The Hurricanes ended February with a losing record, going
4-5-4 which includes a loss to the Canadian equivalent of
a natural disaster in the Vancouver Canucks. Despite this
horrible loss, the Canes have gone 2-1-3 in their past six
games, which is more than enough to run even farther ahead
of the Bure-d Panthers, who have lost their star scorer to
a knee injury.
Despite their eight-point lead, which is almost comfortable
enough to sleep on, the Canes' players have been trying not to
look back. Playoff vet Ronnie Francis told reporters, "I always
look ahead. I never look behind. It's you guys [evil reporters]
who always ask me about the teams behind us." Playoff newbie
Nolan Pratt added, "We're thinking about who we can catch, not
just who can catch us."
Yeah, I thought the same way when I played tag in the 5th grade.
Except I always realized just how slow I was when I got caught.
Just a reminder, guys: don't overlook Florida.
OH CANADA: The fall of the Canadian dollar isn't the only
thing Canadian franchises are worried about. Despite a poor
showing against Vancouver, the Hurricanes are 8-2-3 against teams
north of the border. Four of the remaining Canes games fall
against teams in Canada.
One reason for this could be that most of the Canadian teams play
an open-ice style that fits in well with the Canes' speedy
offense. Or you could just blame the economy.
GLOWER PLAY: Paul Maurice's looks when his team is on the
power play definitely represent his team's success. Despite
trying to look like a younger Scotty Bowman, he can't help but
look like he sat on Paul Coffey's curved stick whenever his team
is proving that even a team with a winning record can
underachieve with the man-advantage.
The Hurricanes still are the favorite for bookies on which team
will decline a penalty first. It seems their league-worst power
play finds new ways to suck every single game.
But in case you missed it, the Carolina power play has shown
(relative) signs of life. Thanks to some sharp thinking by Paul
Coffey and some deft passing, the Canes went two for three
(that's right, two for three) on a power play in Florida Saturday
March 6th. No, I didn't slide my hand from zero to two on the
keyboard. Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis netted the goals in the 2-
2 tie.
Paul Maurice, the king of the "angry parent" look, says "[It was]
the right time for the power play to kick in tonight," he told
the Greensboro News and Record. "We save our power play. Once
every 30 games or so we kick it in, grab a point and get out of
town."
While some local newspapers took that as a joke, I think that's
been the plan all along. How else do you describe the
skyrocketing climb from last in the league to 26th (ahead of
ailing Phoenix?) The percentage now stands at 11.8, which is less
than half of league-leading Anaheim's 25.3% power play.
For those of you who actually think the Canes might quit
underachieving and play like, say, the incredibly talented Tampa
Bay squad on the power play, I say to you leave them alone.
Underachieving never hurt anyone. Just ask Alexandre Daigle.
THE TANK ROLLS IN: Andrei Kovalenko was acquired for
long-time Whaler and Hurricane Adam Burt in a deal inked last
Saturday.
The 5'11, 215-pound Russian winger didn't even get the customary
optimism treatment by Canes GM Jim Rutherford. He garnered quite
a reputation for a die-hard partier who cares only for his
paycheck, and his limited ice time in Philly coupled by the fact
that he's been traded more often than a Playboy in junior high
gives him a lot of baggage.
He came through, however, scoring the first goal of the night in
a 4-1 thrashing of Buffalo March 8th. He was also voted the first
star.
Burt was fearful of being traded after being made a healthy
scratch for a whole bunch of games. With six defensemen playing
and one still injured, who could blame the Hurricanes for wanting
to get rid of one? And Philadelphia's defense was poor enough to
need a hockey vet like Burt to rescue them from being scored on
more than Lindros AND LeClair can keep up.
Best of luck to Burt in Philadelphia. For all the years he stayed
on this losing franchise, he deserves to play on such a
consistent winner as Philly.
TRADE RUMORS: With half of Jim Rutherford's premonition to
get a winger who could score and a defensemen who could move the
puck fulfilled, one must only guess that one of the Canes' 14
current forwards will be traded.
The natural choice would be Robert Kron, who has seen a steep
decline in his numbers after being stuck on the third line. He
has proved to be a solid checker when Ray Sheppard is the target
as well, taking both out of commission in the Vancouver game
February 26th. However, he continues to be out with a groin
strain, missing four games since leaving the ice early at
Vancouver, and he has been given a no-trade clause.
The next one on the block is anyone's guess. It also could be one
of the Canes' goalies, either the young, slumping Kidd or the
older, UFA-to-be All-star Irbe.
Regardless, don't expect the Canes to trade Irbe. His play is too
good and Kidd's too awful as of late for the Canes to give him
up. Remember when Mike Fountain took over last year at the end of
the stretch? He gave up more points than someone betting on Duke.
BRIEF SUMMARIES:
Toronto 2/24 2-2 T: The battle of two speedy offensive
giants ended in a 2-2 tie thanks to a late goal by Alyn McCauley
of the leafs. Primeau and Kapanen scored for the Canes, one goal
of which was on the power play. Hey, accidents happen.
Vancouver, 2/26 1-0 L: The Hurricanes regained their form
on the power play, going 0 for 10 against the pitiful Canucks as
Paul Devorski ruined a perfectly good game by interrupting it
every two minutes. Gary Roberts' apparent goal tipped under Garth
Snow was ruled no goal despite constant TV replays showing it
went across the line.
Edmonton, 2/28 2-2 T: Red-hot Steve Passmore, fresh from
Hamilton in the AHL, made some incredible saves but wasn't quick
enough to stop Ron Francis' fluke goal. It careened off
Passmore's skate after Francis shot from behind the goal. The
Canes pulled their goalie after being denied on multiple scoring
chances by the talented rookie. Well, I guess this one should
count as a power play, if only because it involved enough luck
for our power play to get it.
Boston, 3/3 2-1 W: Thanks to Arturs Irbe's usual all-star
goaltending and a goal by former 30-goal scorer Martin Gelinas,
the Hurricanes swept by Boston after returning from a lengthy
road trip that sent them wandering around Canada. Irbe stopped 23
from all over, making the net more empty than the Greensboro
Coliseum's upper decks.
Florida, 3/6 2-2 T: Even though the Hurricanes scored two,
yes, two power-play goals tonight, it was not enough to put away
the Bure-less Panthers. Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis scored for
the Canes who melted down in the third period, letting in the
tying goal on Florida's power play just over eight minutes into
the third. Irbe made 33 saves, and should be credited with
another one, saving the Hurricanes from returning Florida to the
Southeast playoff race in the last period.
Buffalo, 3/8 4-1 W: The Russian Tank, Andrei Kovalenko,
scored his first goal as a Carolina Hurricane less than three
minutes into the first and the Canes added three goals in the
first two periods, putting away the Hasek-less Sabres, including
one on a beautiful 2-on-1. Gary Roberts passed it right on the
wood to Sami Kapanen at full speed when Kapanen swished it in.
Credit Marek Malik with his 2nd goal, which was coincidentally
scored on his own net with a beautiful tip in against Arturs
Irbe. Note to self, Malik: Move ass from crease.
