The players that will be in the World Championship Hockey games will be, Tim Gleason, being from Michigan he will then represent the U.S.A. Team Canada will be most pleased with the players they’re getting from the ‘Canes. They are receiving Eric Staal, who took over the Hurricanes leadership role after team Captain Rod Brindamour got injured with a tore ACL. There is also the contributions of Ray Whitney, who is a strong part of the Hurricanes offense, then last but not least our pride and gold Cam Ward. The goaltender who made saves at the Stanley Cup against the Edmonton Oilers, this will be a great help to team Canada. TeamFinland will be joined by Tuomo Ruutu with the great forward skills that he brings to the ice, Niclas Wallin will be contributing to team Sweden, and Dennis Seidenberg will be playing for his home country of Germany. The surprise although is the young Hurricanes prospect who will be defending Switzerland’s net, he goes by the name of Daniel Manzato!

At the All-Star break in January, with 30 games to play, Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said the Canes would need 20 wins to make the playoffs. They won 19.

Had the Canes made the play offs, I that believe Peter Laviolette should have been the winner of the Jack Adams Trophy, but after the final two games of the season I question the lineup changes Laviolette made, changes to a team that was running so well.

Chad LaRose’s return to the team I believe was a great move, he had enough time and the team had enough time to adjust to his return to play. Whitney, Williams, and the team did not have time to adjust as they had with LaRose; regardless Whitney, Williams and LaRose had little impact on the outcome of the game against the Capitals. Despite the fact that the Hurricanes are not in the play offs it certainly was an exciting and interesting season. Caniacs witnessed the growth of Eric Staal into a real team leader. With all the injuries fans watched the team get younger and tougher; these changes combined with the likes of Staal and Cole made the Hurricanes not only a smooth passing team but also a hard hitting team. Now the Hurricanes have to decide what kind of team they want next season.

My hope is that Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican will retire so that the Hurricanes can build in the direction they were moving from the All Star game, younger and tougher. Signing Samsonov Aucoin, Bayda, Brookbank would be good and affordable moves. But we have a long off season to muse on what the Hurricanes should look like. In the meantime enjoy the play offs and your summer.

Not since 2002 had the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes’ home ice. Tonight Florida played hard and their victory will most likely spoil the Canes’ chances of making this year’s play offs. Panther’s goalie Craig Anderson deserves to be player of the game. Anderson entered the game in the second period after Tomas Vokoun left with a back pain. Anderson matched the intensity of Eric Staal, Sergei Samsonov, Scott Walker and the Hurricanes who fired 46 shots on net, Florida’s goalie matched this effort with great stops and fantastic pad work. Trevor Letowski struck first for the Hurricanes and it appeared that the Canes’ intensity would take the fight out of the visiting Panthers. However, late in the period Jay Bouwmeester and Steve Montador scored and put the Panthers ahead of Canes by one. Before the buzzer sounded to close the first period the Hurricanes swarmed around Tomas Vokoun’s net, yet were unable to tie the score. While Vokoun weathered this storm he had could not return in the second period because of a back strain.

Scott Walker, acquired after the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, re-signed with the club over the summer with hopes of making another run at the Cup. Tonight he put for a great effort tonight winning face offs and fighting for position in front of Anderson’s net, yet Anderson was just too good. Eric Staal gave Hurricane fans hope when he scored on a pass from Joe Corvo to put the Canes one point behind the Panthers. Staal has become the leader of the Hurricanes, since Brind’Amour went down with injury Staal has done it all; sacrificing himself in front of the net for position, helping team mates score with a pass great pass, or scoring himself to get the club back into a contest. Staal’s goal tonight was a beauty; he held onto the puck until the last possible moment when he fired, with a defender hanging on him, to beat Anderson. The new captain’s efforts were matched by those of Matt Cullen and Sergei Samsonov. Cullen returning from a concussion looked healthy and played well. It seemed that Samsonov was a part of all the scoring and pressure on Anderson. Neither team lacked effort in this game, the Hurricanes had several misscues in the neutral zone that led to Panther goals; credit the Panthers for taking advantage of these mistakes.

Last year these same two teams met in the final game of the season; like this year Craig Anderson had a great game at the RBC Center too. A year ago it took a Rod Brind’Amour goal in over time for positive end to a frustrating season following the Stanley Cup victory of the previous year. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see if Anderson and these Panther spoilers can upset Ovechkin and company in Washington, D.C. I am not a betting man, but I would not bet against the Russian winger and band of young skaters; all eyes are now on the Caps and Panthers game tomorrow.

Not last night, the Hurricanes looked like the team of a couple of weeks ago - they crashed the Tampa Bay’s net and for-checked consistently through the evening. The previous week it appeared as if the Hurricanes had forgotten how they maintained their first place league. The have been in first place by for-checking well and playing with an edge. In their two to one loss to the Lightning last week, I kept waiting for a Brookbank or a Bayda to rough up a Lightning players as pay back for hammering on their leader Eric Staal. That tough element has been on sabitacle for a few days and it hurt this team, they lost some of their intensity and the Capitals exposed it badly on Tuesday. Yet the team found the balance of scoring and hitting to put down the Lightning early in the game. Like the Capitals did to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, last night LaRose and the Hurricanes never gave the Lightning a chance to establish themselves.

It is great to have the fiery LaRose back, he not only annoys but he can score too, he scored his first NHL hat trick last night. The first goal I believe probably should have been called for goalie interference, yet the goal was allowed. It was a great night for LaRose who was having a great season before he broke his leg. He returned without missing a beat and if the Hurricanes beat the Panthers on Friday, LaRose will be a key piece in Carolina’s play off run. LaRose explained to ESPN.com after the game:

Sitting out for so long was so tough, and I promised myself when I would get back that I’d be great every shift. I’m trying to work at it.

Ray Whitney returned to lineup on Tuesday and Matt Cullen returned to the lineup last night, they will be important pieces in their play off run, if the Canes win on Friday. It comes down to Friday, the Florida Panthers have had difficulty at the RBC Center and the Hurricanes have many veterans back and after last night seem to have bounced back from the beat down they received from the Capitals. Get your snacks and beverages ready, Friday should be a great way to end the season!

Last night the Hurricanes certainly did not play as if the Southeast Division and entrance into the NHL Play Offs was on the line. No the Hurricanes were soundly beaten by the Capitals and their team leader Alex Ovechkin who scored his 63 goal of the season; with two games left he may finish with 65 or more goals. Christobal Huet had a great game in net for the Capitals and despite Scott Walker’s one goal his saves stifled any hopes of making this any closer than it was. The final score of the game did not reflect how the Capitals out played the Hurricanes. The Capitals have won the last nine out of their ten games, last night they took the same play book that Tampa Bay used to beat the Hurricanes last Saturday; play an intensely physical game and keep the Hurricane forwards away from the front of your net.

Hurricanes’ play last night did not match the intensity of the Capitals. The four to one score is more of a credit to goalie Cam Ward than it is to his team mates, the score could have been even more lop sided had not Ward played a great game. The Hurricanes were unable to match the intensity they brought against other Southeast Division opponents over the last couple of weeks, credit the Washington Capitals for preventing the Hurricanes’ from turning the excitement of Justin Williams and Ray Whitney’s return into positive play on the ice. The Canes struggled to put the kind of pressure you need if a team is going to beat goalie Christobal Huet.
After the game NHL.com quoted Eric Cole:

“We just need to move on.”

Wise words from a winger; do not dwell on the loss, while the Capitals and Hurricanes are tied atop the Southeast Division Carolina holds the advantage in a tie breaker. The Hurricanes just need to win their two remaining games or they may need to get their golf clubs out for an early summer vacation. Before the Capitals take the ice on Saturday the team will know if they are in the play offs or not - I know Bruce Boudreau and the Capital Gang expect to be there. Play offs continue.

Work horse Cam Ward played a solid game and made key saves to keep the score close. A tricky deflection of a Jeff Halpern shot managed to beat Ward high on his glove side to give Tampa Bay the go ahead goal. With less than three minutes left in the game Eric Staal was tripped and dragged down by the Lightnings’ Filip Kuba as he tried to score on Ramo. A sub-plot of tonight’s game was how much time Eric Staal spent falling or sprawled on the ice. The Lightning defenders deserve credit for making the Hurricanes’ star and team leader pay for hanging around the net. Bruised and late in the game Staal still had the energy and drive to try and tie teh game. Eric Staal new leader of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lightning were just that much more physical than the Hurricanes. That combined with the fact that the Hurricanes’ forwards could not take advantage of loose pucks in front of Tampa Bay’s net resulted in the loss.Hurricanes would have liked to keep the Capitals four points behind them in the standings, at least three points behind them if they could have managed a point in overtime; but no, Tampa Bay played the spoiler tonight. The Canes are now only two points ahead of the Washington Capitals after the Caps beat the Florida Panthers 3 to 0 tonight.

Tuesday may be the biggest game of the year for both teams, Tuesday’s will be crucial in determining who will win the for the Southeast Division title. March Madness its not just NCAA basketball, there are five teams in the NHL west is still up for grabs and the race in the Southeast may not be decided until the last game of the season. I’ve got my tickets for Tuesday at the Verizon Center - it should be a great game; enjoy the run for the play offs.

One game at a time, the Hurricanes face the Tampa Bay Lightning, any team with Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Marc Denis makes me wary. Despite the fact that the Lightning have struggled as of late and I believe the Lecavalier line really misses the skills of Vaclav Prospal, they are still trouble for the Hurricanes and Capitals. The Caps just slipped by the Lightning; so the Hurricanes need to maintain the intensity they brought against the Thrashers last night. Eric Staal explained the Canes’ intensity to ESPN.com:

“We could feel the energy in (the dressing) room, before the game even started, that we were going to be ready to play and fired up.”

Both the Lightning and the Canes have three wins in their season series. However in the last two games the Hurricanes have out scored Tampa Bay nine goals to two. Tampa has lost four of their last five games and have really struggled in the last half of the season. Any team with Lecavalier and Marc Denis has the ability to play spoiler at this time of the season, Canes must maintain their intensity and effort. There is little room for error over the next few weeks - the Hurricanes need to keep up the effort or no play offs.

Game note: Bret Hedican will be scratched tonight with a torso strain, ouch, his spot most likely will be filled with Dennis Seidenberg.

Chad LaRose’s return was a welcome site to a team hit hard by injuries. However, Bret Hedican left the game with a lower body injury and it is unclear how long he will be out. With only five defense men in jerseys, Dennis Seidenberg will most likely skate for the red & black tomorrow against Tampa Bay. It is good to have LaRose back to annoy the opponents, get in the middle of trouble, and help out on offense. His assist on the Letowski goal, another dagger in the heart of a demoralized team, was beautiful. More good news, Justin Williams’ knee is feeling well and he will begin full contact practice on Monday. One less blue jersey in practice this week - good news as the Hurricanes move four points ahead of the Capitals.

While victories against the discouraged Thrasher team are not a true test of how well a team is playing; the Hurricanes played well and did what they needed to do tonight. Jeff Hamilton scored two goals and continues to work like he wants to stay the big club. Tuomo Ruuto scored two goals and showed why he was such a highly ranked prospect. Joe Corvo and Sergei Samsonov also played very well. Corvo with a beautiful set up of Hamilton on his goal and then he beat Hedberg on a beautiful slap shot of his own. The one goal that Atlanta score by J. Slater was the result of a Corvo mistake along the boards; yet on the hole Corvo had a great game. Corvo has provided a needed ingredient to the Canes’ offense - we’ll put up with his mistakes on defense, he makes up for them with the spark he provides on offense.

Minor League NewsNewly signed Brandon Sutter should be in uniform for the Albany River Rats on Sunday.

The Canes’ face Tampa Bay tomorrow and then on to Washington to face the Capitals on Tuesday. Hurricanes keep rolling along to the play offs. Lots of hockey season left to enjoy Caniacs. 

While the Thrashers have not been playing well, one win in the last six games, the Thrashers are still dangerous with Ilya Kovalchuk and his 50 goals. Fortunately the game tonight will be played in the friendly confines of the RBC Center where the Hurricanes have won four out of their last five games. Chad LaRose may play this evening with Patrick Eaves’ to have surgery to repair an ailing shoulder.

The pressure has been on the Hurricanes for the last month. In an interview with ESPN.com Cam Ward explained what needs to be done down the stretch:

We’ve really got to bear down here. We’ve done an excellent job to put ourselves in a good position here, but we don’t want to let our foot off the gas. We want to continue to press and strive to win the division. To be able to do that, you’ve got to be able to bear down these last five games.