Wed. April 2 VS Lightning

[mscaniac]

Ok.. even though I am still very angry let's just chalk last night up to a very cruel April Fools joke handed down to us from the hockey gods....
It's do or die time boys.. let's hope there's something way down deep inside you can pull out for the next two games.... have no clue who will be in the lineup tonight, obviously JWill is a no go, Tripp mentioned last night Cullen may return and I don't know about you ladies but I personally think we need Brookbank back in the lineup...
Unfortunately I do believe (I will have to double ck this) that one of our refs for tonight is the same as one we had last night... OH JOY!!!!!!!!!
We're back on home ice and we all know our guys feed off the fans so here's hoping for a packed house and lots of noise!!!
Let's Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ghouliegirl]

You are so right, one of the refs from last night will be here tonight. ACK! This is the same ref that called diving on us against the kitty kats back on our Halloween game.

:restlessnatives:

Come on guys we believe in you!!! Let's take the storm away from the lightning and tame the kittie cats.

Yes, Brookbank needs to be back in the line up. They brought him up here for that reason, now play our enforcer!

My office has a gnat problem! ACK!!!! damn thing keeps flying around my computer screen.

[mscaniac]

FYI.. looks like Center Ice is having free preview week for any of you ladies that don't normally get to watch our Canes...!!!!

[ghouliegirl]

damn it, is all that comes to mind. The below is taken from the first paragraph of Luke's Blog. I hope it isn't true.

"Only a handful of players skated Wednesday morning — Wade Brookbank, Tim Conboy, Dennis Seidenberg, John Grahame and Matt Cullen (for only 20 minutes in a blue no-contact jersey) — but one lineup change is coming because Justin Williams is definitely out indefinitely."

Can we take out Washington now? I blame the ice.

[mscaniac]

Yea, Lavi says he "threw out his back"... here's to hoping he DOESN'T get an extra long off season for it to heal.........
On another note.. WHY as horrid as they played last night would they not all have to skate this morning?? I mean obviously the "no practice" and the nice team walk before the Caps game didn't work worth a damn.. shouldn't we be doing SOMETHING different!!! GRRRRRRR

[ghouliegirl]

DG is in a corner bawling about Justin. I have the skull tissues ready for tonight.

I agree, they all should have skated, but I think Lavi may have felt that it wasn't the teams fault in its entirety. Lets not forget the crappy calls. And the fact that OV is made of teflon. I'm not saying the guys played great, but still, they should have practiced today. They should back skate for every crappy game they play. It's a little late for that.

[Khabi Fan]

Won't be seeing it on TV tonight, so might just check it out on the free Center Ice offer. Problem is I can't embroider while watching because magnet boards play havoc with computers.

So c'mon Canes! We know you're better than any other team!

[mscaniac]

Guess who's back for tonight??? (no it's not Justin.. but almost as good) per Forslund:

Cullen Looks Like A Go...
Some quick hits for tonight...

It appears Matt Cullen will play tonight. He skated this morning and said he felt fine afterward. Look for him to step in tonight and the Canes will utilize a brand new line that will feature Cullen centering for Sergei Samsonov and Tuomo Ruutu.

Ray Whitney who played over 13 minutes in his return from ankle surgery last night will again play. His role will enhance as he is slated to play with Eric Staal and Erik Cole.

Justin Williams, who injured his back last night , will be out for an indefinite period. It could be as long as 7 to ten days. His back "seized up" during the first period. His flare up was not induced by contact.

Peter Laviolette is leaning toward dressing a line up with seven defensemen. Look for Dennis Seidenberg to play tonight.

For the Lightning, an odd twist. Kari Rammo, who played so well against the Canes will not get the start. The Lightning will give Mike Smith, who they acquired from Dallas, another look. Smith was the third star in their 2-0 loss to Atlanta on Monday night.

[mscaniac]

I just have to add that it makes my freaking day that we aren't going to see Rammo in net again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!

[Treici]

Yeah but does that mean you get to see Smitty?? I haven't looked at any of the snippets down here so I have not heard yet...

[mscaniac]

Yup... Smith in goal... don't get me wrong.. Smith is good but Rammo has been a wall against us the few times we've faced him... hey at this point I'll take anything I can get!!LOL..

[Treici]

Answering my own question here!

Something for Bolts to play for in Carolina
Posted April 02, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson
Updated Apr 02, 2008 at 12:27 PM


It has to be difficult this time of year for high-level athletes to find motivation to play when the playoffs have been off the radar for about two months. And I understand Coach John Tortorella’s point that there is always something to play for, and these guys have millions of reasons to play hard each night no matter what is at stake (that’s my take, not the coach’s, BTW).

It was certainly evident in Monday’s home finale against Atlanta that neither team looked to be too interested in putting forth a top-level effort. There were plenty of shots, but not a whole lot of Grade-A scoring chances for either team.

Tonight, however, it’s a much different story. And Tortorella said he has already addressed the situation with the team in the morning meeting and will do so again in the pre-game meeting - Carolina is going to come hard and if Tampa Bay doesn’t show up they will get steamrolled. Not to mention the fact that there has to be some sort of pride in taking out a team that is fighting for something, as the Hurricanes are. After dropping a game to the Capitals on Tuesday, a game that could have clinched the division title for Carolina, the Hurricanes will no doubt play desperate as they now are staring at the possibility of not even making the playoffs now with two games to go. Is this what parity brings to the league? Wow, crazy situation with plenty of spots not having been wrapped even with only a few days left in the regular season.

Anyway, Mike Smith in goal tonight. He took his option and didn’t skate this morning, but it had nothing to do with his left knee. There will no lineup changes from Monday’s game against Atlanta, which means Shane O’Brien, Andre Roy and Karl Stewart are out.

Sounds like Cam Ward will once again be in net for the Canes, at least according to Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer. Also, Justin Williams is out after knocking his back out last night in his first game back from a knee injury. Talking about when it rains it pours for a guy!!!!

Tortorella talked a lot this morning about the play of Matt Smaby in recent games, and the 18 to 20 minutes of ice time is a reflection of how Smaby as played. The top four guys right now are Alex Picard with Filip Kuba (the pairing used against the top lines right now) and Dan Boyle with Smaby. Brad Lukowich and Dan Boyle are the other pairing. Torts said he likes how Smaby has been physical in the corners and his positioning has been pretty good.

Tortorella also revealed that Jeff Halpern will be joining Team USA for the upcoming World Championships, although he admitted that maybe he wasn’t supposed to tell us that!!!

[turncoat]

All of my teams lost last night so let's hope the Canes can turn it around tonight!!

Also....how exactly did Justin injure his back???

[mscaniac]

Justins back injury = ME!!!!!!!!! LMAO

[mscaniac]

OMG.. "FEAR THE RUUU".. I just saw it on TV... that HAS to be Ghoulie and Dewaltgirls new sign!!!