RALEIGH — The Hurricanes get their third win in a row with a 5-2 defeat of the visiting Colorado Avalanche. It’s the first time the franchise, as the Carolina Hurricanes, beat Colorado. The Hurricanes had faced the Avalanche 15 times since moving from Hartford, Conn.
Center Matt Cullen gets his first career hat trick, scoring his third goal with 31.4 seconds left on an empty net. Wing Ray Whitney had passed from the left wing across to the right, where Cullen’s move brought hats onto the ice.
The Hurricanes out-shot their opponents 39-19, but were blanked in 14:54 of power play time on eight chances. Carolina killed three penalties over 4:54. …
Forward Ryan Bayda scores his fifth goal of the year and puts the Huricanes up 4-2 at 8:49 of the third. Defenseman Anton Babchuk fired from the top of the right circle. Forward Jussi Jokinen was there in front of the net to jostle the puck out to the right of the crease, where Bayda swung the puck in. …
The Hurricanes score twice on 18 shots in the second period, but their power play continues to struggle. They have been blanked in 9:31 over six power plays. ...
Hurricanes go up 3-2 in the 4-on-4 on defenseman Joni Pitkanen’s goal at 17:06 of the second period. Forward Tuomo Ruutu and Pitkanen moved up the slot together, and when Ruutu’s shot was deflected, Pitkanen was there to wrist it into the net.
Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was also credited with an assist. …
Hurricanes center Matt Cullen gives the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 1:19 of the second period, but Colorado’s Darcy Tucker ties it up less than a minute later.
Cullen brought the puck and passed to Chad LaRose, who fired. Cullen snatched the rebound and wrapped around the net from left to right before wristing in the goal.
It was Cullen’s first two-goal game this year and his 400th NHL point.
Tucker scored at 2:12, before Canes’ fans had finished celebrating Cullen’s goal, on assists from Chris Stewart and Brett Clark. ...
The Hurricanes out-shoot the Avalanche 10-5 in the first period but went 0-for-4 on the power play, though they just missed on handful of chances. ...
The Hurricanes tie the game 7 minutes into the contest. From the left wing, defenseman Joni Pitkanen passed down to forward Chad LaRose, to the left of the net. LaRose’s shot bounced off Colorado goalie Andrew Raycroft. Center Matt Cullen put the rebound in from the slot to tie the game.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Wojtek Wolski scores from the right corner, wristing the puck behind Carolina goalie Cam Ward only 59 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 score. ...
Canes defenseman Joni Pitkanen said he would play today. Pitkanen, who missed the last two games, said he had a shoulder injury. ...
Frantisek Kaberle and Brandon Sutter are scratches. ...
The Canes starting line is Jussi Jokinen and Patrick Eaves centered by Rod Brind'Amour. ...
The Avs have won their last three games. Something to keep in mind: the Avs are 18-0-0 when leading after two periods, the only NHL team with a perfect record. ...
Colorado has allowed just four power-play goals in the last nine games. ...
The Avs have a 15-game unbeaten streak against Hurricanes (12-0-3). Their last loss to the Carolina franchise was in February 1996, when the team was in Hartford. ...
Staff photo by Chris Seward
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
was a good win
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 02:37 — esteban1949was glad it happened too...but i still can't believe that laRose is getting so "rowdy"...and getting called for penalties...speaking of which..if we do continue to be "weak" in the PP or PK...that is an "intangable" that will keep the Canes out or not get past the first round...IF we were to make it there...Liked Chuck K's Play by Play...will wait till later in the day to hear the clip ...
Go Canes !!
Before you can talk about
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 21:52 — CanarseBefore you can talk about beating good teams you have to take care of business against bad ones. It's good to see the Canes taking care of business. Hopefully it will continue in Ottawa.
Did I see that right....
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 21:50 — cpphillithat Whitney picked up the puck out of the net for Cullen? That guy is the class act of the whole team.
SouthLEAST???
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 20:20 — hurricanesfan66And what I love, after the years and years of the pundits bashing our division, we have two, and maybe three, that will make it. Nevermind 2 Cup winners in the past 5 years. And the Canes, with their 67 points now, would be somewhere about 6th in the West, and here, they wouldn't make it. Looks like we know who is weak this year.
AH YES...
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 20:07 — gf101112OK men. Let's unleash Joltin' Joe Corvo against the Sens!!! Great effort, but let's get real... the powerplay must improve!!! GO LEAF'S GO!! (Tonight anyways!!!) Come on Paul, you've won some games in Ottawa haven't you??? KEEP IT GOING!!! GO CANES!!!
two points!
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 19:15 — jejohn8okay, with this win we are only two points from fifth place. with 21 games remaining...keep the faith caniacs.
Yes, keep the faith, but
Sun, 02/22/2009 - 20:39 — ctillYes, keep the faith, but the Canes have played 61 games. The teams ahead of them in the conference have played fewer games.
As for the West being weaker (another post), perhaps so, but the Sharks and Red Wings get a lot of points. Also the West doesn't have uncompetitive teams like the Islanders and the Trashers.
State of the East
Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:33 — JRs_FaultTrue enough about the games in hand, but we are now within 4 points of all 5 non-division leaders (those pts from FLA/CLS games would have been nice, eh?)
Philly plays all three east division leaders on the road before the trade deadline.
Montreal and NYR and playing in reverse... I wouldn't be surprised to see one or both of then out of the top 8 by the deadline.
Florida has been hot, but is in for a rough stretch (@Bos, @NYR, @NJ, @Was)
Buffalo just had Miller go down, possibly for weeks, not days, on top of not having Vanek for another coupld of weeks.
If the Canes can continue playing like they have for the last 4 games (last 5 mins vs. Bos aside), they could be in pretty good shape in 10 days.