canadiens are countering - easily enough into the neutral zone - score still tied 1-1 with 15:21 to play
• Skinner, Ruutu, and Jokinen continue to great some great scoring opportunities 
• Staal, Tlusty, LaRose get a great chance as Tlusty's shot is stopped by Budaj who gets a pad on it
• Subban tosses Dwyer and the Hurricanes are on the PP with 12:15 to play
•  Hurricanes moving the puck well on the PP and get some great looks as McBain gets a shot that is blocked before it gets to Budaj
• As the Canadiens penalty ends, Subban upends Jaroslav Spacek and Carolina is on the PP again - still 1-1 with under 10 minutes to play
• LaRose helps to break up a shorthanded break by the Canadiens - taking a beating this period after getting hit earlier
• Skinner gets dumped while setting a play up behind the Montreal net - lands on the back of the net hard with a wince
• As play regenerates in the neutral zone Brandon Sutter feathers a pass to Brent who rattles on of Budaj's mask - still 1-1- with 6:34 to play
• Canadiens get some of their own opportunities to take the lead but Ward is sharp in his net as Andrei Markov can't get the puck past him
• Pat Dwyer puts a shot on Budaj at the other end  as both teams trade shots as the period enters the final five minutes of play
• Skinner hovering around the net like a vulture and gets a shot on that Budaj makes a pad save on- tied 1-1 with 3:02 to play
• Spacek called for holding and Montreal gets a great opportunity this late in the period
• Staal picks up a loose puck at the blue line and heads up ice with the breakaway and is hauled down
• Both teams playing 4-on-4 with 2;36 to play
• Just as play transitions to the neutral zone LaRose is called for tripping - Hurricanes on the PK
• A lot of open ice with Montreal holding the 4-on-3 advantage
• Carolin killing first part of the penalty well enough 
• All 17,836 on hand cheering "Let's go 'Canes" as play is in final minute of play
• Hurricanes' Tim Gleason penalized for tripping with 27.6 seconds remaining and Montreal has the 4-on-3 advantage again
• Sutter sets up LaRose with a great pass and puts him alone with Budaj - the Montreal keeper wins that battle again 
• Time runs out and we're going to overtime
• Montreal maintaining good puck control on the PP but Sutter tips it down ice as Staal comes in to help on the PK
• Ward makes two big save on Plekanec and Staal tries to dangle it along the Canadiens blue line
• Hurricanes holding off numerous advances by the Canadiens during overtime as time winds down
• Ward makes a big save with less than a second to play - going to shootout next
• After first rounds of shooters - 0-0
• After two rounds of shooters - 0-0
• Former Hurricane Erik Cole rings it off the iron as Eric Staal comes up to finish it
• And he does it - Staal and the Hurricanes win their final home game of the season in a SO

Final score: Carolina 2, Montreal 1

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In-Game Notes: Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals

Peters leads Hurricanes over Capitals with 5-0 shutout

 

Goaltender Justin Peters made 17 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes blanked the Washington Capitals 5-0 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. on Monday night.In leading the Hurricanes in net, Peters was supported by an outpouring of...

In-Game notes, photos, and video:

After suffering a close 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday the Hurricanes look to continue their winning ways at home against the Washington Capitals on Monday.

Carolina boasts a 10-3-1 record over their last 14 home games and play their next six games at the RBC Center

The storyline before the puck even drops is that goaltender Cam Ward is listed as day-to-day and provides the opportunity for back-up Justin Peters to get his second start in three games.

Peters earned a big win on Friday as the Hurricanes beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2, his first in over a year.

Besides Ward, Tuomo Ruutu and Chad LaRose are still out and listed as day-to-day giving Drayson Bowman and Jerome Samson more opportunities to show what they have to help the Hurricanes get through this challenging time of the season.

Goaltender Mike Murphy backs up Peters in net and gets the chance to watch the game live in Raleigh.

Puck drops in a few minutes.

1st period:

 

Opening Faceoff - Carolina vs Washington - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting 

• Hurricanes start with early pressure in Capitals zone but with no resulting shots as coach Kirk Muller starts a hybrid line in Pat Dwyer, Sjeff Skinner and Jussi Jokinen
• Derek Joslin is playing up on the wing as he rolls out with Anthony Stewart and Tim Brent
• Big save by Peters at the 16:40 mark on Mike Knuble
• Hurricanes get first chance on the power play at 16:31 after Vokoun makes a big save on Skinner
• Carolina takes no time as Vokoun makes a save on Brent's shot from the point, but Jusitn Faulk is their to put it away at 16:19 - Hurricanes lead 1-0
• Hurricanes geta another big chance on Vokoun as Tlusty, Samson, and Staal are  together
• Tlusty intercepts the puck and on a line change Stewart joins the rush and Staal feeds him as he connects and beats Vokoun at 14:51
• Caps coach Dale Hunter has had enough and pulls Vokoun as Michal Neuvirth comes in to replace him
• It doesn't take long for Drayson Bowman to test Neuvirth as Carolina outshooting Washington 8-2 during the first seven minutes of play
•  Still 2-0 at the 10-minute mark of the period and Jay Harrison just let go of a shot the Neuvirth had to snag 
• Hurricanes outshooting Capitals 12-2 at this point and are riding a huge wave of momentum as Washington can't get much going yet
• Capitals are getting some chances on Peters but nothing that he can't handle as Hurricanes defense keeps the puck moving along the boards
• Tlusty-Staal-Samson line continuing to open up ice in the Washington zone and keeping Neuvirth busy
• Capitals go the other way and get a rare shot on Peters - Hurricanes lead in shots on net 14-3 with 5:47 to go in the period
• Staal gains the Caps zone and Neuvirth makes a big save
• At the other end Troy Brouwer gets stonewalled by Peters and looks behind but Jason Chimera cannot finish it as he lands in the net - no goal at 3:18
•  Hurricanes continue to outwork Washington as defense is moving the puck on the breakout as smoothly as they have in a while
• Hurricanes transition well onto the rush after Capitals can't generate a shot on Peters with 1:38 left
• Peters not afraid to get a stick on the puck to move it along on the rush
• Washington with a faceoff to Peters' right with under a minute to go
• Hurricanes defense marking well and keeping close to the Caps
• Transition onto offense with Brandon Sutter leading the rush with Drayson Bowman and Andreas Nodl who gets a cross ice pass in the high slot to make it 3-0 with 30 seconds to go to put Carolina ahead 3-0
• As the first period ends the Capitals are faced with a three-goal deficit and being outshot 16-5

2nd period:

• Dwyer-Skinner_Jokinen start the period again and apply the same forechecking pressure that they started the game with
• McBain lets a a hard shot go from the point that Neuvirth gets his body in front of
• Capitals still trying valiantly to generate some type of offense to establish time and space in the Carolina zone
• Peters makes the stop as Brooks Laich storms past Stewart and McBain 
• Washington is picking up the pace and gaining the zone in transition a bit more than they did during the first period
• Hurricanes still lead 3-0 with 15:03 to go in the period
• Muller continues to roll all four lines when he can as Stewart-Brent-Joslin are out on the ice 
• Joslin gets called for elbowing and he Hurricanes are on their first penalty kill of the game
• As the Capitals get their first PP of the game the Hurricanes' Eric Staal picks up he loose puck in the neutral zone and  scores at 14:04
• You can tell Washington is frustrated as Joslin has to be ready as Matt Hendricks challenges him to go toe-to-toe
• The Hurricane obliges to the delight of the crowd on hand
• Tlusty picks Karl Alzner's pocket and misses a chance to extend the lead as Neuvirth makes the save
• The hits are getting harder and louder as both teams are playing a much more physical period than the first
•  Caps' Brouwer tries the same power move to Peters' right but can't put anything past him on the short side
• Brouwer swipes at Tlusty as a crowd gathers in the crease after the whistle

• As Joslin and Hendricks come out of the penalty box they square off at center ice and go back in for another 5 minute breather

 

 

Hurricanes' Derek Joslin vs Capitals' Matt Hendricks - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting

• Crowd is fully in this one after that bout as they continue to smother Capitals in their end and keep Neuvirth busy
• Hurricanes leading 4-0 and outshooting Capitals 22-8 for the game - 8:40 remaining in the period
• Peters makes a big save on Alex Ovechkin as he lets a shot go from the high slot
• Skinner draws a penalty parked on the crease as the Hurricanes get the chance to add the extra skater but Neuvirth covers it up
• Carolina on the PP with 6:02 remaining
• Hurricanes can't generate enough puck control to set up in the Capitals zone and Jeff Halpern tries to jam a shot past Peters on the shorthand attempt
• Troy Brouwer and Justin Faulk square off and the rookie holds his own
• Hurricanes continue to keep pressuring Neuvirth at the other end after the fight - 2:20 to go
• With just over a minute to play Alexander Semin winds up but fans on it as both Bryan Allen and Peters are ready for it
• The period ends with the Hurricanes on the PP and still leading 4-0 and outshooting the Capitals 28-11

3rd period:

• Hurricanes start the period with Tlusty-Staal-Samson on the PP
• Washington successfully kills of the penalty and now both teams trying to set up their offense according as play moves from end-to-end
• Another turnover in the Caps end and Neuvirth makes another stop to keep the score at 4-0 with 16:58 to go
• Tlusty-Staal-Sasmson causing havoc in Capitals end
• A bad clearing attempt is kept in by Jaroslav Spacek who finds Staal sitting by the crease to Neuvirth's left and he one-times it for his second goal of the game to give Carolina a 5-0 with 14:09 remaining in the period
• Tim Brent takes a penalty for hooking with 12:21 remaining- faceoff to Peters' left
• Off the faceoff Mike Green lets a wrist shot go on Peters who turns it away - Green looks away in frustration
• Hurricanes clear it and as Washington tries to come back up ice Harrison send it down
• Capitals come back but then get the puck into the neutral zone where Dwyer taps it in for Skinner to try a shorthanded attempt on Neuvirth who subsequently makes the save
• Hurricanes successfully kill of the penalty
• Capitals take another penalty as Mathieu Perreault trips Drayson Bowman by the Hurricanes bench
• Early in the Hurricanes PP possession Washington manages to clear the puck down-ice a few times
• Carolina finally gets some puck movement and puts Neuvirth to work who is working overtime in stopping shots
• Hurricanes set-up once more with the extra attacker but Washington kills off the penalty succesfully
• With under five minutes to play Carolina holding onto the 5-0 lead and playing sound zone coverage on the defense while not quitting on the forecheck
• Skinner picks it up from Semin behind the Caps net and feeds it to Jokinen who takes a shot on Neuvirth who makes another big save
• Hurricanes now outshooting the Capitals 40-15 for the game with 2:24 left in the period
• With less than a minute to play Peters makes a big save
• That's it - Hurricanes win 5-0 and Peters gets the shutout

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In-Game Notes: Carolina Hurricanes vs San Jose Sharks

 Hurricanes keep Sharks in the tank with 3-2 win

 

Coach Kirk Muller used some creativity in utilizing his lineup as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the visiting San Jose Sharks 3-2 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night.With forwards Tuomo Ruutu and Chad LaRose...

In-Game notes, photos, and video:

The Carolina Hurricanes return to play at the RBC Center, soon to become the PNC Cetner, as they host the visiting San Jose Sharks.

Carolina is 3-0-2 during its last five games and coming home after a three-game road trip.

 

Opening Faceoff 

1st period

• Canes get the puck in the Sharks end early and apply pressure on goaltender Thomas Greiss as Jerome Samson attempts a wraparound
• Hurricanes continue to maintain control after the Sharks get a rush down in to the Carolina end for a shot on Justin Peters
• 0-0 after four minutes of play
• Jeff Skinner gets a great shot off but a quick pad save by Greiss keeps the game scoreless
• Both teams with two shots apiece with 13:02 to go
• Skinner scores the first goal of the game, his 16th of the season, as he dumps it into the crease and banks it off a Sharks defenseman and past Greiss
• Hurricanes lead 1-0 at 7:31
• On their first power play of the game, Justin Faulk connects on a beautiful set-up pass across the slot from Jiri Tlusty and set up by Eric Staal at the point
• With 7:50 to go, Sharks putting pressure on Peters as he comes up big in keeping the score at 2-0
• Hurricanes get a second power play opportunity with just over five minutes remaining in the period
• Brent quarterbacking the power play wih Staal to his right and Faulk to his left - Tlusty and Samson down low
• Get one opportunity but San Jose manages to get it out and down the ice
• Sharks get a 2-on-1 opportunity as Patrick Marleau saucers a pass to Joe Pavelski but peters is there to make a big save
• Hurricanes outshooting Sharks 7-6 with 2:27 remaining -are 1-2 on the power play so far
• Carolina playing a tight defensive game in their zone as forwards are back checking to break the play up
• The Hurricanes carry the two-goal lead into the intermission
• Carolina is 12-5-5 when leading after one period

2nd period

• Pat Dwyer, Brandon Sutter, Andreas Nodl start the the second period strong, similar to the first
• Get a great opportunity on Greiss as Nodl slides one along the goal line, but the Sharks keeper stop it as well as Sutter's rebound attempt
•  Hurricanes' forechecking and puck movement continuing to flow well
• San Jose starting to establish a presence in the Carolina zone winning faceoffs and peppering Peters with shots that he grabs hold of
• Sharks now outshooting Hurricanes 13-10 and still trailing 2-0 with 13:10 to go in the period
• Hurricanes rolling all four lines including that of Anthony Stewart, Tim Brent, and Derek Joslin
• Even though he's a defenseman, Joslin is playing the win due to Chad LaRose being injured - he's earned the chance to play according to coach Kirk Muller - even if it's not on defense
• Sharks still trying to force the puck from the Hurricanes, but Carolina continues to put pressure onGreiss
• Tlusty-Staal-Samson line is playing exceptionally well
• Both teams trading scoring opportunities with both goalies staying busy - shots tied at 16-16 with 3:41 to go and Hurricanes still leading 2-0
• Dwyer-Sutter-Nodl pressing again with 2:39 to go and keeping Greiss and the Sharks defense busy
• Logan Couture gets a good pass up the wing from Tommy Wingels and takes a shot on Peters who turns away yet another shot
• Hurricanes penalized for tripping as Samson gets the gate
• Just under two minutes and the Sharks are on the power play - one of the best in the league
• Hurricanes playing exceptionally well on the penalty kill as Tlusty kills some time and is followed up by a solid combination of checks and shots from Eric Staal and Jussi Jokinen to kill more time off the penalty
• Period ends with Hurricanes still leading 2-0 as both teams have 19 shots each - still five seconds to kill on the penalty

3rd period

• Period starts the same as the previous two as Dwyer, Sutter, and Nodl get the puck into the San Jose zone
• On ensuing possession in the Hurricanes' zone, Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle gets some time to get a shot on net and beats Peters low, to the stick-side with traffic in front
• Hurricanes lead 2-1 with 18:34 remaining
• Carolina is not out of the woods yet as the Sharks continue to dominate play and control the puck
• The Sharks' hard work pays off as Brent Burns puts a one-time past Peters at 3:52 into the period and ties the game 2-2
• San Jose taking advantage of numerous Carolina turnovers as Peters comes up big on a shot from Dominic Moore 
• Hurricanes working to generate opportunities but allowing the Sharks opportunity to break out of the zone much more easily than during the previous two periods
• With 10 minutes to go Hurricanes are mixing it up as Joslin lands a big hit during a rare shift
• Carolina's Jaroslav Spacek dumps the puck in and Drayson Bowman corrals it behind the net - passes it to Jamie McBain at the point
• McBain slaps it towards the net and Jokinen gets a touch on it and deflects it past Greiss to put Carolina ahead 3-2 with 8:05 remaining
• Hurricanes still scrapping to maintain puck possession and keeping the Sharks moving
• Peters coming up with some big saves to maintain the one-goal lead with 3:38 remaining 
• With sold out crowd cheering them on, Carolina hanging onto its 3-2 lead as the two-minute mark approaches 
• Peters makes two big save as the Sharks have place the extra attacker on the ice by pulling Greiss - 1:28 to go
• Sharks' Patrick Marleau with an open net to tie the game, but Peters stretches across the crease to make the save with the help of defenseman Bryan Allen
•  San Jose continues to apply pressure while Hurricanes clear it one more time
• 35 seconds to go as Carolina called for icing
• Peters comes up with another big save on a tip-in attempt by Couture
• San Jose mishandles it and it gets out of th zone
• Joe Thornton misses on an open net
• Time runs out as Carolina wins 3-2 

 

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NHL All-Star Game leaves lasting memories

Watching the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend festivities taking place in Ottawa, Ontario bring back fantastic memories of last year's event that took place in Raleigh, N.C.

Having the opportunity to take it in live and from every possible angle and perspective was a great personal experience and one that I tried to share with those who couldn't make it.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect for such an event to take place in the South in late January - sunny, cool but not cold - nothing that required wearing gloves, heavy coats and toques.

However, having had the chance to skate on the Rideau Canal during my youth, I would have loved to have the opportunity to skate alongside the NHL's silverware collection as many did this year in Ottawa - a great idea by the way.

For those who haven't been to Ottawa, it's a great city to visit and with the history of hockey sprinkled throughout it during this weekend, it's an even better place to understand the game's history and heritage in Canada's capital.

Memories for a lifetime

In watching both this year's Fantasy Draft and SuperSkills Competition take place on TV and preparing to watch Sunday's showcase event, the All-Star Game, I can only think of how much is going on and how much fun everyone attending, volunteering, and participating is having.

For any hockey fan, if you haven't had the chance to experience an NHL All-Star Game Weekend before, mark your calendars for the future.

The memories that you will take and keep with you will truly last for a lifetime.

Take a look back: Raleigh Sports Examiner at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game:

• 2011 NHL All-Star Game: Game on! live blog
• 2011 NHL All-Star Game: The Off-Ice All-Star team
• 2011 NHL All-Star Game: Fan Fair and Fantasy Draft
• 2011 NHL All-Star Game: Hurricanes' Skinner is the man
• What to do in Raleigh during the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend. 
• 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend: The pieces are falling together 

• YouTube clips:  2011 NHL All-Star Game and more