Raleigh, NC — After a great home stand, the Carolina Hurricanes drop the next two games, away in St. Louis 4-2 and home against the Boston Bruins, 4-1. The Canes are still anemic in the scoring department and that news got worse as Alex Semin received a concussion in the Blues game. Read more
Raleigh, NC — The Carolina Hurricanes ended their longest home stand with a 3-2 shoot out win over the top team in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks. Read more
Raleigh, NC — The Carolina Hurricanes have settled in with the current home stand extending their point streak to 4 games, with a shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild and a win over a strong Colorado Avalanche team
The Canes started the first of four consecutive games against strong Western Conference teams on November 9th at the PNC Arena against the Wild. The Canes lost 3-2, but gained confidence by coming from behind to send the game into OT against a strong team.
Jason Pominville scored early on a head man pass in which Pominville easily converted, high glove side on Justin Peters.
Just a short time later, Drayson Bowman was clearing the Canes defensive zone, saw Ryan Murphy streaking down the right side and made a cross ice pass. Murphy gathered the puck off the boards, deeked a defenseman at the blue line then sent a knuckler that hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the goal to time the game.
After that goal, the Canes picked up their game in speed, checks, shots, quickness to cover a free man and pouncing on rebounds.
Around midway in the second, after Murphy put on an impressive skating show, Alex Semin had the puck and put it on Juri Tlusty’s tape from about 60’ away that Tlusty’s put 5 hole for a 2-1 Cane lead.
Less than 3 minutes later the Canes just finished killing a penalty when the Wild scored from a tip in by a completely open Justin Fontaine in the high crease.
The third period was just good hard checking by both teams with everyone being cautious of not making a turnover or penalty. The shootout was one to forget with all 3 Wild shooters scoring, some looking all too easy.
One twist is the Canes had 2 rookies in the shootout: Riley Nash hit the pipe and Chris Terry scored for the first Canes shootout goal of the year.
Two nights later the Canes hosted Colorado who have not lost a game on the road this year. That changed when they visited Raleigh as the Canes won an impressive game 2-1.
The Canes still need to have more of the offensive players score more. The first period was the best the Canes have played this year. The Avs are a very fast team but in the first period the Canes were faster. This was the closest to playoff style hockey of the year and it’s highly entertaining and while the attendance was lower than normal, everyone was into the game.
The Hurricanes drew first blood as it was the lucky 7th shot of the period for the Canes when Nathan Gerbe blocked shot was teed up for Jordan Staal who sent a firm backhander in for his third goal of the season.
Very early in the 2nd period, the Canes cleared the puck from their defensive zone up the left side. Gerbe took possession along the half boards then sent a beautiful saucer pass to Patrick Dwyer who had a stride on 2 defenders for the skillful tip-in. Speed in hockey is a good thing and Dwyer has speed.
Peters was making some solid NHL saves as he was patient on shot attempts. On some he looked like a fish just reeled in, flopping all over the ice, ala Dominik Hasek. As coaches say: anything to keep the puck from crossing the goal line.
Alex Semin did not make the score sheet but was certainly one of the better players on the ice. He has a sneaky-nasty shot that is amazing to see in person. On the shift after the goal, Semin had the puck on the blue line, made a slick pass to Tlusty cutting in the high slot and sent a hard wrister off the pipes but outside of the goal.
The way the Canes were playing and with the chances they were having, could this be the game they broke the 2 goal-a-game average? That answer is no but the 2 goals were enough despite a strong push by the Avalanche in the third period. The Avs goal came on a powerplay late in the second. The entire game was tense and exciting but the last 5 minutes with the Avs pouring it on, the Canes dug down deep and showed the West and the rest of the NHL, this team can play with the best of them.
Good news for two of the injured players: Cam Ward and Tim Gleason may be cleared to play within the week. Jeff Skinner is still a couple of weeks away.
Raleigh, NC – The Carolina Hurricanes have a taste for home cooking as they won their first 2 games of a 5 game home stand. Read more
Raleigh, NC — Our Carolina Hurricanes dropped their third game in a row with a 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Monday October 28 at the PNC Arena. Read more
Team Members: L-> R Tricia Bradley, Maria Burrus, Barbara Taylor, Rhonda Ransdell, Jan Smith, Captain Karen Coe, Scharme Prevost, Suzanne Trexler, Gretchen Cooling, Paula Gahagan, Kait Paden. Not Pictured: Jami Thompson & Colleen Ueland. Provided by Prestonwood.
Cary, NC- For the first time in it’s 25 year history, Prestonwood Country Club sent a Ladies 40 & Over team to the United States Tennis Association and they proudly brought home a third place title. Read more
Raleigh, NC — The Carolina Hurricanes had a Jekyll & Hyde game against the reigning Stanley Cup Champs, the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday October 15th at the PNC Arena. The Canes had a horrible looking first period, spotting Chicago a 2 goal lead which normally is a sure 2 points for a team that knows how to win. Read more
Morrisville, NC — For one night only, Linsanity is coming to Park Place in Morrisville on Thursday, October 24, 2013. Get tickets now.
Linsanity tells the story of Jeremy Lin, a third-string player for the New York Knicks who lit up the NBA over the course of a dazzling month in late winter of 2012.
It’s a great sports story and, most remarkably, all true. In January, Lin was sleeping on a relative’s couch. In February, he was going toe-to-toe with 15-time All-Star Kobe Bryant and sending the Lakers home in defeat.
But there was more. Lin was a graduate of Harvard. The last guy from Harvard to play in the NBA was Ed Smith in 1954, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
And, Lin is Chinese-American. Basketball has become big business in China, with elite players like Yao Ming making the jump to the NBA. But Chinese-Americans? Not so much. Lin’s success was avidly followed in China and across Chinese ex-pat communities.
As a Knicks fan, I was all over Linsanity from the very beginning. But it quickly spread like a wave across the U.S. and around the world.
What was Jeremy Lin’s game like during that period? Electrifying, crazy, sometimes sloppy. He’d dive to the hole, hit an impossible three and then turn it over. But his energy and passion lifted an injured team to a string of remarkable victories.
A cartoon by my friend Joe Petruccio that appeared on KnicksNow captured the spirit of the moment.
Soon enough, the stars came back, Lin got his own injury and he was traded to the Houston Rockets after the 2012 season. The Rockets have been in rebuild mode, adding James Hardin at shooting guard and, most recently, Dwight Howard at center. If the Rockets can pull together around their own “Big Three,” we might see Jeremy Lin on ESPN again in 2013-2014.
In the meantime, go see Linsanity on October 24 if you like a good sports underdog story. It’s an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival.
I’ll be there, wearing my Knick shirt.
Get a taste for Linsanity with this trailer or see it on YouTube.
Linsanity
Carmike Park Place
Morrisville, NC
Thursday, October 24, 2013
7:00 pm – 9:03 pm
Morrisville, NC – Four of the top women’s basketball coaches in the nation had some tips for business at the latest SuperKNOW luncheon presented by the Morrisville Chamber.
Cary, NC — As if things couldn’t get any better at the Cary Y, Youth Basketball prices have been rolled back more than 33% this season. Registration is open now through September 20.
Youth sports build character, strength, agility, teamwork and confidence. The Cary Y runs an incredible number of programs for children of all ages and needs. It’s a wholesome and professionally run atmosphere for kids.
But youth sports shouldn’t be the privilege of the fortunate few. In that spirit, The Cary Y has rolled back the cost of you basketball by more than 33% for members and non-members. There’s even financial assistance for the most needy.
From the Cary Y:
Age, grade and skill level determine team assignments. Volunteers coach our teams, and all kids play. All YMCA sports leagues emphasize teamwork and fair play.
Registration is open for the Fall 2013 season. Register by September 20, 2013.
Here’s a fun video from the Y that shows the diversity and range of the program in one minute.
Game On from Cary Family YMCA on Vimeo.
Financial assistance is available.
To register, you have to go to the Cary Y at 101 YMCA Drive. No online registration is available.
Registration ends Sept. 20, 2013. For more information, visit http://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs-services/sports/youth-basketball/cary-family-ymca.
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Picture from Cary YMCA.