newsobserver.com blogs
Hurricanes 2, Canadiens 1
Submitted by chipalexander on 11/18/2008 - 19:56
Staff photo by Chris Seward
• First Look
RALEIGH — Another game, another comeback, another victory.
The Carolina Hurricanes will take it. Again.
Two days after rallying to beat Tampa Bay in a shootout and end a three-game losing streak, the Hurricanes fought back to top the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 Tuesday at the RBC Center.
Trailing 1-0 after two periods, seemingly stymied by Habs goalie Carey Price, the Canes struck for two goals in the first 6:33 of the third to grab the lead.
First, Sergei Samsonov tied the score 1-1 at 3:06 with a hard shot from the slot -- Samsonov's first goal of the season.
"(Samsonov) had a lot of jump and was really moving out there," Canes coach Peter Laviolette said.
Ray Whitney then scored the game-winner on the power play at 6:33 after Dennis Seidenberg fired a shot from the point and Scott Walker kept the puck alive in front of Price.
Soon after Whitney's goal, Seidenberg made a big defensive play. The Habs' Andrei Kostitsyn hit the post with a shot and the puck settled near the goal line behind goalie Cam Ward, but Seidenberg swept in to collect the puck.
Robert Lang's power-play goal in the second period gave the Canadiens (10-5-2) a 1-0 lead after the Hurricanes (10-7-2) had an 18-8 edge in shots in the first period on their way to a season-high 48 shots.
"We had a lot of energy, especially in the first period," Whitney said.
A scoreless first ended with the Canes' Ryan Bayda being penalized for roughing with 4.5 seconds left. Lang then scored 1:07 into the second, ending a streak of 21 Montreal power plays without a goal.
"I thought the first period was kind of on and off," Montrwal coach Guy Carbonneau said. "Both teams played kind of tight. With the style they have, they like to shoot from everywhere. I thought they had a little momentum in the first.
"Then we recovered in the second, played a real strong game in the second period and scored. We started the third period, we didn't want to shoot the puck. They scored that first goal and they took advantage of it."
The Canes killed off a 5-on-3 later in the second and had a shorthanded chance on a Brandon Sutter breakaway. But Carolina spent much of the second period on the penalty kill, taking five penalties, and Carolina goalie Cam Ward made a hustling save on a Lang shot in the final seconds to keep it 1-0.
The Canes, showing jump, controlled play nealry all of the first period, outshooting and outskating the Canadiens and keeping the puck in the Montreal zone.
Eric Staal, who has scored just one goal since Oct. 25, hit the post with a shot. Anton Babchuk fired a couple of hard shots on a power play. Whitney had a shot from the slot.
Both teams were coming off 3-2 shootout victories Sunday -- the Canes over Tampa Bay and the Canadiens at St. Louis. The Habs also beat the Canes 3-2 in a shootout Oct. 28 in Montreal.
"I think if you look at the last few games, I think we're building a little bit on each game," Laviolette said.
Advertisements
Chip Alexander
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and was part of the coverage team for the Canes' Stanley Cup run in 2006. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com.
© Copyright 2008, The News & Observer Publishing Company
A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company
Comments
Nice Game
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 17:29 — CanarseIt was nice to see the Canes play hard for an entire game. The only way they are going to be able to beat most teams is with full effort and good goaltending which they got last night. Even with nearly 50 SOG they could only muster 2 goals. Not enough scoring talent.
The PP looked a lot better as far as puck movement goes, but can we please get a forward that can/will shoot the puck? Every team knows the D shoots on the Canes PP and the forwards are there to pass, deflect, screen and crash the net. They can move the puck like the Wings, but if there is not a forward shooting threat it won't matter too much.
Hurricanes v. Habs
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 14:39 — abramsdougI was at the game last night. It was great to see Samsonov get the goal. I keep thinking that only a matter of inches separated him from having a great season thus far. He easily could have 8 or more goals. I also hope Lavi will keep the Samsonov/Staal/Ruutu line together.
The officiating was pathetic and both 'Canes and Habs were hit with non-existent penalties while other clear penalties were ignored.
It was a sparse crowd that came alive after Samsonov's goal. I really hope we can get some enthusiastic crowds back into the RBC Center. Our row is a STH/Corporate row and there were far too many empty seats. We'll see Friday and Sunday if we can get back to a charged-up crowd.
Defensively the 'Canes overall are playing much better than any time I have seen them. We probably still need to increase the physicality of play; but there are far fewer mind-numbing mental errors on defense thus far compared with past years.
The power play was less frenetic than some times previously. Imagine how much better the 'Canes record would be over the past 2+ years if we had a power play that hummed. I think and hope that as the puck movement increases and puck handling improves (hopefully by having some set power play lines work together for more than 30 seconds at a time), the scoring will improve. If so, the Hurricanes will suddenly have to learn how to play when they have a lead and the other team has to scramble for the puck.
No complaints with having 48 shots on goal. These next home games will be critical to the play-off hopes. More scoring by Samsonov will be a tremendous help.
good job!
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 14:18 — HockeydogLoved the energy last night. If the team just keeps bringing that every night they'll do well.
Strong Game last night
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:32 — Richie7I was at the game and thought the Canes played a strong game, with energy throughout. They did take some cheap penalties (some of which I strongly dissagreed with :) but they did kill all but one of them, played over half of the 2nd period on the PK and still had plenty of energy for a strong 3rd that carried them to victory!
things to note:
-Samsonov finally got rewarded for his efforts that was great!
-Ward again displayed that he is a #1 goaltender and one of the key players on this team!
-Ruutu what can I say...He is awesome, willing and wanting to hit anything that moves!!! not to mention he is a great passer and scorer
-Cullen looks like he is back, had a very good game. I am sure the assists and goals will not be far behind.
-Staal played better and at times looked like his old self. I think patience is required by the fans here. Obviously he is working through some things both Physically and mentally. I do not question his desire, I just hope and wait for him to be at 100% again soon!! I have absolutely no doubt about Staal being a great player and admire him for the way he is working through this tough time!
Good to see the team gaining confidence as they improve their play!!!
Go Canes!!!
I bee Guilty
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 08:06 — esteban1949As jonnyG's blog says alot of us fans ( including myself) have wanted to toss the canes under the bus...but and while we did have a good first period...we spent too much time in the box...i am happy we had a good D show up as it could have been a terrible second period if the habs had connected...but like other fans...i am happy we won. happier that samsonov finally scored and got That monkey off his back...well fans...that was yesterday...what has the canes done for us today...gee a fickle bunch we got here huh ? Now if the rats can turn it around....hehehe
Go Canes !
Box
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 07:48 — jgrant641We need to stay out of the box, that was just nuts during the second period. We seemed to spend the whole period on the kill, we were lucky in that sense that montreal has struggled so badly on the power play.
other than that, i liked the teams play. we played with spirit and never seemed to let up. i think that the guys showed what this team can really do. they earned that win against a very very good team.
Johnnyg
http://www.studyofsports.com/?cat=200
I agree
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 08:41 — uneksijaI agree, except Ruutu's hit on Plekanec was well worth the 2 minutes he spent in the box for interference.
Two things happened in this
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 23:43 — James_Two things happened in this game that we haven't seen in a looong time:
1. Staal was our best player, possibly for the first time since the Detroit game.
2. We played a full 60 minutes.
Great game by the team, we could have easily won by more against a weaker goaltender.
Staal
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 12:41 — schelle92Staal was on the ice last night? I never noticed.
No way
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 01:40 — PyroniteStaal was our best player?
With all due respect, I have to disagree immensely. He played 21:00, had two shots on goal, and no points. He was not a physical player ala Ruutu, he did not stand out on the PK ala Sutter, he did not play a pivotal role ala Ward... etc.
Staal needs to learn how to work hard when he's not scoring or he will continue to be a non-factor (or a negative factor) as he was tonight. He's got a big frame and he needs to start using it once in a while, to make himself useful when he's not putting up any points.
idk, I was at the game last
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 14:25 — James_idk, I was at the game last night and Staal impressed me for the first time in a while. He had a goal when he beat Price early on but it dinked off the crossbar. I thought he played a great game.
carolina dominated the
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 20:50 — dustinlammerscarolina dominated the first, should have a couple goals. babchuk had an open cage and fired it right at price. staal hit the post. they've been carrying the play so far. if they keep plugging away they'll be rewarded. go canes!
strong 1st?
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 20:42 — TarHeelFan05Don't have the game on TV but looks like Carolina had a strong 1st period with 18 shots on goal to Montreal's 8..