Anybodyhome

Fug Ric Flair... and I don't have a clue about "professional wrestling."

Can we (Canes & PNC Arena) just end any and all references to Ric Flair now that he's all over Twitter in a Blues sweater attending their game at home last night. Not to mention that if the Canes and their fan base want to be at least a little more respected, then distancing yourselves from the corny redneck imagery might be a good idea.

Never mind, I found it..... Completely blown call. But the refs were horrible all night. The Jets were not called for a penalty in this game until the third period.

He came back after that hit he took to open the 2nd period, but I wonder if there's more to it today. By the way, I was at the game and didn't record the game, but how did Tripp react when #48 took that hit (penalty) and play was allowed to continue and the Jets ultimately scored? The crowd went nuts.

And the 3rd goal, to make it 4-3 in the 3rd, was a good play by the Jets, simple as that. The Jets player got deep with the puck and was forced to the side of the net, where he made a great pass across the crease. No way Freddie was getting across to make that save. So, yeah, 2 of the 3 goals scored by Winnipeg were legit and weren't likely to be stopped by many goalies in the league. Give the Jets some cred, guys. They're a legit team making a playoff push in a relatively weak west only a point behind the Avs. TBH, I had no expectations last night and they stepped up. The blue line was responsible for 2 of the Canes goals, and another line won the game. Third game in a row the top line was noticeably absent.

I'll watch the highlights, but seeing the whole ice, 2 of the Jets goals were thanks to the Canes leaving a guy alone getting inside the dots. Nothing most any goalie could have done. The Jets second goal I watched 3 Canes go to the puck while nobody was on the weak side and Ehlers buried it. Shot was a missile from the dot.

Was headed toward a career year. Fortunately he's locked up for the next several years and will return to becoming a true power forward. He could easily miss the first few months of next season as well.

I'll be there tonight as well. But, sadly, I've significantly tempered my expectations for this team.

As I stated in another thread, I've not been convinced this team is a serious Cup contender for the past 4 years, this year being no different. The Canes are still a piece or 2 away from being a dominant force in the league, and I'm not sure what those pieces are. Fact: Both Raanta and Andersen are UFAs at the end of the season. The Canes have not talked extension nor did it appear either of them were part of any trade talks. Even if they let one of the 2 walk in free agency, sign the remaining player and bring up Kochetkov, the goal tending is not much, if at all, improved. Fact: Even if Max Pacioretty stayed healthy, I'm not sure he alone was the difference maker that put this team over the top and makes them a Cup fave. Fact: Adding Ghostisbehere was a good move because, simply put, he's better than DeHaan and Coghlan. And the Canes are very fortunate Jalen Chatfield has played incredibly well for his first full season on the ice. But Ghost is not a point-a-game guy that pushes this team over the top, either. Fact: Poolparty may have some upside, but, to be honest, there's only one way for his trajectory to go at this point in his career. He is a draft bust (picked #4 overall after Auston Matthews, Patrick Laine and Pierre Luc Dubois in 2016) and adding him to the roster was comparable to the Panthers adding Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Today, I have no confidence this the team with its current roster will finish atop the Metro. Although they can probably stay ahead of the Rangers, they'll likely enter the playoffs as a #3 seed behind NJ and Boston. They could get very lucky and have Svech back, provided his knee isn't going to need surgery, and get through the first round. But that will be an uphill battle and any success beyond the first round will be shocking.

The script to the Hurricanes annual playoff stretch is becoming all too common. Couple injuries; Andersen starts feeling the pressure and becomes a very average goalie, suffers an injury; the depth the team prides itself on does not produce and the big names on the roster stop scoring. Something is missing and none of us are seeing it. Although I firmly believe the team has been a piece or 2 away from being a dominant force in the league for a few years, there just seems to be something else missing. I've had no illusions this team in the last 4 years has been a serious Cup contender, but that one or two pieces seems to be the key, in my opinion.

I'm out, guys. I'll be at the Jets game Tuesday night with zero expectations.

Yes, it was.

I said last week the Canes might not have the division lead by the end of the weekend.

Well, this one ended quickly.

That was deHaan turning back toward the goal and turning it over for the goal.

WTF....

Canes have won 16 of their last 20, I think. Not bad... until you see the Canes losing ground to NJ despite that.

This is not a team you can count on to win a 5 or 7 game series against a comparable team.

Game over. Andersen not good tonight. 3 goals on 22 shots. Got schooled by the visiting team.

NJ will be in a tie with Carolina after the Canes lose tonite and tomorrow. No net front, no physicality and Vegas is playing better hockey.

Getting out skated early....

Interesting that NJ is showing Vanacek in net tonight for the Devils facing Montreal at home. Can't confirm, but they're going to start their #2 goalie against the Canes tomorrow? The Detroit had Boston down 2-0 through half the game and lost 3-2. But, Boston was at home and Detroit was called for twice as many penalties as Boston, although what I saw was at least 3 uncalled penalties on Marchand thru the 1st 2 periods. NHL officiating is an all-time worst this year.

During my time as an inspector, I had a coyote jump out of a crawlspace doorway (no door in place) as I walked between 2 houses (scared the fugging poo outta me- was not expecting that at all); found a gun stash of 5 weapons (cops said a gang was using the house as a drop location); a few dead dogs and 2 dead bodies...

Last Time Out: The Canes scored just 2:09 in on Thursday night against the Flyers and after scoring 16 goals in their previous three games, it felt like the offense would be off to the races once again. Instead, the game became a duel between goaltenders Pyotr Kochetkov and Felix Sandstrom. Carolina's first shot of the night was the only one that would get by Sandstrom and Kochetkov went 19/19, earning the Canes a 1-0 shutout victory. See You Tonight: Carolina will not hold a morning skate today. Any information regarding tonight's lineup will come from Rod Brind'Amour at approximately 4:45 p.m. Welcome Back, "PK": Pyotr Kochetkov's shutout came just one day after being recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. It was his fourth perfect game of the season, now tying him for second among all NHL goaltenders. In fact, no other NHL rookie netminder has more than one. All four of his shutouts have come over his last 18 starts. Finally Puljujarvi's Debut Day?: After practicing with the club on Friday for the first time, newcomer Jesse Puljujarvi could make his highly-anticipated team debut tonight. After working alongside Paul Stastny and Stefan Noesen, Puljujarvi also took some reps on the power play in the net-front role. Standing at 6'4", 201 lbs., the right-handed shot was acquired last week from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for unsigned prospect Patrik Puistola. Rod Brind'Amour said he will play this weekend, but didn't commit to saying whether it would be tonight against Vegas or Sunday in New Jersey. Crazy 8: Brent Burns tallied a power-play assist on Carolina's only goal on Thursday, giving him a team-high 22 points in his last 19 games. He has now registered 51 points (12g, 39a) in 2022-23, tied with Tony DeAngelo (2021-22: 10g, 41a) for the most points by any Hurricanes defenseman in a single season and the ninth-most by any blueliner in a single campaign in franchise history. With a team-high 39 assists, Burns is one assist shy of joining DeAngelo and Joni Pitkanen (2009-10: 40) as just the third defenseman in team history (since relocation) to register 40 assists in a season. Between The Pipes: Both Don Waddell and Rod Brind'Amour alike have referenced their desires to keep players fresh as the Stanley Cup Playoffs approach, including avoiding goaltenders playing in consecutive games. This would mean that Frederik Andersen is in line to start tonight, #31 stopped 13 out of 14 and then 5/6 in the shootout Tuesday night in Montreal after entering in relief. Get On Them Early: The Canes have scored first a league-leading 41 games this season. They're 33-4-4 when they score first, tied with the Bruins for the most wins in the NHL when striking first. The Impact Of A Ghost: Since Shayne Gostisbehere made his team debut last Friday, the Canes power play is 9/15. Think Fast: Forward Martin Necas has 13 points in his last 10 games. On The Other Side: Vegas comes to Raleigh for the only time this season having earned points in eight of their last 10 games. Much like how Carolina has New Jersey on their tails for the Metropolitan Division lead, the Golden Knights have the Los Angeles Kings chasing them down in the Pacific. Jack Eichel has been leading the way offensively for the club since the All-Star break, posting 16 points in 14 games. In net, Jonathan Quick is 2-0 after coming over in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets last week.