Bayda to miss trip to Boston

He has played his tail off for us! But no sense in risking getting the rest of the team sick...

And now, without further delay, it's time for ...

Cooter's Corner-Installment II!

MY keys to a Canes Series-Clinching, Upset Victory in Game V:

(1) This is not a typical road game. No need to play safe. It's time to step on the throats of the Bruins. Canes need to come out playing like it's Games 7 against Edmonton in 2006. Getting the first goal would be huge, but opening the game with a continuation of effort of game 4 would keep the crowd outta the game and demoralize the suddenly-fragile Bruins.

(2) Play smart, simple but HARD. I LOVE the way Gleason went right after Lucic. He sent a message, but he didn't get himself outta position to do it. That is smart, simple and hard effort. The things we did to win the last 3 games were smart and simple, and we played hard.

(3) This could actually be (2a) but keep the big cannons firing from the point. Thomas has proven that he can't control rebounds when the going gets desperate. That's how The Juice has scored 2 game-winners. It's really a hockey fundamental, shoot puck, crowd crease, bang in rebound. This is the only glaring deficieny in Thoams' game-keep exploiting it.

(4) Match the snarl and nastiness of the Bruins. As they unravel, they will take more and more liberties. Don't back down, don't worry about taking a penalty. Stick up for your teammates, and like Sharkie said, let the refs decide what's fair and what's not. When they show what will and won't be called, play within those parameters. What's important is sending the message that the Canes will play it any way you want to play it, and that we're not intimidated. We have the luxury of (1) a GREAT PK, and (2) we can afford to take a penalty to make a statement.

(5) Keep the paxil in your system. You see what overconfidence has done to the Bruins. Stay on that even keel. You still have to win one more game. All signs indicate that it should be easy to do,but the second players start buying into that mentallity is when the Bruins will burn you. It ain't over yet, and that fourth win is never, ever easy (unless you were playing Montreal!)

It was actually quite difficult coming up with points to make. This is truly a case in which the statement "keep doing what you were doing" is the honest true recipe for success.

What a great day tomorrow is gonna be. Weather's gonna be great for a Mother's Day round of golf with Mom (how cool is it that, when asked what she wanted for Mother's Day, she said she wanted to play golf! My mom ROCKS!). Should finish the round with plenty of time to throw something on the grill (thinking wings...) and sit down and watch what should be a great hockey game. Don't get much better'nat!

YEEHAWW!! GO CANES!!! THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN, TOMORROW NIGHT IN BOSTON!!!!