Mike Maniscalco
Mike Maniscalco is the co-host of "The Insiders" during the week from 3 to 7 p.m. on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio. He is also the host of the Carolina Hurricanes pregame and postgame shows.
By Mike Maniscalco
Yesterday at 11:26 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning's James Wright (43) watches as his shot goes behind Carolina Hurricanes goalie Manny Legace (34) and misses the net with Hurricanes Joni Pitkanen (25) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Carolina plays a complete game and has now earned points in five consecutive games with a 3-1 victory.
Game Breakdown:The first period opens up as a physical one with Carolina taking the play to Tampa. Carolina missed on several solid scoring chances by either making one too many passes or being foiled by goalie Mike Smith. Carolina's Tom Kostopoulos is whistled for a phantom tripping call with 5:30 left in the period and Tampa Bay turns it into a 1-0 lead when Martin St Louis beat Manny Legace with a backhander off a Kurtis Foster shot. The first period ends with the Lightning up by that score.
In the second period, the Canes get the first power play chance and Tuomo Ruutu buries it past Smith. The goal comes on one of the best man-advantage situations the Canes have had all season, with great puck movement, a solid keep in in by Joni Pitkanen and a pinpoint pass by Ray Whitney on the tape of Ruutu who hammers it past Smith to tie the game at 1 apiece. halfway through the period Andrew Alberts fell while attempting to clear the Canes zone and that lead to a golden chance for Tampa but Manny Legace makes a dazzling glove save on Todd Fedoruk to keep the game tied at the 10:23 mark. Three minutes later Carolina grabs the lead, after the Canes pressure results in a shot by Joe Corvo that is redirected by Jussi Jokinen past Smith and a 2-1 lead that the Canes take into the intermission. The Canes play one of their best periods
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 19, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes' Stephane Yelle, right, scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
The Carolina Hurricanes have points in four straight games battling back from three goals down and tie the game with 2.9 seconds left to force overtime. Carolina wins in a shootout 6-5.
Game Breakdown: A terrible first period by the Canes gets started with Matt Stajan scoring 1:01 into the game, the quickest goal the Canes have given up all year long. The teams traded chances for the middle of the period then Toronto took over scoring on Lee Stempniak's drive through Manny Legace and Mikhail Grabovski blasted one past Legace from the bottom of the face off circle. The Canes give up three goals in the first period for the 11th time this season.
The second period was filled with missed chances for the Hurricanes. the Canes out shot, out hit and out hustled but couldn't solve Leaf goalie Jonas Gustavsson until the 16:47 mark, when Stephane Yelle scores and effort goal hustling in from the slot to stuff the puck past Gustavsson. The goal was set up by a great effort by Chad LaRose and Yelle deposits his first goal of the season. The Canes then took a page out of their opponents book by scoring twice in under a minute. 43 seconds later Matt Cullen lifts one past the Leafs goalie to make it a game again. The Hurricanes put 17 shots on goal to the Maple Leafs 4 and after forty minutes it is a 3-2 Toronto lead.
In the third the Canes can't stop Alex Ponikarovsky on the power play as he streaks past Joe Corvo and scores on the
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 15, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes goalie Michael Leighton (49) freezes the puck in front of a charging Minnesota Wild's James Sheppard (51) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
The Carolina Hurricanes break winless streak with shootout win over Wild
Game Breakdown: The Canes jump out early driving hard to the net and shooting the puck rewards Jussi Jokinen. Jokinen deposits a rebound of a Tuomo Ruutu shot past past Niklas Backstrom and put the home team on the board 1-0 2:45 seconds into the first period. The teams trade chances through rest of the first, but a solid effort for the Canes opposed to the past two games at the RBC Center where Carolina has gotten off to sluggish starts to put it mildly. The Canes score late in the first on the power play to take a 2-0 lead on Joe Corvo's blast from the point. Carolina took the action to Minnesota as the Wild didn't have their legs to start the game, the Canes pounced with a 10 shot performance and 2-0 lead.
In the second period the Canes threaten to put the game away but the Wild won't go away. Ray Whitney scores on the power play with a sneaky wrister that beats Backstrom and gives the Canes a 3-0 lead, Minnesota finally solves Michael Leighton 8:43 into the period Antti Miettinen tipped in a Brent Burns shot to spark Minnesota. The Canes answer back as Brandon Sutter scores his fourth of the year on a nifty play by Ray Whitney with Carolina on the man-advantage for the third power play goal of the game for the Canes and a 4-1 lead. Minnesota storms back with two goals 20 seconds apart at 13:46 and 14:06 on goals by Robert Earl and John Scott. and
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 14, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes' Erik Cole (26) falls to the ice as he collides with New York Islanders' Richard Park (10), from Korea, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
The Carolina Hurricanes fight back to tie the NY Islanders only to lose 4-3 in overtime
Game Breakdown: Penalties bite the Canes again as Tim Gleason is charged with rough and unsportsmanlike conduct resulting in a 4 minute power play that the Isles cash in for 2 goals. The first a wacky bounce off the glass that rookie John Tavares deposits behind Manny Legace 3:38 into the game. Less than two minutes later Mark Streit whistles one past Legace for a 2-0 lead. The Islanders finish off the scoring after a scrum in front of the Canes net, Tavares jumps into the fray untouched and pots his second of the game. Another lackluster first period at home where Carolina is outshot 7-3 and trails 3-0.
The intermission speech works as the Canes come out skating drawing penalties and reward the effort with a power play goal from Tuomo Ruutu. The Finnish winger gets to the front of the crease and stuffs a loose puck past a sprawling Marty Biron. It's Ruutu's third goal in two games. The Canes stay on top of the Islanders and a shade over two minutes later, Andrew Alberts' blast is redirected by Ray Whitney and the Canes make it a game.
The second period was one of the best the Canes have played in a while and after Erik Cole is cut by the high stick of Blake Comeau, resulting in a four minute power play that carried into the third period, the Canes had momentum. New York successfully kills off the four minutes and the Canes are left
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 11, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes goalie Manny Legace, top, snares the shot of Los Angeles Kings' Peter Harrold (5) with Hurricanes' Andrew Alberts (41) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
The Carolina Hurricanes are winless in thirteen straight, yes it is that bad.
Game Breakdown: The Hurricanes take a penalty early that results in a Kings goal as Ryan Smyth knocks it past Manny Legace after Legace made the initial save. After 20 minutes the Canes were outshot 13-2 and big reason why penalties again, the Canes did successfully kill off a 5 on 3 power play chance for a 1:50 that started to change momentum for the Canes, but Carolina was thoroughly outplayed in the first 20 minutes. But the Kings strike early in the second 2:01 in the period Jarret Stoll redirects one past Legace for a 2-0 lead. The Canes then start to dictate play and Tuomo Ruutu blisters a shot past King netminder Erik Ersberg to make it 2-1 and the Canes outshoot L.A. 11-7 in the period and also start to win the physical battles with Andrew Alberts laying out solid checks to Kings forwards. In the third period Tuomo Ruutu ties it on a wrister but the tie would be short lived. The Kings retake the lead on Andy Jones power play goal, into an open net after a neat play by former Cane Justin Williams to lure the defense to him and ease a pass to Jones. Alexander Frolov then sets up Wayne Simmonds for a back breaking goal to make it 4-2. with 9:55 left in the game. To add insult to the Canes 13th consecutive game without a win, Justin Williams, the former Hurricanes scored into an empty net to seal the game with 1:41 remaining.
The Difference:
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 6, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes' Zach Boychuk (11) tries for the rebound from Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) with Maple Leafs' Francois Beauchemin (22) nearby during first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
The Carolina Hurricanes surrender three straight goals to Toronto and are now winless in 11 games.
Game Breakdown: The Canes jump out on the Leafs early as Brandon Sutter has scored his third consecutive goal for Carolina (spread out over four games), a great play by Rod Brind'Amour to get the puck to the net and Sutter cashes in. 10 minutes later Sergei Samsonov deposited a rebound off an Andrew Alberts shot behind Jonas Gustavsson for his second of the season. Carolina out skated he Leafs int he first twenty and when Toronto had scoring chances, Cam Ward ward answered the bell on a solid save early on Jason Blake and one later on Phil Kessel. Canes up 2-0 after twenty minutes, the first time since October 9th that the Canes have had the lead going into the second period. The second period belonged to Toronto scoring 1:12 in the period on John Mitchell's first. Carolina had plenty of scoring chances but couldn't cash in. Toronto ties it six minutes and eleven seconds later. The period ends tied at 2. Rod Brind'Amour takes a penalty halfway through the third that Jason Blake scores on. Carolina pelts Gustavsson with 18 shots in the third but can't score.
The Difference: Penalties again...This time Rod Brind'Amour takes a holding penalty that Jason Blake and the Maple Leafs score on midway through the third period.
What it means: When you are the second worst team
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By Mike Maniscalco
Nov 1, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes get hammered 5-1 by the San Jose Sharks and fin themselves with the second worse start in franchise history at 2-8-3.
Game Breakdown: The Canes and Sharks play an even first period, after starting out with chances early Carolina withstood San Jose's first few scoring chances. After a scoreless first period, Brandon Sutter opened up the scoring with his second goal of the season and his second in as many nights blistering a shot past Evgeni Nabakov, from there it was all San Jose. The Sharks score twice 1:22 apart on goal by Kent Huskins and Brad Staubitz. Huskins goal comes from a bad angle and off of Ward, Staubitz caps off a great shift by giving the Sharks a 2-1 lead. 10 minutes later the Sharks score again and have a 3-1 lead. In the third period the Canes pressured the Sharks but could not solve Nabakov, Chad LaRose rings a shot off the post and Ray Whitney was denied on a great chance that lead to a two on one the other way that ends up behind Cam Ward and the Canes trailed 4-1. Patrick Marleau adds a power play goal and it spells the Canes ninth straight game without a win.
The Difference: The Sharks constant pressure on the puck in the third period int he Canes zone. San Jose had puck possession and when they did not the Sharks had solid play in the nets from Evgeni Nabakov. Carolina's inability to pick up players in front of Cam Ward and clear out rebounds and on the other side of the rink, get to
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By Mike Maniscalco
Oct 29, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes can't overcome a bad start and fall to St. Louis
Game Breakdown: The Blues jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The Canes gained life on Joe Corvo's power play goal but could not carry that momentum over to the second period. The game started out chippy, with a two fights in the first 20 minutes, Jay Harrison taking on Brad Winchester and Tim Conboy mixing it up with Cam Janssen. The Canes had a line change miscue in the the second that resulted in an odd man rush for St. Louis that Andy McDonald deposited behind Cam Ward. Carolina could not solve Blues goalie Chris Mason and the Canes continue to have issues passing the puck. Scott Walker scored in the third period to make it 4-2 but that is as close as it would get, as David Perron added an empty net goal to send Carolina to the 5-2 defeat. The Canes toughness and taking penalties aren't the issue in this one, but the problems in the offensive end continue to baffle the this team.
The Difference: The Blues ability to connect on passes and capitalize on Canes mistakes.
What it means: The Canes are letting points slip away in October. It doesn't mean much at the moment with 71 games left on the Canes schedule...but. points not earned in October find a way to haunt a team in April.
Off the boards: The Canes once again give up goals inside a minute. St. Louis strikes twice in 16 seconds
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By Mike Maniscalco
Oct 15, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes storm back to tie Pittsburgh, but Pens prevail in shootout for the 3-2 win.
Game Breakdown: Carolina stormed out against Pittsburgh with an early push, but fell behind 2-0 after two periods. Mike Rupp had the Pens first goal in the first period and Evgeni Malkin beat Cam Ward to the near post to stake the Penguins to the lead. The Canes answer with Ray Whitney in a monster third period with two goals, both on deflections. Both goaltenders came up with timely and big saves as Marc-Andre Fleury and Ward were spectacular at times. Ward had 36 saves to Fleury's 27, and none bigger than Ward's glove save in the third period on Bill Guerin to keep the game 2-1 Pittsburgh. In the shootout, Jussi Jokinen was the lone goal scorer for Carolina, although Matt Cullen had the game on his stick and hit the crossbar. Pittsburgh had Sidney Crosby score on a patient move waiting to go to the back hand to beat Ward. Chris Kunitz ended the shootout as the sixth Pens skater to take aim on Ward.
The Difference: Kunitz, the 12th shooter of overtime, beating Ward in the skill competition. Ward was brilliant from Malkin's goal in regulation on.
What it means: The Hurricanes show push back, down two goals in the third against one of the NHL's elite teams. Paul Maurice and the coaching staff mix up the defensive pairings, placing Aaron Ward with Tim Gleason, and
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By Mike Maniscalco
Oct 14, 2009
N.C. State head coach Tom O'Brien on September 26, 2009.
Let me just start this out by saying I am a fan, I have felt joy in championships and pain in losses. I also have covered teams for 15 years now, if you include my college reporting days, and have noticed a nasty trend developing, nasty being the key word. If a team loses to a weaker opponent then it is time to fire everyone.
Folks just need to calm down. A caller to Tom O’Brien’s coach’s show this week had a rather unflattering suggestion for the N.C. State head coach, which is to pack his bags. Really? Is this where we are as sports fans?
Look, a fan base that has given money at a level on par with Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma expects results and it is great to want your team to be that great. The reality is that O’Brien was asked to build a program from scratch, a cupboard left bare by the previous regime that promised and did not deliver, and it doesn’t happen in three years. O’Brien builds winners and student-athletes who have character. Just take a peek at how Boston College has not vanished since he left. That is no fluke, but it takes time. Time apparently is something that fans don’t have anymore.
The problem I have with that caller to O’Brien isn’t that he is railing against N.C. State; it is that this kind of “fan” is happening everywhere. See Florida State or any SEC school that has three losses. What happened to giving teams and people time to build? Everyone loves a
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