ACC Country

Eric Staal was down along the boards. Minnesota winger Aaron Voros had just boarded him from behind, dirty hit by any definition. And then all hell broke loose. Both Erik Cole and Scott Walker made runs at Voros and other assorted Wild skaters, and a ten man scrum was the culmination of the series of events with 14 minutes to play in Thursday night’s game. Somehow, despite the cheap shot, Voros only got five minutes in the sin bin for his actions, while Cole was assessed 19 minutes in penalties and Walker was given a game misconduct for merely sticking up for their teammate, Staal, who was on the bench shaking the cobwebs. Our captain-in-training was fine.

So was the outcome of the game, the Canes coughing up an early 2-0 lead only to break the tie halfway thru the second period on an alleged Cole redirect on a Matt Cullen slapshot, as the Carolina power play continues to impress since the acquisition of Joe Corvo. Corvo had a big hand in the game’s first goal, unleashing his big slapper from the top of the circle, grazing off Cullen in front of the net to give the Canes an early lead. The second goal, just minutes later, came courtesy of the hard work and fantastic chemistry of Walker and the Rat Pack, Keith Aucoin and Ryan Bayda, a line thrown together out of necessity due to injuries, but a combination which has not only set the pace for work ethic, but has paid major dividends on the scoresheet and gives opposing teams fits for their relentless forechecking.

The Rat Pack was the first period jolt the Canes needed the night prior, down an early goal in Atlanta. Walker and Bayda potted a goal each to put the Canes on top, a lead they would never relinquish. Corvo added a PP goal right off the bat in the second period, and after a goofy goal which deflected off the ref 30 feet from the net was waved off, Cole scored to make it 4-1. Staal added a pair of goals in the third, the final 6-3 in front of a disgruntled Thrashers crowd who is not happy with the club’s downturn since trading Marian Hossa. BELIEVE IN BLUELAND~!

Carolina’s lead in the division remains at five points, second place Washington with two games in hand. The Canes are playing their best hockey in 22 months, 9-2-1 over their last 12 outings, a number unmatched since a stretch of playoff hockey stemming from Game 3 of the first round series against Montreal in ‘06 thru Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Buffalo. The team has won 14 of its last 21 overall and are suddenly creeping closer to the conference leaders, seven points out of the top slot with Jersey’s win tonight, within 6 points of both Montreal and Pittsburgh, and only 4 from slumping Ottawa. My how fortunes have changed since the Stillman/Commodore for Corvo/Eaves trade that the Senators “clearly” got the better end of.

The way Carolina is playing right now, it is not out of the question for them to challenge for a top two seed, despite all the [deserved] grief the Southeast Division has received this year. The weak division could perhaps come into play with the final eight eight contests all within the division. Since dropping the first game of 2008 to Atlanta in OT, the Hurricanes are 7-0 vs. the division, tallying an astounding 33 goals in those games against only 18 goals allowed. If the Canes can take care of business within the division over the final 17 days of the season, Carolina will coast to the playoffs. If they encounter some bumps in the road, despite how sharp they look right now, the Hurricanes could find themselves on the outside looking in. For a club that has dealt with so much adversity this season, that would be a shame.

On the docket this week: tomorrow night in Raleigh against Buffalo, so Caniacs, bring the pepper spray at the very least. Then, on Wednesday, a trip to Chi-Town to visit old buddy Andrew Ladd and the Blackhawks, before finishing the season series with the Slugs in Buffalo on Friday. Beyond that, it’s a Sunday matinee at RBC against Ottawa, and that’s it before we hit the final stretch of Southeast Division games.

There’s apparently a basketball game tomorrow in the Triangle somewhere. I may have to look into that. Expect plenty of post-game analysis here on that front, and then ACC Tournament previews thru the week.