Selke

Poor, poor Frank Selke.
What an unfortunate title to have next to your name etched onto the Stanley Cup.

YES! Still alive!

STAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

Rod Brind'Amour scores a beautiful individual effort goal (with a little help from Hedican and the Montreal defense) in the final 10 minutes to send game 3 into overtime tied 1-1. If the 'Canes lose this game, the series is basically over, needing then to win 4 straight.

Eric Staal made sure that wouldn't happen as he nets the game winner on a power play just minutes in to the first overtime! Congrats Eric, that's a pretty darn good way to score your first ever playoff goal.

'Canes survive to play another day! And, most importantly, game 5 is back in Raleigh Sunday night.... and I have tickets. Yes! Tailgating starts early!

0-2 ugh.

Not good.

The 'Canes have put themselves into a deep, deep hole, losing the first two games of the series AT HOME. Now they must go to Montreal tonight for games 3 and 4, and are in a bit of trouble.
Montreal has been playing VERY well, completely dominiating the first 4 perriods of this series (all of game one, a 6-1 loss, and the first period of gmae 2). The Hurricanes finally emerged from their fog in the second period of game two, carrying the play for just about the entire 20 minutes. unfortunately, by this point they were already down 3-0 and were forced to pull Martin Gerber after he let in 3 goals on 14 shots. Cam Ward played very solid in goal when called upon.
The final period was played fairly even, as was the first overtime (the bright spot - Carolina came back from a 3-0 deficit to actually take the lead 4-3, only to have the game go into overtime tied 5-5.
Yes, of course I was there for both games, cheering dutifully from section 332 in game one, while at the same time wearing the rally towel give-away over my head. Gmae 2 started the same, but the crown finally came back in the second and it seemed once again like the loudest house in the NHL.
The overtime was chock full of fantastic, back and forth hockey. both teams were giving it their all, and it eneded still 5-5 and heading for overtime #2. Cam gets full credit here, as two extremely remarkable saves were the reson it even made it to overtime#2.

The air was let out of the building when Montreal scored eaqrly into the second overtime, sending the series back to Canada with Montreal holding a comanding 2-0 and home ice for the next two.
If there ever was a game 3 that was a must win situation.... it is tonight about 7:00 pm. If the Canes go down 3-0 in the series, well, lets just say that a comeback from that has only happened twice in the history of the NHL.

Lets go Canes! I've got tickets for Sunday night, so you better bring this series back to Raleigh!

Playoff Time!!

Now begins the greatest postseason in professional sports. A battle for the hardest earned trophy in sports - the Stanley Cup.


The Hurricanes faltered down the stretch, which was more than a little frustrating since they held their fate in their own hands. Only needing to beat either Tampa Bay on Saturday or Buffalo last night to take the #1 seed in the eastern conference, the 'Canes failed on both occasions. Coupled with Ottawa's victory last night, Ottawa overtakes the 'Canes for the #1 seed and a playoff series against Tampa, while Carolina takes the #2 seed into a series with #7 Montreal.
The good news... Carolina in 4-0 against Montreal this season, averaging 6 goals/game for the series. The bad news... Perennial Carolina doormat Jose Theodore was traded away, so the 'Canes will face either Huet (one of the hottest goalies in the NHL down the stretch) or Aebischer.

Game 1 Saturday night, 7:00pm!!!
I've got my tickets for the first 2 rounds, can't wait. There is nothing like playoff hockey. The RBC Center will be rocking Saturday night!

And YES. We WILL be tailgating Saturday afternoon!!!

Seriously...
How can we lose with THIS guy on the blue line???? ---->

Let's Go 'Canes!!!

Downtown Raleigh magazine online

There is a great new magazine with a focus on all things downtown. Lucky for all of us, the entire magazine is also available online.

Click HERE to be redirected to the site.

Definitley worth the bookmark if you are interested in what is happening with the current downtown raleigh resurgence.