Volchenkov Gets Three For Elbow

Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov has been given a three-game suspension for his elbow to the head of Carolina Hurricanes forward Zack Boychuk.

It happened in the second period of Tuesday night's game in New Jersey and Volchenkov was given a minor elbowing penalty on the play. Boychuk remained in the game after getting popped.

Volchenkov's hearing with the NHL was held over the phone, which suggested that he would be eligible for a maximum ban of five games for the incident.

Here's the elbow...
Up...
Not cool...
((HT: MSG/RDS/NHL/youtube))

Did Gleason Break The Code...?

Last night, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason, the team leader in PIM got into a disagreement with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin at the end of the first period.

Here's the fight...
However one-sided it may have been...
((HT: Leafsvideos/Sportsnet))


Kulemin has 10 minor penalties this season- that's it.

Gleason was assessed a 5-minute major penalty for fighting as well as a 10-minute misconduct and game misconduct while Kulemin received a minor penalty for roughing but did not return to the game.

When an enforcer pairs off against a scorer, is it up to the scorer not to pick a fight with a more physical player, or is it up to the enforcer to pair off with someone else...???

Karmanos Looking To Sell Half Of The Canes

((HT: WRALSportsfan.com))

Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos, Junior says he has hired an investment bank to help him find a minority partner.

Karmanos issued a statement Monday confirming the hiring of Allen & Co. but said "the intent is in no way to sell the team."

He says he has been exploring options for finding a minority partner since general partner Thomas Thewes died in 2008, and said Allen & Co. was hired "to assist us with the process."

Here's Karmanos talking about hosting the 2011 All-Star Weekend- a good opportunity to showcase the Raleigh community to the league ((and to anyone interested in picking up the half Karmanos is interested in putting on the block...))

Bruins Score 3 Shorties In 64 Seconds To Clinch Playoff Berth

Daniel Paille, Blake Wheeler and Steve Begin scored to make it 3-0 after a scoreless first period Saturday, forcing Carolina coach Paul Maurice to call a timeout to settle his team down.

Well, wouldn't you...???

It was the first time in NHL history that a team has scored three times while short-handed on the same penalty, the Bruins said. The Winnipeg Jets scored four short-handed goals against Vancouver on April 7, 1995, the only time a team has scored more than three in a game since 1964-65.

"We made the book," Begin said with a laugh. "I heard they're going to put us on the power play now."

Oddly, the Bruins haven't scored with a man-advantage in their past 22 attempts in seven games. They had just three short-handed goals all season before Saturday.

Here's the proof...
((HT: FS Carolinas/NHL))


Matt Hunwick was the guilty party who got to sit in the box for the three-fer. He had one request for his Bruins teammates.

"I said, 'Hey, boys. Kill this one for me.' "

"That was crazy," Hunwick said. "You never want to take penalties, but they responded great. You'd like to be out there and be a part of it."

'Canes sue local rapper over "official" song

Do hip-hop artists get a bad rap?

Raleigh’s Tyrone Banks may think so, after the artist was slapped with a federal lawsuit by the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, the very team for which he wrote and recorded a song in 2007.

Banks is accused of misusing trademarks by referring to his song as the “official Carolina Hurricanes song,” and by wearing a ‘Canes jersey in material promoting the song.

“Carolina Hurricanes. That's our team, say the name," repeats the song's chorus.

According to the Associated Press, Banks produced "Carolina Hurricanes" in 2007 and provided a copy of the song to the team, asking the Hurricanes play the music during games, according to court documents. The lawsuit, filed Friday Aug. 7, said the Hurricanes did use the song during games and short segments of it appeared in a television ad and online video.

Banks may have hit a hurdle when he demanded compensation for the song. Banks claims, according to the lawsuit, to have authorized use of the song ONLY during ‘Canes games – as long as his name, song name, and record label were displayed while the song was playing.

The Hurricanes are saying that Banks is promoting the song by suggesting an “affiliation” with the team. The ‘Canes deny any affiliation.

The team issued a cease-and-desist order to Banks in February 2009, and the artist removed the words “anthem” and “official” from his website. He didn’t go all the way, however. Banks is still seen wearing a ‘Canes jersey in promotional material for the song. The team believes the franchise has been damaged by Banks’ unauthorized use of their trademark. Ouch.

Neither the ‘Canes nor Banks are talking right now.

Pens Take Eastern Conference Over Canes

((HT: CBC/NHL))

Here's the last 30 seconds or so of the game where the Pens took out Carolina once and for all, 4-1. Pittsburgh made the Canes look like they were standing still at points in the series- a 4-game sweep.

You'll see the Penguins, and Sidney Crosby, do something a little different when the trophy presentation is made by Bill Daly.

Bob Cole, as he should, has the call...

Pens Take Game 3 Over Carolina

Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the low-down on the machine that is the Pittsburgh Penguins as they took out Carolina 6-2...

The Penguins took a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference final with a 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center ((Evgeni Malkin pictured, thanks Peter Diana/Post-Gazette))

They lead the best-of-seven series, three games to none, and can clinch a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup final against Detroit or Chicago with a win over the Hurricanes in Game 4 here Tuesday.

Carolina played at a furious pace in the early minutes and opened the scoring at 4:06. Winger Patrick Eaves got his own rebound after a severe-angle shot, wrapped around behind the net and flipped the puck out to center Matt Cullen, who scored from the top of the crease.

The Penguins tied it, 1-1, on a power play at 6:50 of the first period. Evgeni Malkin corralled a puck with his body in the high slot that Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason couldn't hang onto, then moved in and beat goaltender Cam Ward from near the crease.

That's how it stood until less than a minute remained in the first period before the Penguins erupted for two goals.

Center Sidney Crosby made it 2-1 with 42.2 seconds left in the period when he converted a backhand pass from linemate Bill Guerin, and Malkin got his second of the game with 11.9 seconds left when he moved in from the right boards and beat Ward with a shot to the far side.

There was no scoring in the second period, which ended with the Penguins holding a 31-16 edge in shots.

Carolina got to within a goal, 3-2, at 1:58 of the third period when winger Sergei

Samsonov scored on a rebound of Erik Cole's shot.

The Hurricanes got their first power play when Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar hit Carolina winger Scott Walker into the boards at 7:38 of the third period, but could not get the tying goal.

Winger Ruslan Fedotenko restored the Penguins' two-goal lead, making it 4-2 at 11:29 of the third period when he took a drop pass from Malkin and lifted the puck past Ward.

The Penguins made it 5-2 at 18:12 of the third period when Craig Adams scored off a faceoff into an empty net, and Guerin blew it open even wider with a goal 40 seconds later, at 18:52.

((HT: Versus/NHL))

Malkin Most Foul

((HT: Versus/NHL))

Evgeni Malkin gets his frst playoff hat trick as the Pittsburgh Penguins took a 2-nothing lead in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The first two goals were vintage. The third was just flat ridiculous...
Joe Beninati is on the bark...

Pens Take Game One Over Canes

((HT: Versus/NHL))
Miro Satan and Evgeni Malkin scored goals 84 seconds apart to give the Pittsburgh Penguins Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals over the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2.

Here are the two quick, first-period goals from our friends at Versus.
Joe Beninati and Eddie Olczyk have the call...

Cardiac Canes Go To Eastern Conference Finals

((HT: Versus/NHL))

Scott Walker scores what Canes radio play-by-play man Chuck Garfien described as the "cleanest dirty goal you'll ever see." His first playoff goal sends Carolina to the ECF against the Pittsburgh Penguins with less than two mnutes left in the first overtime.
Enjoy...

Bruins Force Game 7 in Boston

The short version...
Marc Savard was injured in the third period, but the B's were on top all night.
Tim Thomas was huge...
4-2 the Final...
Here's your highlights and analysis...
((HT: ESPN/NHL))

Aaron Ward is Not Pleased With Scott Walker

((HT: NECN/Boston.com))

The Bruins and Canes were set for Game 6 tonight, but not before addressing the sucker punch from Game 5. The sucker punch is off on the right side, but Aaron Ward is a man fahred-up...

Walker Fined Not Suspended

((HT: CP))

Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker ((pictured, thanks Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty)) was fined US$2,500 by the NHL but escaped suspension Monday for throwing a punch that may have broken a bone in Boston defenseman Aaron Ward's face.

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said the automatic suspension given to Walker was rescinded during a hearing with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. It was ruled the hit was not a "sucker punch."

"Based on what was said on the ice as I was dropping my gloves, it was my understanding that I was engaged in an altercation," Walker said in a statement issued by the team.

Tempers flared in the final minutes of Boston's 4-0 victory Sunday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when Ward and Carolina's Matt Cullen began shoving in front of the Bruins' net. Walker skated in and hit Ward with a right cross that knocked the defenceman to the ice, and was given a misconduct, fighting major and instigator penalty with 2:47 remaining.

Boston coach Claude Julien said after the game that team doctors feared Ward had a broken orbital bone. He was being re-evaluated Monday.

"In reviewing what I saw, I just didn't like what happened. . . . I just don't think there was any need for that," Julien said after practice in Wilmington, Mass. "He sucker-punched him once coming into the scrum when (Ward) was involved with another player. And then he dropped his gloves and sucker-punched him.

"I don't care what people say about, `Ward should've protected himself.' He had no intention of getting involved," he added. "We asked our guys to stay composed and not fall into that trap, and he just did that. A guy with Walker's experience should know better than to sucker-punch a guy."

Things were chippy throughout a physical game in which the teams combined for 29 penalties and 83 penalty minutes. That's not counting Jussi Jokinen's second-period slash to Zdeno Chara's lower body that briefly sent the Boston captain to the locker-room. Jokinen was not penalized.

Rutherford said the incident was "clearly brought on by them," saying he felt the Hurricanes had taken shots from Boston players throughout the series, which Carolina leads 3-2. He isn't worried about the possibility of the Bruins retaliating against Walker during Game 6 Tuesday night.

"If that's the way the game's going to be played, that's the way we'll play the game," he said.

((HT: Versus/NHL/hockeyfights.com))

Canes Take Out Bruins, Lead Series 3-1

((HT: Raleigh News & Observer/Javier Serna))

The Hurricanes scored a pair of goals late in the third period to win 4-1 and take a 3-1 lead over the Boston Bruins in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series at the RBC Center Friday night.

First, Hurricanes forward Sergei Samsonov gave Carolina a 3-1 lead over the Boston Bruins with 5:29 left in the third period.

Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu took a big hit along the board in Carolina’s zone, but Samsonov got the puck and danced around Boston goalie Tim Thomas before putting a backhander past him.

Then Eric Staal added another on a snap shot with 4:19 left in the game to cement the win. Staal snatched up the puck along the right boards just before it was going to leave the Bruins zone, then weaved down the right wing before cutting to center and putting a snap-shot past Thomas' outside shoulder.

Here's the Samsonov goal that made it 3-1 in the 3rd Period...
((HT: TSN/NHL))

Pretty...
See what happens when Samsonov is a motivated man...
See...???

2 Goals In 80 Seconds= A Game 7 Devils Loss

((HT: TSN/NHL))

We all thought New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur was ridiculous in times of dire need. He was again Tuesday night in the Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes, but he couldn't do it all by himself.

Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal score in an 80-second span to send the Devils home and the Canes to the Eastern Conference semis.

Here's TSN's coverage with Darren Dutchyshen on the highlight roll...

Black Wednesday- Busy Day For Pink Slips

You already know about Tuberville...
Let's slide to the NBA where Sam Mitchell ((pictured, thanks Tom Mihalik/AP)) got the boot after one of the worst losses in Toronto Raptors history the night before.

"It is safe to say that after the debacle that we all witnessed last night against Denver, a 39-point loss, not to mention several other incidents this early season where we gave up double-digit leads or had mental breakdowns, with respect to the effort on the court, you come to a point where you realize some of the things you want to see out on the court are not taking place," Raptors GM Brian Colangelo said.

Mitchell elected not to lash out at the players following Tuesday's setback, preferring to let them discuss it among themselves.

"For me, now, it is not a time to be screaming and yelling," Mitchell told reporters outside the locker-room. "It is a time to be trying to teach and reassure people."

Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and newcomer Jermaine O'Neal reportedly chaired the players' meeting.

"It is embarrassing not only for us, but for those who support the Toronto Raptors, the organization, the city and the country," O'Neal said. "That should never happen.

"This is a business, we get paid a heck of a lot of money to play a certain way. If we think we can turn it on and off like that, then we're fooling ourselves."

Jay Triano takes over as the bench boss in the T-Dot...

In the NHL, meet the new boss- same as the old boss...

Peter Laviolette is out as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.
Paul Maurice ((pictured, thanks Gerry Broome/AP)) is back in as the Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach.

"We have a team that right now that, in my opinion, is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "We've lost that confidence."
In another move, one-time Hurricanes centre Ron Francis was named associate coach while the remainder of the club's coaching staff will remain in place.

"This is a real strong addition with Paul and Ronnie leading our coaching staff," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "As we go into a very tough group of games in December, my hope is that the coaches make minor adjustments to the system and the players regain their confidence."
Laviolette went 167-130-30 with Carolina and leaves with 2 1/2 years left on the five-year contract he signed in June 2006 shortly after winning the Stanley Cup.

Heavy Weight Clean Hit

This is the age-old question where the National Hockey League is concerned...

A player lowers his head, an opposing player seeing an opening, lowers the boom...

This happened Saturday night in the Carolina/New York Islanders game. The Canes Brandon Sutter was skating into the Islanders zone with his eye on the puck. The Isles Doug Weight absolutely destroys Sutter with a shot to the upper body. Sutter goes unconscious and all hell breaks lose...

No surprises there...

But the hit was considered "clean" by NHL standards...
Here is the hit... thanks to FS Carolinas and the youtube...


TSN's Bob McKenzie raises the standard questions in black...

Remember, this isn't the first time the Canes have had heavy-check aftermath.
From the McKenzie piece... the key paragraph...

"The league should at least stop saying it's concerned with hits to the head, because it's not," Rutherford told TSN.ca. "I've had four players - Erik Cole, Trevor Letowski, Matt Cullen and now Brandon Sutter - get badly injured on hits to the head and only one of the guys who hit them was suspended. So don't tell me the league is concerned about hits to the head because it's not."

Sutter remains in a Long Island hospital under observation...