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Hurricanes Assign Cam Ward to Charlotte For Conditioning Stint

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Ward to join Charlotte Checkers for games on Friday and Saturday against Lake Erie in Cleveland.

This afternoon the Carolina Hurricanes announced that veteran netminder Cam Ward has been activated from injured reserve and will join AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers for a conditioning assignment.

Ward is returning from his second injury suffered during the 2013-14 season.  He missed games between October 25 and November 16 with a groin injury, and returned for eleven appearances in net before returning to injured reserve on January 5th with an undisclosed lower body injury.  He had been traveling with the team and skating outside of formal practice, but completed his first full team practice since his injury earlier today.

Ward will become the ninth goaltender to play on the Checkers roster this season, extending a franchise record that previously stood at five.

Per the team's Press Release:

RALEIGH, NC– Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has removed goaltender Cam Ward from injured reserve and assigned him to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) for a conditioning stint. Ward will join the Checkers in Cleveland as they face the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Ward, 29, has missed the Hurricanes last 13 games with a lower-body injury. The Saskatoon, Sask., native has posted a 6-7-5 record, a 3.15 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage in 19 games with Carolina this season. Ward (6’1”, 185 lbs.) is the Hurricanes franchise’s all-time leader in games played by a goaltender (450), wins (220) and shutouts (21). His last AHL stint was in December 2005, when he played two games with the Lowell Lock Monsters during a conditioning stint. The Hurricanes drafted Ward in the first round, 25th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.


Quick Hits: Avalanche Re-Sign Varlamov

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Red Wings News

Report: Franzen (concussion) to miss Olympics | ProHockeyTalk
The only mildly positive thing about this is that Gustav Nyquist may be his replacement for Team Sweden.

PHOTOS: Jimmy Howard's USA mask will feature huge eagle on top - CBSSports.com
Best mask by far.

Detroit Red Wings to play outdoors again next season? One hockey writer thinks it could happen | MLive.com
Now this I would not mind.

Rapping Red Wings: Uninspiring Effort Leaves Concerns About Detroit’s Mental State | The Detroit Sports Site |

What is the current state of the Red Wings?

While coaching peers come and go, Red Wings' Mike Babcock carries on | The Detroit News

And I wouldn't mind Babcock remaining for the foreseeable future.

NHL News

Avs sign Varlamov to five-year, $29.5 million extension | ProHockeyTalk
So much for assault charges.

Ben Scrivens sets NHL record for most saves in a shutout with 59 - SBNation.com
Congrats to Scrivens.

Varlamov contract extension shows NHL teams still overvalue goaltending | Post-to-Post
I don't mind the cap hit ($5.9 million AAV) as much as I dislike the term. Giving a goaltender anything over 3 years is risky. Of any hockey player, netminders have the shortest shelf life.

Who could come to the rescue if there’s a Team USA injury? | For The Win
Justin Abdelkader and Danny DeKeyser.

Ben Bishop, Vezina Trophy frontrunner | Puck Daddy - Yahoo Sports
Jimmy For Vezina Gustavsson For Vezina.

Dallas in ‘early stages of talks and planning’ for game at Cowboys Stadium | ProHockeyTalk
Of course. Jerry couldn't afford to pass up a financial opportunity like this one.

Your Call: What should Oilers do with suddenly-hot Scrivens? | TSN
Should the Oilers re-sign him or should they trade him?

Pekka Rinne's absence makes clear the value of good goaltending - CBSSports.com
Nashville has struggled tremendously without Rinne.

Wayne Gretzky the fifth-most athletic American, according to Teens Digest | Puck Daddy - Yahoo Sports
I am assuming that they are referring to "American" as both the U.S. and Canada, because Gretzky is Canadian. Also, Shaun White was #3 on the list. I can think of dozens of athletes who are more athletic than he is. You can check out the whole list here.

Steen riding five-game point streak, but still ‘expecting more of myself’ | ProHockeyTalk
Now if he can just carry that streak into the Olympics...

TradeCentre: Thursday's reports from around the NHL | TSN
The latest trade rumors from around the NHL.

Hurricanes assign G Cam Ward to AHL affiliate for conditioning stint after missing 13 games - The Hockey News
Ward has been dealing with a lower-body injury.

For 50,000 at Yankee Stadium, NHL's outdoor games far from out-of-style - SBNation.com
I just don't want it to become something that is too commonplace.

Let's Go Red Wings!

Friday Habs Links: Team Canada is safe with Price

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Your open thread for the day, including a great piece on Carey Price.

Montreal Canadiens Links

Around the NHL

Hurricanes vs. Blues: Game Preview 1-31-14

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Time to empty the tank (again). With the luxury of several days between games, the Hurricanes can go all out tonight, and they'll need to against the St. Louis Blues.

Carolina Hurricanes vs St. Louis Blues
January 31, 2014 - 7:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
TV - Fox Sports Carolinas
Radio - 99.9 The Fan

SB Nation Rival Blog: St. Louis Game Time (twitter @StLouisGameTime)

Hurricanes Record: 24-20-9 (57 pts.)
Blues Record: 36-11-5 (77 pts.)


After five games in seven days, it felt a little odd to go two straight nights with no Canes hockey. While the team was getting a little rest, a couple of teams climbed back up in the Metro division standings, leaving the Canes on the outside looking in although by a wafer-thin margin. They begin today one point out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. That game gets played tonight against the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues are one of the beasts of the Western Conference. They are second in the Central division and third in the conference, with games in hand over the leaders. They are 6-3-0 over their last 10 games and have won three straight. They rank among the top three in the league in most statistical categories including wins, points earned per game, goals per game, five-on-five play, special teams, and possession. They are 17-3-1 season to date against Eastern Conference opponents.

The Canes and Blues met in St. Louis on November 16th, and although the Canes were outmatched for most of the game they were able to keep the score close by tallying two shorthanded goals, before an empty netter sealed the fate in the waning minute for a 4-2 loss. There were a lot of Alex moments in that game, as Alexander Steen tallied an assist and the game-winning goal, while defenseman Alex Pietrangelo laid a heavy hit on Alexander Semin that kept him out of the next twelve games with a concussion.

The Blues last played on Tuesday night, and they face the Canes on the front end of a back-to-back scenario (returning home to face Nashville tomorrow night). As a result there may be some line shuffling tonight to spread out ice time among players across the two games. Head coach Ken Hitchcock recently mixed the forward lines, moving versatile forward T.J. Oshie to a line with Patrik Berglund and Magnus Paajarvi, while Jaden Schwartz skated with Oshie's regular linemates David Backes and Alexander Steen.

Jaroslav Halak will get the start in net tonight, his fourth in a row. He is 4-0-0 in those games with a 1.23 GAA and .957 save percentage (side note: if you've never seen Halak before, this is what he looks like).

Lest there be any question of depth in the Blues lineup, they have nine players who have reached the 30-point mark, and ten representatives in the Sochi Olympics.

For more insight from the Blues perspective, check out Ken Hitchcock's video interview from yesterday's practice, along with a terrific article from Louie Korac's In the Slot Blues blog, which includes comments from Hitchcock, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Barret Jackman on how they view tonight's matchup.

The Canes come into tonight's game off a 3-0 shutout loss to the Canadiens Tuesday night, but with a solid 9-4-0 record for the month of January. They have three games next week, all at home, to wrap up the schedule before the Olympic break.

There was no practice on Wednesday as the team traveled back from Montreal, but there was a full roster at practice yesterday, including three goaltenders. Cam Ward was in net for his first full practice since going on injured reserve at the beginning of January, and afterwards was cleared from IR and sent to Charlotte on a conditioning assignment. He's expected to get the start tonight in Cleveland and will repeat tomorrow night if he's able coming out of tonight's game.

As for the start tonight in Raleigh, that will be Anton Khudobin. This will be the first time Dobby has faced the Blues in his NHL career.

The only tweak to the lines at yesterday's practice was to accommodate the return of Patrick Dwyer, who slotted as expected back on Manny Malhotra's line with Nathan Gerbe after missing four games with a lower body injury.

Lines should be as follows barring any changes coming out of today's morning skate:

Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Alexander Semin
Jeff Skinner - Jordan Staal - Elias Lindholm
Nathan Gerbe - Manny Malhotra - Patrick Dwyer
Drayson Bowman - Riley Nash - Tuomo Ruutu
Radek Dvorak

Andrej Sekera - Justin Faulk
Ron Hainsey - John-Michael Liles
Mike Komiarek - Jay Harrison
Brett Bellemore

Anton Khudobin
Justin Peters

In other Canes-related news:

Kirk Muller explains the goaltending situation and Cam Ward's visit to Charlotte in his post-practice audio.

Jim Rutherford was on Sports Net 590 yesterday and provided his insight on the current state of the Canes in this radio interview.

Kyle Hanlin and Michael Smith published Episode 11 of The Hurricanes Report podcast.

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News offers an interesting read on accountability at the General Manager level in the Metro Division.

Tune in to Storm Surge at 10:30 am live from PNC Arena. The Phantom Cam will be in the building again tonight so watch for it live or make sure you DVR for all the super-slo-mo goodness. We'll have the game thread ready to roll by 6:30 pm. See you at the rink.

Blues At Hurricanes Morning Open Thread: Storm Warning

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The Blues are off to Raleigh for their last road game before the Olympic Break. Will there be some Carolina BBQ in their future?

The Carolina Hurricanes aren't a bad hockey team. They're 24-20-9, plunking them right in the middle of the Metropolitan Division, which is still hockey's most meh. They're an ok 13-10-5 at home. They very much seem to be stuck in the holding pattern that they've exited in since they last won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

A decent portion of that is due to Cam Ward not being able to regain his form - and not through any personal shortcomings. He's just managed to get himself injured more often than not, and hasn't been able to be the Canes' starting goaltender this season. I'm sure that Carolina would like for him to be. He's currently with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers on a conditioning stint, so hopefully the Canes will be getting him back soon. Tonight, though, it's more than likely going to be Jaroslav Halak versus Anton Khudobin. Halak got a shutout against the Devils last game, and Khudobin has been more than serviceable in his 16 games played, with a .925 save percentage and a 2.24 GAA.

He also looks exactly like Tim Thomas:

8471418_medium

via 1.cdn.nhle.com

Tonight's an early 6:00 puck drop, so rejoice European and Eastern Time Zone Blues fans - early bed time for us elderly people over the age of 30! Get off of my lawn, and head over to Canes Country to say hi, then come on back for a CCR preview and the GDT.

Blues At Hurricanes GameDay Storystream: Storm Warning

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The Blues are off to Raleigh for their last road game before the Olympic Break. Will there be some Carolina BBQ in their future?

The Carolina Hurricanes aren't a bad hockey team. They're 24-20-9, plunking them right in the middle of the Metropolitan Division, which is still hockey's most meh. They're an ok 13-10-5 at home. They very much seem to be stuck in the holding pattern that they've exited in since they last won the Stanley Cup in 2006.

A decent portion of that is due to Cam Ward not being able to regain his form - and not through any personal shortcomings. He's just managed to get himself injured more often than not, and hasn't been able to be the Canes' starting goaltender this season. I'm sure that Carolina would like for him to be. He's currently with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers on a conditioning stint, so hopefully the Canes will be getting him back soon. Tonight, though, it's more than likely going to be Jaroslav Halak versus Anton Khudobin. Halak got a shutout against the Devils last game, and Khudobin has been more than serviceable in his 16 games played, with a .925 save percentage and a 2.24 GAA.

He also looks exactly like Tim Thomas:

8471418_medium

via 1.cdn.nhle.com

Tonight's an early 6:00 puck drop, so rejoice European and Eastern Time Zone Blues fans - early bed time for us elderly people over the age of 30! Get off of my lawn, and head over to Canes Country to say hi, then come on back for a CCR preview and the GDT.

Natty Dread: Blues At Carolina Hurricanes Preview

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Blues Visit Raleigh, Expect Some Strong Sustained Wins

Much like the old Atlanta Flames, I never really understood the desire to name a team after calamities. Hurricanes can wipe out whole communities, and cause millions of dollars of damage annually. Why celebrate that with the hometown team? How can you cheer a name that is an ever-present danger? Nonetheless, the Hurricanes have a place in the NHL, and that's who we're facing tonight.

The Hurricanes are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, 5th place in the MEH-tropolitan Division. Their record of 24-20-9 has them 1 point behind third-place Columbus. Failing that, they can fight it out with Washington, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Ottawa for survival as the last wild card spot. All of those teams are separated by 2 points. This game, being against a Western Conference opponent, might once have been considered a throwaway game in other circumstances, but not now. These points are key for Carolina, and I know that they're going to be fighting and jamming the whole way through, up to the Olympic break. They've gone 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, and they've scored at least 3 goals in 6 of their last 7 games - the lone exception a 3-0 loss to Montreal on Tuesday. They still plan to keep on moving up the standings, either top three or wild card.

The Hurricanes have been hit hard by the injury bug, particularly in net. Just yesterday, the 'Canes announced that Cam Ward was being activated from the IR, and being sent down to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) for a conditioning stint. This is the second injury that Ward has fought back from, and it has tested the Carolina goaltending depth. The backup-now-starter is Anton Khudobin, and he's posted an 11-4-0 record on the strength of a 2.24 GAA .925 save percentage. He was hurt for a while earlier this year himself, and this put the responsibility on the shoulders of Justin Peters. His stat line is 2.50 GAA and .919 Sv%, leading to a record of 7-9-4.

The overall points leader on the Hurricanes is Eric Staal: 44 points on 14 goals and 30 assists. That's followed by Jeff Skinner, the top goal-scorer with 22g, 15a. Andrej Sekera has 8g, 22a for 30 points, and Alex Semin is next with 12g, 15a. Jordan Staal rounds out the top 5 with 11 goals and 14 assists. Other players to watch out for are Nathan "Fun Size" Gerbe (4 points in the last 5 games) and Jiri "NSFW" Tlusty (points in the last 5 games) (source). Also, John-Michael Liles, who was traded to Carolina from Toronto during warm-ups of the Winter Classic. He's settled into a second-pairing defensive role. Additionally, the Carolina special teams is anything but: they have the 5th-worst power play at 14.1% and 7th-worst penalty kill at 79.8%. Not that there's a lot of examples - Carolina averages the fewest penalty minutes per game in the league. They also have the fewest 5-minute majors in the league (6) so far this year. Although, we all hope to see Semin stir it up again.

Further Reading:

Canes Country

Final Verse: An early game once again, with the opening faceoff scheduled for 6:00 PM St Louis time. The TV broadcast is on Fox Sports MW, and the radio call will be on KMOX 1120 AM. The GDT should drop just before the puck does. Until then, this is your pregame warmup. Gather here, bitch about the weather, speculate about the latest trade rumors, and learn how to reduce Alexander Semin's effectiveness on the ice:


LGB!!!

-CrossCheckRaise

NHL Friday: Rangers top Islanders -- again

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The Rangers beat the Islanders, 4-1, for a second victory in three days against their New York foe. Elsewhere, the Wings, Predators and Hurricanes picked up wins.

1. Will there be fireworks as the Rangers and Islanders wrap up their season series?

After matching up on Wednesday in Yankee Stadium, the Rangers and Islanders will play for the second consecutive game, and for the last time this season, barring a postseason match up. Both teams have beaten the other twice this year, with the road team taking every game. Meanwhile, there hasn't been a fight since their very first meeting Oct. 29. With both teams vying for playoff position, and also having just seen each other two days ago, it could make for an intense, old-school Rangers-Islanders affair.

2. Will Jaroslav Halak play the Blues out of the Ryan Miller sweepstakes?

It seems like a logical conclusion that the Sabres are going to part ways with Ryan Miller. Of the teams reported to be a potential suitor, the Blues are right in the thick of the list. But Halak has gone 6-2 in his last eight starts, allowing 12 goals in that span, including two shutouts. If Halak continues to play this well, he'll certainly make the Blues question whether it's worth pursuing Miller any further.

3. Will Alex Ovechkin score a goal and still end up a minus player?

Kevin Allen of USA Today pointed it out this morning: Alex Ovechkin could score 60 goals this season, and still end up a minus-25. It's almost unfathomable to think of, and Ovechkin is somehow currently a minus-17 despite scoring 38 goals. It indicates a bigger problem — that Washington is giving up too many goals per game — and Ovechkin has been on the ice for many of those. The Capitals travel to Detroit to take on a Red Wings team that was just embarrassed 5-0 in Philadelphia, and Mike Babckock's side will be looking to exact a certain measure of retribution.

4. Is it Cory Schneider time in New Jersey?

There's no question Schneider has been the more consistent goalie this season between him and Martin Brodeur. Besides two periods he sat and watched in Yankee Stadium, Schneider has seen all of the action in the Devil's crease the past five games. With New Jersey part of the cluster of teams vying to crack the top eight in the East, Pete DeBoer may not be able to alternate his goalies much longer if Schneider continues to distance himself from Brodeur.

5. Canucks-Jets: Who wins the battle of two new head coaches?

It's rare to play a game mid season involving two head coaches who haven't even been on the job for a month yet. But when the Canucks travel to Winnipeg for the first time since the Jets relocated there in 2011, Vancouver will still be without John Tortorella (suspension), and Winnipeg will be led by Paul Maurice, who took over for Claude Noel eight games ago. The Jets have been better under Maurice (8-2) while the Canucks have gone 2-3 without Tortorella.

More from SB Nation NHL:

Outdoor games far from out-of-style

Beach volleyball, fireworks, KISS … and hockey

The story of Notre Dame’s one-handed goalie

All the NHL trade rumors

Olympics:USA roster analysis | Olympic rosters, NHL restraints?


Recap: Blues get 'Caned in Carolina, 3-1

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Tonight was just a load of $#!T. Just rawr Blues.

Well this wasn't NEARLY as bad as the non-effort in Jersey but DAMN it was still pretty bad... so I am going to put in like HALF the effort I normally put into these recaps.

First Period

Slow start. Lots of stupid penalties (some on questionable calls). Canes scored on opening power play. Period was pretty much the Bermuda Triangle of hockey. Backes somehow scored.

Second Period

Two minutes in Carolina scores. Blues looked bored for 20 minutes. Vladimir Tarasenko got less Ice time then Chris "So Close" Stewart. Fuck off officials. Fuck this game.

Third Period

The third period was a better effort against the tired Hurricanes. There were heavy hits, Angry Russians and some actual hockey playing happening. Goal posts were hit. NUMEROUS times. Seriously why do I even try with this shit. BLAH!

Reactions to the Game

My reaction to the first period.

Anger Panda

When the officiating was crappy Blues fans be like:

Angery JLaw

What I imagine happened in between every period: Anger Blonde guy


When the 'Canes scored the 3rd goal, in an empty net:

Glee Rage


When the officials took fucking FOREVER to blow play dead and help a hurt Sobe:

Fucking Perfect


When I realized I had to recap this shit:

Brave Anger

The Player of the game was honestly Jaroslav Halak. The man played his fucking heart out but his team just couldn't perform in front of him. Hats off to you, Jaro.

Gold Star

Hurricanes 3, Blues 1

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Jeff Skinner with the game winner as Canes play tough at home

The Carolina Hurricanes skated a full 60 minute game on Friday night and defeated the St. Louis Blues, 3-1 in front of 16,035 at the PNC Arena.  The Canes played a really solid first period, something that has been lacking from time to time this season, and scored first in this contest.

The team is also starting to enjoy home cooking as they have now won three games in a row on home ice and five of their last six.  The club has 11 wins in their last 15 games, (since New Year's Eve.)  They have a 25-20-9 record, good for 59 points and third place in the Metro Division.

Anton Khudobin earned the win while making 26 saves on 27 shots.  He now has a 14-4 record along with a sparkling .927 save percentage.   A few of the saves were grade A as he exploded from post to post to stop a couple of odd man rushes.

The Hurricanes started off their scoring during a powerplay chance just 3:36 into the game.  Andrej Sekera found an open Nathan Gerbe, who one-timed the puck past Jaroslav Halak to make it 1-0, home team.

Sekera is the third highest scorer for the Canes with 8 goals, 23 assists, and 31 points.  The defenseman now has career high goals and points already this season.

Later in the period, David Backes would tie things up for the Blues with a powerplay tally of his own.

Early in the second period, 1:51 in, Jeff Skinner scored off of a Jordan Staal face off win to put the home team up for good.  It was Skinner's 23rd goal of the season which leads Carolina.

The teams battled back and forth with exciting, up and down hockey, but the score would stay 2-1 until near the end when Alexander Semin stole the puck from Alex Pietrangelo and skated it in to shoot on the empty net which put the game away.

Pietrangelo is the player who hit Semin up high in St. Louis, giving the Russian a concussion and knocking him out of the lineup for a few games. Semin lined him up for a hard hit along the boards in the second period, but the ref called boarding as the defenseman turned right before Semin connected with the hit.

The Canes were able to kill that penalty though and two others as they went 1-4 on their penalty kill and powerplay.

The home team saluted their fans again after the game in the new tradition that started a few games ago.  They will next take on the Winnipeg Jets with new head coach Paul Maurice on Tuesday night in game two of their four game homestand.

Game Notes:

  • Carolina outshot the Blues 31-27.  Jeff Skinner led the way with six shots on goal.  The Blues also blocked 25 shots. 
  • Brett Bellemore made a nice return after a few games off and led the team with five hits.  He also had a team high two blocked shots.
  • The Canes had 17 takeaways.  Elias Lindholm had a team high three.  The team also had 23 giveaways, led by Jordan Staal with three.
  • The Blues are a high scoring team and average over three goals a game, so the Hurricanes had an excellent defensive effort to hold them under that. 











Game Analysis: Blues At Hurricanes

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The Carolina Hurricanes kicked off a four-game home stand with a wn against one of the NHL's best teams, knocking off the St. Louis Blues, 3-1. Nathan Gerbe, Jeff Skinner and Alexander Semin scored for Carolina, and Anton Khudobin stopped 27 shots.

With just four games — all at home — left before the Olympic break, the Carolina Hurricanes aimed to position themselves for a solid stretch run. A win against one of the top teams in the league in the first game of their stay at PNC Arena did just that.

The Canes knocked off the St. Louis Blues, 3-1, Friday to improve to 25-20-9, good for 59 points and third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Three Observations

1. It finally feels like coach Kirk Muller has his lines close to the way he wants them. Yes, it would be nice to have a third line center and slot Manny Malhotra on the fourth line, and Tuomo Ruutu is still buried on the fourth line. But Muller has found some scoring punch to group with Jordan Staal on the second line, putting sniper Jeff Skinner on one side and rookie Elias Lindholm— who is taking monstrous strides every game — on the other. The reunited top line continues to create chances, and bottom six players like Nathan Gerbe, Drayson Bowman and Patrick Dwyer have brought energy every shift.

2. Why was Carolina 10-4 in January? The above line combinations are part of it, but the real reason is between the pipes. Khudobin was in the nets for every game, and the only times Carolina lost was when the team's offense was shut out three times and when Khudobin replaced Justin Peters— who had allowed three goals on seven shots — in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Khudobin was 10-4 with a .927 save percentage and 2.19 goals-against average. He's also 6-1 this season against the Metro, compared to the Hurricanes’ 5-6-1 record against their division foes with someone else is in net.

3. They say "Old soldiers never die, they fade away." The same could be said for Brendan Morrow, who is not only a shell of the excellent player he once was, but he was one of the Blues’ biggest problems Friday night. Morrow went to the box three times, spending nearly as much time there as he did on the ice (7:43). Throw in a blank box score line (no shots or hits) and you begin to understand why the 35-year-old might be in his final season.

Number To Know

6 — Game-winning goals for Skinner this season — a new career high for the 21-year-old — after he notched another with his power play goal Friday. He is tied for fourth-most in the NHL, and he could make a run at the franchise record of nine set by Erik Cole in 2010-11 and Blaine Stoughton in 1979-80.

Plus

Jeff Skinner — Skinner was a threat all night and again came through when Carolina needed him, scoring the eventual game-winner in the second period. He finished with six shots and 10 shot attempts in less than 16 minutes of ice time.

Minus

Ron Hainsey— Hainsey was a big part of shutting down the Blues, but it could have been a completely different game had St. Louis capitalized on more of his mistakes. Not only did the Blues tie the score in the second with Hainsey in the box for hooking, but the veteran defenseman twice turned the puck over right in front of Carolina's net, leading to St. Louis scoring chances. Luckily for Hainsey and the Canes, they were unable to convert those chances, and Hainsey settled into his game the rest of the way.

A trip around the Metropolitan Division: Feb. 1

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Solid play has propelled Carolina into the top three in the division. The Blue Jackets and Rangers are hanging around in the middle of the division, as both have won seven games in their last 10.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins (38-14-2) 78 points

With a Saturday night matchup with the Coyotes, Pittsburgh is looking to join Anaheim as the first teams in the league to record 80 points.

Since Nov. 25, the Penguins have reeled off 23 wins in a 29 game span to remain right in the fray with the best that the league has to offer- most of which come from the Western Conference.

If the Penguins are to solidify their place at the top of the league, scoring three or more goals will help. Pittsburgh is 36-2-2 when scoring three or more goals.

Sidney Crosby may be due for a big month of February. In January, he scored 16 points- good for his second-lowest scoring month of the 2013-14 campaign.

The Penguins have four games left before the Olympic break.

After their battle with Phoenix, Pittsburgh will host the Senators, travel to Buffalo and go into the break after hosting the division-rival Rangers.

Pascal Dupuis, Beau Bennett, Joe Vitale, Chris Conner and Tomas Vokoun are injured for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins and Coyotes will drop the puck at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

2. New York Rangers (30-23-3) 63 points

It was an exciting week for the Rangers who played two games in Yankee Stadium, defeating the Rangers and Islanders in two unconventional, albeit important, matchups of division rivals.

Now, for the Rangers who have won seven games in their past 10, the attention turns to the three games before the Olympic break.

New York will host the Avalanche and Oilers before closing out the pre-break schedule with a division matchup against the Penguins.

Brad Richards and Mats Zuccarello will look to lead the Rangers into the break. The two are tied for tops of the team with 39 points.

The two teams below New York, Carolina and Columbus, have two games in hand on the Rangers, so New York will be hoping to extend their three-game winning streak a little longer to continue to create distance in the standings.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (25-20-9) 59 points

The Hurricanes started off a four-game pre-Olympic homestand with a 3-1 win over the Blues on Friday night, and still have three more games at PNC Arena before the break.

Carolina won 10 games in January, which was one of the best months in franchise history- second only to a 13-win January in 2006.

Alexander Semin, who was named to the Russian Olympic team as an injury replacement, notched eight goals in January- tops on the team.

Jeff Skinner was right on Semin's heels with seven goals in the month.

With the win on Friday night, goaltender Anton Khudobin improved his season record to 12-4-0. On the season, he also boasts a 2.16 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.

The Hurricanes close out their pre-Olympic homestand by hosting Winnipeg, Florida and Montreal this week.

When the Hurricanes face the Jets on Tuesday, it will be head coach Paul Maurice's return to Raleigh after taking over the Winnipeg reins.

The Hurricanes and Jets begin play on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets (27-23-4) 58 points

The Blue Jackets reeled off a franchise record eight wins in a row in January before dropping their next three.

The Panthers travel into Columbus on Saturday night which is the last home game for the Blue Jackets before the Olympic break as the team has three games on the West Coast after Saturday.

Cam Atkinson has consecutive games with a goal and an assist.

The Western Conference road swing brings the Blue Jackets to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose.

David Savard could return Saturday for Columbus after battling an illness.

Jared Boll and Marian Gaborik are on injured reserve.

The Blue Jackets and Panthers begin play Saturday at 7 p.m.

5. Philadelphia Flyers (26-23-6)

The Flyers, injury free before the Olympic break, started a three-game California trip with a 5-3 loss to the Ducks on Thursday.

The trip continues Saturday with a game against the Kings and wraps up Monday when the Flyers travel to San Jose.

The Flyers lead the league in powerplay opportunities, but have surrendered a league-high nine shorthanded goals.

Coach Craig Berube said in an interview with NHL.com that the team must learn to execute better with the man advantage if they have hopes of winning the division.

Captain Claude Giroux has eight points in his past seven games.

The Flyers and Kings begin play on Saturday at 4 p.m.

6. New Jersey Devils (23-21-12) 58 points

It was a shaky week for the Devils who, after getting blown out of Yankee Stadium 7-3 by the Rangers, were shutout by the Blues on Tuesday before they won on the road in Dallas on Thursday.

In the latter portion of a back-to-back on Friday, the Devils were sunk in overtime by the Predators when Shea Weber blasted home his 15th of the season to win the game.

Prior to the break, the Devils will host the Avalanche and Oilers on Monday and Friday, respectively.

Their final game before the break will be on the road in Washington for a Saturday night Metropolitan duel.

Jaromir Jagr continues his stellar play, as he leads the team with 48 points. The next closest scorer, Patrik Elias, has 33.

7. Washington Capitals (24-22-9) 57 points

The Capitals wrapped up a five-game road trip with a 4-3 loss in a shootout to the Red Wings, finishing the trip with a 2-2-1 mark.

The two wins on the trip both saw the Capitals score five goals. In the losses, however, Washington scored one, two and three goals.

Now, the Capitals will play four-consecutive home games before the Olympic break as they host the Red Wings, Islanders, Jets and Devils this week.

Washington has won only once in their last 10 games.

Their next game against the Red Wings on Sunday is set to begin at 12:30 p.m.

8. New York Islanders (21-28-8) 50 points

It's been tough sledding for the Islanders, who have lost three-straight games and have won only once in their past 10 games.

Their most recent pair of losses both came at the hands of the Rangers, resulting in key division losses for the Islanders.

John Tavares continues to pace the Islanders scorers- he has 64 points on the season.

Before the Olympics, the Islanders will travel to Washington before hosting the Flames and Avalanche.

The Islanders and Capitals will begin play at 7:30 p.m.

This week for the Florida Panthers: Must... get... wins...

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Coming off three straight one-sided losses on the road, the Cats need a big week to get back in the chase.

Tuesday vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs (30-21-6) will be kicking off a two-game swing through the Sunshine State when they hit the BB&T Center for their third meeting of the season with the Panthers. The clubs split the first two tilts (both in Toronto), but the Buds are currently red-hot, going 8-1-1 in their last ten games, including last week's 6-3 rout over the Cats. The final tussle between the two will come on April 10th in Sunrise.

Phil Kessel (30G/31A) paces the Leafs offense with 61 points, which is good for fourth in the NHL. Kessel has amassed 23 points in his last 12 games, so he is absolutely on fire right now. The Panthers also have to watch out for forwards James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul, Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak. Jonathan Bernier will be the likely starter in goal. Bernier posted his 20th win of the season in Toronto's 6-3 win over Ottawa on Saturday, and bested the Cats in last Thursday's contest.

Thursday vs. Detroit Red Wings

Like Toronto, the Red Wings (24-19-12) will also be making a pre-Olympic break trip through Florida. Detroit is currently clinging to the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have been successful against the Wings this season, taking three of the four matches, including a 5-4 shootout win in Motown eight days ago. This will be the final meeting between the teams.

Despite missing some games due to injury, Henrik Zetterberg leads the offense with 47 points. Daniel Alfredsson and defender Niklas Kronwall are tied for second with 33 points apiece. Goaltender Jimmy Howard is back, and with the Sochi Games looming, I would expect him to get the call. The Cats beat Howard 3-2 in a shootout back on December 10th.

Friday at Carolina Hurricanes

The Panthers will conclude the week on the road in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Olympic break means Florida will not play again until February 27th, when they host the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes (25-20-9) are only one point out of a playoff spot, and will be looking for a big win to keep pace with the other serious Eastern Conference postseason contenders. The Panthers fell 3-2 on the road to their former Southeast Division rival in the first meeting between the clubs. They will hook up for the final time this year on March 27th, at the BB&T Center.

Eric Staal tops the Canes in scoring with 44 points, while Jeff Skinner is the team's leading goal-scorer with 23.  Alexander Semin, Nathan Gerbe, and Jordan Staal have also fired in double-digit goals. Cam Ward is finally back from injured reserve, so the Cats will be shooting at him or 12-4 apprentice Anton Khudobin, who has done a very impressive job filling in.

So how do you see this week shaking out for the Panthers? The Cats limped to a disappointing 1-3 record on the road last week, and need some wins just to stay on the outer fringe of the playoff hunt. Don't forget to make your thoughts known by voting in LBC's weekly poll. Last week, only three voters managed to read the tea leaves correctly.

Poll
How many points will the Panthers accumulate this week?

  69 votes |Results

Anton Khudobin Named NHL’s First Star For January

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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Anton Khudobin was named the NHL’s No. 1 star Monday for the month of January after going 10-4 and leading the Canes back into the playoff picture.

Cam Ward may finally be back, but for now Anton Khudobin is the No. 1 goaltender in Carolina — and the whole NHL.

Khudobin was rewarded for a stellar January in which he went 10-4 with 2.19 goals-against average and .927 save percentage by being named the NHL’s first star for the month. Toronto’s Phil Kessel and San Jose’s Joe Pavelski were named the league's second and third star, respectively.

Those 14 January appearances match Khudobin’s previous season high from last year, when he went 9-4-1 for the Bruins. Making it even more impressive is the fact that Khudobin couldn't have done much to win the four games he lost: Carolina was shutout three times, and in the other loss Khudobin was brought on in relief after Justin Peters allowed three goals to Tampa Bay in a 5-3 loss on Jan. 19.

Here's the release from the team:

KHUDOBIN NAMED NHL’S FIRST STAR FOR JANUARY
Goaltender is fifth player in team history recognized as player of month

RALEIGH, NC – The National Hockey League announced today that Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Anton Khudobin (HOO-doh-bihn) has been named the league’s First Star for the month of January. It marks just the fifth time in franchise history that a member of the team has earned the league’s player of the month honor.

Khudobin, 27, matched a Hurricanes franchise record for wins in a month in January with 10, registering a goals-against average of 2.19 and save percentage of .927 in 14 games. A native of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Khudobin is 12-4-0 with a 2.16 goals-against average and .927 save percentage this season for Carolina, after signing as a free agent in July 2013. Khudobin was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and has a career NHL record of 26-9-1 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in 38 games with Minnesota, Boston and Carolina.

This marks the fourth time a Carolina Hurricanes player has been named the league’s player of the month, and the first since Cam Ward was named First Star for March 2009. Goaltender Arturs Irbe was the NHL’s Player of the Month in October 1998 and center Eric Staal was named the league’s offensive player of the month in October 2005. Only one member of the Hartford Whalers was ever named the NHL’s Player of the Month – Mike Rogers in December 1980.

The 5 Funniest Hockey Tweets of the Week: Hasty Work Edition

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Look I just really want to scratch this off this week's "To-Do" list, okay?

Here are the five funniest hockey-related tweets of the week ending 2/2/14:

#5

These could very easily have taken the "funniest tweet" spot this week and for all the rest of the weeks until there are no more weeks, but it hardly seems fair to compare these to normal, everyday tweets. This is a whole new level.

#4

#3

The retweet to fav ratio on this one tells me that a lot of people out there are too afraid to retweet dick jokes.

#2

#1 - The Fake Dan Ellis Memorial Tweet of the Week!

Congrats to Earl and all the other winners this week.

Remember, if you see a funny hockey tweet that you think deserves a spot in this feature, send it to me @MegalodonBOC.


Hurricanes vs. Jets: Game Preview 2-4-14

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Paul Maurice is back in Raleigh, and so is Cam Ward, as the Hurricanes take on the Winnipeg Jets at PNC Arena tonight.


Carolina Hurricanes vs Winnipeg Jets
February 4, 2014 - 7:00 pm ET
PNC Arena - Raleigh, NC
TV - Fox Sports Carolinas
Radio - 99.9 The Fan

SB Nation Rival Blog: Arctic Ice Hockey (twitter @arcticicehockey)

Hurricanes Record: 25-20-9 (59 pts.)
Jets Record: 27-25-5 (59 pts.)


Division rivals for many years, the Hurricanes and Jets are now split by conference and will face each other just twice this season, tonight's game being the first of the two.

For the Jets, the big story is the return to Raleigh of Paul Maurice, who was the Whalers/Hurricanes bench boss for 920 games across 13 NHL seasons. After a successful coaching stint in the KHL followed by a role as an analyst for TSN and the NHL Network, Maurice was hired on January 12th as the Jets interim coach after the firing of Claude Noel. The hope was that Maurice would set this young team back on a steady course. And ten games into his coaching tenure, with an 8-2-0 record, Maurice is fielding a team that has speed, size, and solid defense, giving up only 21 goals in their last ten games.

The Jets are playing their second game of a four-game road trip, winning in Montreal on Sunday before heading to Raleigh. They held a full morning practice yesterday but several players (Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Devin Setoguchi, and Toby Enstrom) did not skate. All are expected in the line-up tonight.

Wheeler (22g, 23a) and Bryan Little (17g, 28a) are tied for the team scoring lead with 45 points. Wheeler has 12 points in his last 10 games. Captain and ex-Cane Andrew Ladd has six points in his last five games. Michael Frolik has goals in two straight games.

Forward Evander Kane has been placed on injured reserve with a hand injury and will be out of the lineup until after the Olympics. Forwards Jim Slater (hernia), Matt Halischuk (forearm) and defenseman Grant Clitsome are out of tonight's game, and defenseman Paul Postma (blood clot) is on a conditioning assignment in the AHL.

Ondrej Pavelec is expected to get the start in net for the Jets. Pavelec is 6-7-2 with a 3.64 GAA in 16 career appearances. Al Montoya is 0-1-1 with a 2.93 GAA.

Projected line-up (based on Montreal game):

Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Michael Frolik
Chris Thorburn - Mark Scheifele - Blake Wheeler
Devin Setoguchi - Olli Jokinen - Dustin Byfuglien
Eric Tangradi - James Wright - Anthony Peluso

Zach Bogosian - Tobias Enstrom
Mark Stuart - Jacob Trouba
Adam Pardy - Keaton Ellerby

Ondrej Pavelec
Al Montoya


The Hurricanes enter February coming off their best month (10 wins) since March 2009, capping off the month with a solid 3-1 win against Western Conference powerhouse St. Louis Blues on Friday night. After wins last night by the Blue JacketsFlyers, and Red Wings, the Canes wake up this morning in fifth place in the Metro division, three points out of a playoff spot but with games in hand. With the playoff pace now projected to push at least 91 points for the division, the Canes will need at least four points out of the next three games in order to stay at a playoff pace at the Olympic break.

Talk coming into tonight's game has centered around the goaltending. After missing the entire month of January with a lower body injury, Cam Ward was activated from injured reserve last Thursday and spent the weekend in Cleveland with the Charlotte Checkers where he stopped 59 of 63 shots for a .937 save percentage in two games. Ward returned to Raleigh yesterday for practice and he'll be eligible to rejoin the lineup today. In yesterday's post-practice interviews he announced that he was ready to "rock and roll".

Meanwhile, all Anton Khudobin did was post a 10-4-0 record in January (three of those losses coming in shutouts by the opposing team), with a 2.19 GAA and .927 save percentage, good enough to earn him the NHL's First Star for the month, an award that hasn't been given to a Hurricanes player since March 2009 when the recipient was... Cam Ward. Dobby is 12-4-0 for the season, and among Hurricanes goaltenders with at least 15 games played, his 2.16 GAA is a franchise best.

Kirk Muller hasn't divulged tonight's starter ahead of time, but indications are Khudobin will remain in net, with Ward backing up and perhaps getting a look in one of the upcoming weekend's back-to-back games. Khudobin has never faced the Jets in his career; Ward is 21-11-4 with a 2.99 GAA and one shutout in 37 career games.

Alex Semin led the Hurricanes in goals (7) and points (13) in January. He and Eric Staal are point-per-game players against the Jets.

The forward lines and defensive pairings were not changed from Friday's game as of yesterday's practice:

Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Alexander Semin
Jeff Skinner - Jordan Staal - Elias Lindholm
Nathan Gerbe - Manny Malhotra - Patrick Dwyer
Drayson Bowman - Riley Nash - Tuomo Ruutu
Radek Dvorak

Andrej Sekera - Justin Faulk
Ron Hainsey - John-Michael Liles
Brett Bellemore - Jay Harrison
Mike Komisarek

Anton Khudobin
Cam Ward
Justin Peters

A few news clips for your pre-game clicking pleasure:

  • January 2014 Monthly Report [ch.com].
  • Kirk Muller [audio] and Paul Maurice [video] from yesterday's practices.
  • On Cam Ward's return [ch.com] and [N&O]
  • Relive Anton Khudobin's First Star Month [ch.com].
  • On Paul Maurice's return to Raleigh [N&O].
  • Jiri Tlusty will be the guest of Mike Maniscalco at the Backyard Bistro Canes Corner tomorrow night [details here].
  • The Hurricanes held their annual Casino Night fundraiser benefitting the Kids 'N Community Foundation, raising over $282,000, a new record [and a few photos].


We'll have tonight's game thread ready to roll by 6:30 pm. See you at the rink.

Preview: Winnipeg Jets make a visit to Ron Hainsey and the Carolina Hurricanes

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The Winnipeg Jets find themselves in the familiar confines of the PNC Arena in a match-up that will hold meaning for many.

The Winnipeg Jets face a familiar former divisional rival, coach Paul Maurice faces his old team and Hockey Related Ron Hainsey gets the opportunity to score more goals against the Jets than he did for the team over the last two seasons.

Both sides will be looking at a glut of familiar faces, both sides are surging and both sides are looking for points.

Keys to the Game

Winnipeg Jets

Oh What Khudobin. On paper the Winnipeg Jets are the better team. They have better possession numbers, they score more, they have a better goal differential and are better on both special teams units. The Canes hold a slight edge in goals against - mostly due to goaltending. Anton Khudobin has been white hot and is coming off a player of the month award. The Jets need to find a way to beat him repeatedly if they want to leave with a victory.

Eric or Jeff? Eric Stall has carried this team for years and he is once again their leading point getter, but Jeff Skinner is actually leading the Hurricanes in per game scoring. This creates a dilemma for the Jets as Stall and Skinner play on different lines. The Jets need to figure out which line deserves the most attention and sick Andrew Ladd, Byran Little and Michael Frolik on them.

Will Scheifele Staal? Super Rookie Mark Scheifele's possession numbers have taken a steep down turn of late. This has been somewhat masked by the fact that he is still scoring, but it is something to watch. Opposing teams are giving Scheif tough matchups and he isn't quite winning them yet. Scheifele will need help from his linemates to keep his two-way game rolling - problem is Wheeler is a gambler and Chris Thorburn is largely a disaster. Three scoring lines have powered this team under PoMo, they need Scheifele and Co to have another strong showing.

Carolina Hurricanes

Figure Out Which Jet is the Jettiest. Since moving Dustin Byfuglien to forward the Winnipeg Jets have had 3 different lines contributing on the score sheet. There is no way of knowing who will be rolling tonight. With last change Carolina will have their pick of who to shut down. They need to exploit this advantage.

Is Jordan Better?Jordan Staal is one of the best shut down centres in the NHL. That said, historically the line of Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler has given him fits. That line doesn't exist any more. Who will Jordan face? Will it be Scheifele? How will he fair? Odds probably favor Staal if that is the match-up. This match up may decide the outcome of the game.

Hainsey Scores Goals. Some may cringe hearing this, but the loss of former Winnipeg Jet Ron Hainsey was a major factor in the Jets' early season struggles. Over his career, Zach Bogosian had been at his best when paired with HRR and it took Zach a while to figure out how to play without Ron. To compound the bitterness, Hainsey is scoring goals this year. He has 4 goals on the season, which is more than either Zach Bogosian or Mark Stuart. This is after scoring ZERO as a Jet. Ron logs big minutes in Carolina and they need another strong showing tonight.

Player to Boo Mercilessly

John-Michael Liles used to be a Leaf and the Leafs are stupid. Boo that man!

Prediction

Jets 3

Canes 2

UNH Hockey: Hurricanes prospect Brett Pesce embracing greater role on blue line

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Sophomore Brett Pesce has three goals and five assists for the No. 20 Wildcats.

Casual observers with lesser knowledge of the game insist Brett Pesce isn't flashy or doesn't do anything special out on the ice, but to keen observers, he is a solid, very dependable young defenseman.

"He's not flashy at all. He makes plays that make him seem flashy at times because he skates so well. He battles in the corners so well and he does the little things that make him a great hockey player. He's not a huge goal scorer even though he turned into one this weekend," said UNH captain Eric Knodel.

The Tarrytown, NJ native has taken on a bigger role for the No. 20 New Hampshire Wildcats the past two weeks with the absence of Trevor van Riemsdyk who is out with an injury.  Pesce has been paired on the top defensive unit with Knodel, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick.

"I love playing with Brett. Last year when he was a freshman I played with him the majority of the year. I really know how he plays and we feed off each other very well," said Knodel. "It's been working well for us."

Coaches and teammates have raved about Pesce's work ethic and drive for years, and it is evident with how he plays that he works hard on his game and doesn't take shifts off.

"He was unbelievable this weekend how he battled. I can't say enough about that kid and how he plays. No matter the situation he just goes full head of steam in there.

"He was tremendous. He was a real warrior out there this weekend. He got the game puck last night [against Notre Dame]. He could have probably got it again tonight," said UNH head coach Dick Umile after his team swept the Fighting Irish in a Hockey East series.

Pesce, the Hurricanes third round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, has a keen sense of awareness in his own zone and rarely makes a mistake or gets caught out of position, but his ability to win puck battles is one of his biggest attributes.

"He didn't get drafted by the NHL for nothing. He's a sophomore that is just coming on and playing with a lot of confidence. He's physically strong on the puck. He's a hard guy to knock off the puck," Umile explained.

Pesce grew up in the North Jersey Avalanche program and played a year of junior hockey for the Jersey Hitmen in the EJHL before matriculating to UNH. He also gained valuable international experience competing for the US National Development team and skating for the red, white and blue in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

That international experience in big games will help Pesce as he and his teammates make a final push for the Hockey East playoffs and the NCAA Tournament over the final month of the regular experience. The Wildcats host the University of Vermont for a pair of Hockey East contests this weekend at the Whittemore Center.

Pesce is working on his offensive game, as evidenced by his two goals and three assists over the last three games, but he projects as a solid, dependable stay-at-home blue liner at the next level. But before he turns the page to the next chapter in his hockey career, Pesce and his UNH teammates have some team goals they'd like to accomplish.

Jeff Cox covers college, junior and high school hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.

Game Analysis: Jets At Hurricanes

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The Carolina Hurricanes allowed a goal with just more than a minute remaining, giving the Winnipeg Jets a 2-1 lead Tuesday at PNC Arena. Riley Nash scored the lone goal for Carolina.

The Winnipeg Jets put on a classic Paul Maurice showcase Tuesday, lulling the Carolina Hurricanes into a low-scoring game before scoring the game-winning tally with just 63 seconds remaining. Riley Nash scored for the Canes, while Anton Khudobin made 25 saves in the loss.

Three Observations

1. Carolina’s failure to crash the net probably cost them Tuesday’s game. Rebounds were there to be had, as Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec did a good job at making initial stops but spit out several rebounds that just didn't find their way to Carolina’s sticks. If the Hurricanes are going to score more at even strength — they rank 25th in the league with 90 5-on-5 goals in 55 games — they need to take advantage of second chances.

2. For some reason, the Hurricanes’ shot blocking numbers are way down the past few games. Carolina blocked just seven shots (to Winnipeg’s 14) Tuesday, and in the two previous games they had just 16 total blocks (27-10 Canadiens advantage on Jan. 28; 25-6 advantage for the Blues on Jan. 31). You could argue that Carolina is both carrying the play and not taking many penalties, hence the results. But to win in the NHL these days, you need to block shots. Carolina needs to do more of it.

3. Maurice improved to 5-2-2 against the Hurricanes, but this was the first time one of his teams won without scoring at least four goals. Maurice’s wins with the Maple Leafs against Carolina were by a combined score of 19-9. In two regulation losses, Toronto was outscored 11-2 under Maurice. Both overtime games were 3-2 Canes wins, but no game felt so Mo as his team’s grinding 2-1 win Tuesday.

Number To Know

2 — Points for John-Michael Liles since he joined the Hurricanes 15 games ago. Liles rang the post on Carolina’s 5-on-3 in the second period, but continues to not register many points despite several opportunities. Surprisingly, Tim Gleason— the player he was traded for — has a goal and two assists in the same number of games with the Maple Leafs. Points aren't everything, but with Carolina’s power play a constant problem the hope was Liles would help cure that ill. So far, he hasn't.

Plus

Drayson Bowman— While his primary assist on Carolina’s lone goal won't be remembered as a dazzling pass — or even a pass at all — Bowman was all over the ice Tuesday. The Corsi and Fenwick numbers aren't in his favor — he and his fourth line mates put up the worst numbers of the night — but most of his zone starts came in the defensive zone, meaning that coach Kirk Muller was confident his fourth line could handle the Jets. Bowman definitely made his 12-and-a-half minutes count.

Minus

Nathan Gerbe— The speedy forward had a couple chances fall just short Tuesday, but he was most noticeable on the Jets’ two goals. On the first, he and Andrej Sekera failed to pick up Andrew Ladd— who had beaten Justin Faulk to the front of the net after Faulk allowed the Winnipeg rush with a bad pinch — giving the Jets the game’s first goal. Then on the game-winner Gerbe's size was exposed when rookie blueliner Jacob Trouba bounced off him and rushed around the Carolina net, attempting a wraparound that Chris Thorburn deposited in the goal to propel the Jets to a 2-1 win.

This week for the Florida Panthers: Must... get... wins...

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Coming off three straight one-sided losses on the road, the Cats need a big week to get back in the chase.

Tuesday vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs (30-21-6) will be kicking off a two-game swing through the Sunshine State when they hit the BB&T Center for their third meeting of the season with the Panthers. The clubs split the first two tilts (both in Toronto), but the Buds are currently red-hot, going 8-1-1 in their last ten games, including last week's 6-3 rout over the Cats. The final tussle between the two will come on April 10th in Sunrise.

Phil Kessel (30G/31A) paces the Leafs offense with 61 points, which is good for fourth in the NHL. Kessel has amassed 23 points in his last 12 games, so he is absolutely on fire right now. The Panthers also have to watch out for forwards James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul, Mason Raymond and Tyler Bozak. Jonathan Bernier will be the likely starter in goal. Bernier posted his 20th win of the season in Toronto's 6-3 win over Ottawa on Saturday, and bested the Cats in last Thursday's contest.

Thursday vs. Detroit Red Wings

Like Toronto, the Red Wings (24-19-12) will also be making a pre-Olympic break trip through Florida. Detroit is currently clinging to the last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have been successful against the Wings this season, taking three of the four matches, including a 5-4 shootout win in Motown eight days ago. This will be the final meeting between the teams.

Despite missing some games due to injury, Henrik Zetterberg leads the offense with 47 points. Daniel Alfredsson and defender Niklas Kronwall are tied for second with 33 points apiece. Goaltender Jimmy Howard is back, and with the Sochi Games looming, I would expect him to get the call. The Cats beat Howard 3-2 in a shootout back on December 10th.

Friday at Carolina Hurricanes

The Panthers will conclude the week on the road in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Olympic break means Florida will not play again until February 27th, when they host the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes (25-20-9) are only one point out of a playoff spot, and will be looking for a big win to keep pace with the other serious Eastern Conference postseason contenders. The Panthers fell 3-2 on the road to their former Southeast Division rival in the first meeting between the clubs. They will hook up for the final time this year on March 27th, at the BB&T Center.

Eric Staal tops the Canes in scoring with 44 points, while Jeff Skinner is the team's leading goal-scorer with 23.  Alexander Semin, Nathan Gerbe, and Jordan Staal have also fired in double-digit goals. Cam Ward is finally back from injured reserve, so the Cats will be shooting at him or 12-4 apprentice Anton Khudobin, who has done a very impressive job filling in.

So how do you see this week shaking out for the Panthers? The Cats limped to a disappointing 1-3 record on the road last week, and need some wins just to stay on the outer fringe of the playoff hunt. Don't forget to make your thoughts known by voting in LBC's weekly poll. Last week, only three voters managed to read the tea leaves correctly.

Poll
How many points will the Panthers accumulate this week?
Zero
6 votes
One
5 votes
Two
23 votes
Three
21 votes
Four
7 votes
Five
4 votes
Six
4 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

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