Game Thread @ Florida Puddycats 4.7.12

[kermelbar]

The end is here.

The Canes play the Panthers at 7:30 tonight. Schedule says it's on TV and it's also Canes Cool Bars in Cary.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm torn on this one. At one moment I feel like handing the Panthers a ticket to NYC would be awesome.

In the next moment I realize that if I'm picking between the Panthers and the Caps for who I want to have the easier road....the Panthers win every.single.time.

I guess I'll just stick with my usual instinct which is that I never want the Canes to lose. And despite some way over-confident tweets from Scottie Upshall regarding their plans for tonight, I have restrained myself from pointing out that the Canes have plans of their own for fear of invoking some trash-talking karma against us so, I think that must settle it for me.


I'm pretty much all Western conference this year since the Flyers are the only team in the East I can stand (that didn't win it last year).

[IceSun]

Remember the Swing-amo!

SHC: the way I look at it - we do our part and Karma will decide if it wants to let Washington win to seal the deal

[MoBigRed]

Cool, 7:30 gives me the opportunity to watch the last few minutes when i get off work. Sucks that this is the last game of the season, but i'm hyped for next year (presuming there is a next year).

[SoCalcaniac]

SHC - I saw the Upshall tweets too so I've got this all figured in my head as well.

This is it. So all I care about personally is us winning, and whatever that entails for the standings is not of my concern. Win and have a good feeling and be ready for next season.

Will be nice to get a look at the Welsh kid and his NHL debut.

This time last year, I had all kinds of angst about that game vs Tampa. It's truly bizarre to not have any feeling other than wanting this team to win so they'll have a positive end to the season and be clear headed/not bogged down coming into next year.

1 goal gets #12 to 25 goals (70 pts) and 1 goal gets Chad to 20 goals. Staal would have 25+ goals every season since the lockout along with 7 other players. These are things I'd also see happen. Just because.

[pamski01]

Some of us are planning on meeting the boys at the airport tonight. JBK has kindly notified the airport. They have said that Park & Ride 2 will be open for us to park in. Hope to see everyone there!

If you haven't been, here's a link to a map of the parking and General Aviation.

http://www.rdu.com/mapsdirect/mapsdirpark.htm

[nccanes]

Since we mentioned it in a different thread, it appears that the N&O has sent Chip to FLA for this one.

[Jay]

I'm sitting here in the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, for the last two Checkers home games of the season (they got *crushed* by the Heat earlier today).

Alas, what do I find? They have every channel in the world, including NBCSN (VS), NFLN, MLBN, ESPN1,2,3,42... but no FS-Carolinas. RAGE.

Is it that hard for a place to have the channel that shows the hockey game?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Oh no! You gotta stay at the Hyatt House.

[nccanes]

I believe the Caps game starts 1 hour before the Canes/Cats game, so if the Caps lose, they'll be celebrating before the game is over. That would leave sending the Panthers off to the playoffs with a healthy losing streak as the remaining goal.

[andyt]

Originally Posted by nccanes

I believe the Caps game starts 1 hour before the Canes/Cats game, so if the Caps lose, they'll be celebrating before the game is over. That would leave sending the Panthers off to the playoffs with a healthy losing streak as the remaining goal.

Two awful defensive breakdowns and we're down 2-0.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Not blaming this 2-0 mess so far on these guys exclusively, just a couple observations.

1) Boucher looks like a goalie who hasn't played all season.
2) I'm already over Pitkanen being back.
3) I think Staal may, like some of us, secretly be harboring more hatred towards the Caps than the Panthers.

[nccanes]

Agree I SHC's points.

Did I understand JR on the pregame interview with Harwood when he said he was happy with the top 4, and then listed them as Gleason, Faulk, Pitkanen, and McBain? And hasnt Tripp been pimping Faulk/Gleason as 'the future'? I thought Faulk has played a lot with Harrison?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Despite my vow to watch this last game un-distracted, I was washing dishes pre-game and can't confirm.

Like what I've seen from this Welsh kid so far, penalty aside.

They looked better as the period went on. Sure would be nice to keep building on that for a comeback. Especially if folks are going to the airport.

[ontheboards]

I would prefer the panthers to secure home ice over the overly entitled capitals, but would really like to see the hurricanes play spoilers here and go into the post season with a three win winning streak.


I am one of those people who do not believe the panthers ever denied the hurricanes a playoff berth. I believe a team should control their destiny and when you go into the last game of the season looking to squeak in and you can't close the deal because you get beaten by a subpar team, you really were never playoff material. My opinion, just sharing....

[SouthernHockeyChick]

^ Agree. I'm thinking an OT win would work nicely. Once point to keep their division lead, but we get a win. And a second OT win at that.


Would work nicely but isn't looking likely.

[andyt]

Originally Posted by nccanes

Agree I SHC's points.

Did I understand JR on the pregame interview with Harwood when he said he was happy with the top 4, and then listed them as Gleason, Faulk, Pitkanen, and McBain? And hasnt Tripp been pimping Faulk/Gleason as 'the future'? I thought Faulk has played a lot with Harrison?

The Faulk/Gleason pairing started in Ottawa. Faulk had been pretty well stapled to Harrison's right hip all season.

Agree on Joni too. If JR decides he can only get one of Suter or Parise, he should go after Suter and use Pitkanen as trade bait.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

OMG, I totally had not realized the Caps could move to 7 and not even end up having to play the Rangers, no matter what we did. Ugh.

Worst.Possible.Outcomes.

[IceSun]

I could deal w Joni as bait for a super trade.

Caps did their part. Looks like not being shutout is remaining goal.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Interesting shot there of MacLean with his hand on Skinner's shoulder after he returned to the bench following Samuelsson driving him to the ice by the head. Didn't look like Skinner was thinking of retaliating, though, so that's good.



And apparently a large-scale Pitkanen show of dissatisfaction is what we were missing, lol.

[Canesluver]

Well, good! At least it's not a shut-out. I was hoping for a better showing, since I haven't gotten to watch the last few games.... oh well.... there's always next year!

And, damn... Boucher needs a bungy cord to keep him closer to his net. Geez!

[andyt]

Maybe we need to keep talking sh%^ about Joni.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Well, that sucked.

Comment on the game? Comment on the season? You decide.




You'd think it would hurt less since it's been over so long but, nope.

[SoCalcaniac]

Originally Posted by SouthernHockeyChick

You'd think it would hurt less since it's been over so long but, nope.

This all day. Shouldn't care one iota, and yet sadly I do. Drives me nuts.

I enjoyed the Welsh kid. He was running on adrenaline for sure, but gosh, he goes to the front of the net. If that's not positive, what is?

In other good news, that kid Dumoulin & BC win the Frozen Four & Dumoulin was highly noticeable like he has all year.

Was hoping for 20 for LaRose, and 25 for the Capt, not meant to be.

Did enjoy Cosch Kirk's post game interview.." we're not good enough..but we will be"

And my last Chip Shot this season sums him up for me, tweeting the Canes lose 3-1 and then sent a correction tweet to say it was 4-1. He was probably watching baseball.

Well now I better start getting ready for the Draft. We'll be in PIT for this, better brush up on the Central Scouting report.

I really can't do this again next year.

[andyt]

Originally Posted by SoCalcaniac

I really can't do this again next year.

You, me and probably 1 or 2 or 10,000 others.