Really, should anyone be surprised the Hurricanes lost not one but two players in Game 1 of this series? It’s rare when they leave the ice at Mellon Arena with everyone intact.

At least three Hurricanes players have left the ice on a stretcher in Pittsburgh since the team moved to North Carolina in 1997, and that doesn’t include Erik Cole, who skated off the ice with a broken neck.

So losing Cole to a knee-to-knee hit by Matt Cooke and Tuomo Ruutu after he was tripped by Mark Eaton on Monday may have been unfortunate but hardly unexpected.

PITTSBURGH — Scott Walker was surrounded by the media today in the Mellon Arena locker room, once again telling a story he still believes is surreal.

The story of learning that his wife, Julie, had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Of competing in the Boston Bruins playoff series, trying to play hockey, with so much on his mind. Of scoring the overtime goal in Game 7 against the Bruins. Finally, of going public with the news on Saturday and discussing it at length.

But there's a little more to the inspiring story. After the media
horde peeled away today, Walker said that Julie made a special request the day of Game 7.

"She never says anything to me about playing the games or goals or anything like that, but that day when she called, she said, 'Score one for me and everything will be all right,'" Walker said.

The wife of Scott Walker was diagnosed with cervical cancer sometime during the Carolina Hurricanes’ playoffs semifinals round with the Boston Bruins, the team announced today.

The team said Julie Walker’s cancer is treatable and that she’s expected to fully recover.

BOSTON — The Canes' Scott Walker and Jussi Jokinen aren't expecting a warm reception tonight at TD Banknorth Garden by Bruins fans.

Not a problem, they say.

"I don't know," Walker said today, smiling. "Really, the game is played between the glass and the boards. I'm not worried about that. It's Game 7."

The Canes' Scott Walker didn't go from the ice to the treatment room after the morning skate today, hiding out until the media departed the locker room.

Walker stood in front of his locker, patiently answering every question about the punch he threw at the Bruins' Aaron Ward in Game 5, the one that resulted in a $2,500 fine — but no suspension — from the NHL.

"I was trying to defend a teammate. It's unfortunate what happened," he said. "I haven't been known to hit somebody without their gloves on.

"The way he was, I thought there was a fight and there wasn't apparently. So I'll pay my fine and I accept the punishment."

From Talking Points: 

Scott Walker escaped a suspension for his punch to Aaron Ward's face late in Game 5, but it had as much to do with Ward's actions as Walker's.

Ward had exchanged shoves with Matt Cullen and Walker before Walker threw a punch that caught Ward in the left eye, as Ward stood with his hands at his sides.

The officials, Tim Peel and Brad Watson, assessed Walker an instigator penalty, which in the final five minutes of a game carries an automatic one-game suspension. But the league ruled Monday that Walker and Ward were engaged in an altercation and rescinded the suspension.

Read more here. 

Scott Walker escaped a suspension for his punch to Aaron Ward's face late in Game 5, but it had as much to do with Ward's actions as Walker's.

Ward had exchanged shoves with Matt Cullen and Walker before Walker threw a punch that caught Ward in the left eye, as Ward stood with his hands at his sides.

The officials, Tim Peel and Brad Watson, assessed Walker an instigator penalty, which in the final five minutes of a game carries an automatic one-game suspension. But the league ruled Monday that Walker and Ward were engaged in an altercation and rescinded the suspension.

Hurricanes forward Scott Walker has been fined $2,500 for his altercation with Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward but will not be suspended, Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said today.

Walker hit Ward with a punch with 2:47 left in the Canes' 4-0 loss to the Bruins on Sunday in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series and was automatically suspended.  A hearing with the league was held today.

"We are satisfied with the  ruling," Rutherford said in an interview. "Based on how the series has gone and the amount of punches our players have taken after the whistle, at some point you would expect someone to get it back. That's what happened."

1:55 p.m. UPDATE: Scott Walker has been fined but not suspended by the NHL.

Hurricanes forward Scott Walker has been suspended by the NHL for punching Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward in Game 5 Sunday in Boston, general manager Jim Rutherford said today.

Rutherford said a hearing with Colin Campbell, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations, has been set for 12:30 p.m. today. If the one-game suspension is upheld, Walker will not play in Game 6 on Tuesday.

Scott Walker is facing a Game 6 suspension and Paul Maurice a $10,000 fine after he was assessed an instigator penalty for punching Aaron Ward with 2:47 to play.

Asked if he would lose Walker for Game 6, Maurice said, "Not that I know of," but he was aware of the potential fine: "I may have to sell my truck."

But NHL rule 47.22 calls for an automatic suspension for any instigator penalty assesed in the final five minutes of regulation or at any point in overtime, although the NHL has the discretion to waive the suspension.