Tim Brent looking at Jokinen leaving him? (source: RangerRick/Flickr)
Trade Deadline came and went, and some trades were made. Sure, we as fans get upset, but sometimes we forget that these players lose their friends when they leave, and it can be hard on them. Here were some of the sweet tweets that came across on Wednesday. » Continue reading “They Said WHAT- We’ll Miss You Edition”
Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes led the blueline in games played, hits, and plus-minus during the 2011-12 season. (Photo:Clyde/flickr)
Whenever the Hurricanes pop up in NHL talk, you usually hear about captain Eric Staal or pubescent All-Star Jeff Skinner. And for good reason — both players are cornerstones of the team and organization.
A guy you don’t hear much about, but who is one of the best defensive players on the team (if not the best), is Tim Gleason. Gleason signed a four-year extension with the ‘Canes in late January after it was rumored that he would be traded, and there are reasons for that change of heart.
» Continue reading “Unsung Heroes: Tim Gleason, Carolina Hurricanes”
We’re headed back to the Eastern Conference via Finland for this week. This gritty forward has been plying his trade since being drafted 9th overall in the 2001 NHL draft.
Congratulations are in order for Tuomo Ruutu of the Carolina Hurricanes.!
» Continue reading “The Hawt Trophy : Tuomo Ruutu”
Photo: Benjamin Reed/Flickr
The NHL offseason is a busy, yet exciting, time for teams and fans alike. This is when fans get to see their teams building for the future. However, not every team makes the moves necessary to become a legitimate contender. With the 2012 NHL draft complete and free agency currently going on I will be looking at every NHL team; taking into account the moves they’ve already made, what players are free agents, who looks to be coming back, what prospects are already under contract, etc; and then deciding whether that team will, in the next two years, be more of a “contender” or “pretender”. This week we’ll be taking a look at the Carolina Hurricanes.
Offense:
The Hurricanes return a slew of talented forwards, including perennial 70 point scorer Eric Staal, Jussi Jokinen and 2011 Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) winner Jeff Skinner to name a few. Jokinen’s proven himself to be a very good two-way player, putting up 46 points in 79 games played last season. Skinner, on the other hand, struggled with concussion issues last season but still managed to put up 44 points. Other notable offensive returnees for the Canes include Tuomo Ruutu (18 goals, 34 points), Chad LaRose (19 goals, 32 points) and Jiri Tlusty (17 goals, 36 points, plus-1 rating). » Continue reading “Contender or Pretender: Carolina Hurricanes Edition”
This week’s journey into glory starts with a card featuring goaltender Manon Rheaume. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because she made a lot of news in the 1990s by being the first woman to try out for and sign a contract with an NHL team. She played in two exhibition games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993.
As impressive as that resume is, apparently it’s nothing compared to being a super hero. Years before the Guardian Project no less.
Happy Wednesday, kids.
» Continue reading “Hump Day Hockey Cards”
Grab your provisions, free agency officially begins at noon today, but the general managers are already getting to work. I’ll keep this post updated as the news rolls in, so make sure to stick with us.
» Continue reading “NHL Free Agency 2012 Live Blog”
Welcome to Aerys Sports NHL 2012 Draft Center. This post will be updated throughout the night as teams draft the future of their franchises, as well as any trades that occur.
All times are in CT.
» Continue reading “2012 NHL Draft Live Blog: Round 1″
Welcome to “They Said WHAT!?”, a new weekly feature on Intermission Report. Every Monday, we’re going to post what we think is the funniest or most random tweet sent out by an NHLer.
To get us started, we have PK Subban of the Montreal Canadiens. Sunday night, Subban attended the Much Music Video Music Awards, along with Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers, Tyler Seguin of the Boston Bruins, John Tavares of the New York Islanders, and Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes. Yes, that Jeff Skinner.
Subban tweeted this photo of himself, Skinner, and hip hop group Far East Movement.
I don’t know what’s the funniest part of this picture: the Nike shirt under Subban’s jacket, the fact that PK and Jeff are dressed in a similar fashion, or that Jeff Skinner is hanging out with hip hop group Far East Movement
Adam McQuaid (Photo: SlidingSideways/ Flickr
Tonight the Bruins took to the ice to prevent a series sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes. Though the teams are on completely opposite ends of the Eastern conference, you wouldn’t know that from the games that have been played. The Hurricanes are in a time to rebuild and what better way to do that than to say you swept the reigning Stanley Cup champs?
Like I said in my Practice Predictions, tonight was TUUKKAAA TIME at the TD Garden against the Canes Cam Ward. The only good thing that came from this game was that I could yell TUUUUK…yeah it was that bad.
Right off of the opening face off, it was made pretty clear that both teams were going to play strong. Early on I was very impressed with the Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin line as they had a few early shots on net and a few that I really thought had a good chance of getting past Ward. The other thing I was happy about was seeing the million dollar mullet back on the ice. Adam McQuaid was a game time decision literally switching up drills with Steven Kampfer until the start of the game but it was him who got the start with fresh from suspension Andrew Ference.
Eric Staal and the Canes got the first goal of the evening with 8.50 to go in the first but it was quickly overshadowed by Johnny Boychuk hitting the boards hard and leaving the ice. Anytime a player gets injured in previous seasons and then goes down hard, I swear my heart stops beating for a second. The Canes also got the first power play opportunity of the night as David Krejci was sent to the box for boarding, or love tapping as I call it. Fortunately the Bruins are ranked 7th in the NHL for penalty kills and they do just that.
The good that I got out of the first; the Bruins got 22 shots on goal, and won 13 out of 16 face offs. The bad that I got out of the first; we’re losing and the Hurricanes only had 8 shots. The Bruins are 13-10-2 when the opposing team scores first.
Second period starts up and fortunately Boychuk is back on the ice! The period for the most part gets off to a slow start and then Jaroslav Spacek takes a Boychuk shot and needs to be looked after but he does make his way to the Carolina bench on his own. That hit for some reason seemed to be the fire igniting under both teams skates because from then on the period was a back and forth of shots on net. Unfortunately Tuomo Ruutu took that fire and went with it scoring on an open net goal with 3.20 to go in the second. Rask is playing hard but unfortunately the B’s defense just isn’t stepping up.And with 34.2 seconds to go, Dennis Seidenberg gives the Canes their second power play chance and makes me sit with my fingers crossed waiting for this period to end.
Well…at least we killed that power play. But three minutes later,Brandon Sutter scores making it 3-0. When the Bruins are down by this much, the idea of writing any recap hurts and this one hurts a lot. 12.06 to go and Bruins get their first power play, and because they are 7th in the league when it comes to power play goals, I had a lot of expectations. Their losing furthers the need to have those expectations. Well that power play was a bust and to further the hurt Milan Lucic gets a roughing call before the pp even ends.
This is the 5th consecutive game that the Bruins have given up 3 or more goals and the 5th consecutive game to put this fan in a funk. The only good thing that is coming from any of this is that Carolina can’t score a power play goal. Thank you hockey gods for that one. Six minutes to go and the Canes take a slashing call and I cross my fingers because losing is one thing thing but being shut out to a team at the bottom of the conference, well that’s unacceptable. Frustration = Brad Marchand to the box for slashing 8 seconds into our power play.
In the end, fourth time was in fact not a charm and the Hurricanes sweep the Bruins and Cam Ward gets a well fought shut out. Moving forward the Bruins return to the ice Saturday in a matinee game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hopefully by then they’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t. Claude will be having a nice chat with them tonight I’m sure.
Photo: brooksiebruin19/Flickr
The Bruins and Hurricanes face-off tomorrow at 7pm for their fourth match-up of the season. The Bruins will be looking for their first win against the team since February 1, 2011. With Andrew Ference coming back into the line-up,following a three-game suspension, the Bruins are sure to have a defensive advantage, as long as McQuaid is okay to play. McQuaid suffered a lower body injury late in the game Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators and missed this morning’s practice. Reports from this morning’s interviews stated:
“Coach Julien said McQuaid “got injured last night.” CJ added it’s a lower body injury and he’ll be reevaluated tomorrow AM.” (@NHLBruins)
On the offensive side of things, Nathan Horton is still listed as day-to-day with a mild concussion and has yet to step foot on the ice since the injury occurred. Fingers crossed this doesn’t end up a recurring injury for Horton with the same fate as former team mate Marc Savard. With Nathan Horton still missing from the line-up, forward Rich Peverley has some big shoes to fill and seems to be doing just fine. In Tuesday’s game against the Senators he registered 2 shots on net and an assist in 19:35 of ice time, not bad.( via Bruins Box Score) It’s no question the Bruins have one of the best third and fourth lines in the entire League, but in order to pull out the ‘W’ against this team, everyone is going to have to play a full sixty.
The Hurricanes are going into Thursday night’s game without Chad LaRose who is listed day to day with illness and defenseman Joni Pitkanen who has missed the last 30 games due to a knee injury. They have called up Drayson Bowman from the Charlotte Checkers, Bowman has registered 2 goals and 3 assists this season, playing in only 13 games.( via Carolina Hurricane News)
Both teams are fairly matched and are strong third period teams, thus calling for high intensity with tempers flaring and a hunger to win, there’s no telling what this game is going to bring. Lets just hope the Bruins can maintain their focus and not let their tempers get the best of them.
