First, thank you to all of our veterans, our current military and their families for the sacrifices that they have made and continue to make each day to keep us safe and protect freedom throughout the world. I truly appreciate it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming off a solid 2-0-1 week to right the ship after 5 straight losses, the Canes take another step up the challenge ladder this week and actually the next 2 schedule-wise. This week starts with home matchups against the 2 best teams points-wise in the NHL in Colorado and Anaheim and finishes with the 2nd half of a back-to-back with travel to play a good St. Louis team who is also near the top in the NNHL. Next week is not much easier with 2 games against Boston and 1 game against Detroit. The positive is that the Canes enter the streak having settled into a solid defensive style of play heavy on effort and work ethic and should be fairly confident after the past week's results. Hopefully that is enough to keep pushing forward and winning points, but a sudden offensive surge by the 1st line, the power play or anyone else for that matter might be what it takes to keep the current run going.
Most interesting to me over the recent turnaround has been the consistent level of effort that was not often there early in the season even when the Canes were winning. I am torn on whether to think that the team just finally found it within themselves or perhaps whether it has been a direct result of the 4th line's surge. With that line regularly playing 12-15 minutes and doing it in all situations, I think maybe the difference is how much fresher everyone is with longer gaps between shifts and also from accumulating fewer minutes over the course of the game. Regardless, it is the most encouraging thing for me coming out of the past few games and hopefully something that continues.
At the point where the Canes can keep the defense, keep the compete level and then FINALLY layer some offense on top of those is the point where this team goes on the run that puts it clearly in the playoff hunt instead of on the fence where it sits right now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are 10 Twitter-length random comments for an off day:
1-Curse the shoot out! CURSE IT! It's not real hockey anyway.
2-For those who did not pick it up somewhere else, Cam Ward is a full participant at practice as of today.
3-The Canes have won exactly 0 games by more than 1 goal. #CouldUseAnOccasionalEasyWin
4-I hope for the best but will not read too much into it if the Colorado game Tuesday does not go well. #TheyreDarnGoodRightNow
5-Manny Malhotra stole parts of Jordan Staal’s job as the #1 face-off guy and very often 1st PK unit on the ice. Not bad for a guy who started as an AHL tryout. #WhatAFindByJR
6-(1/2)At age 21, Justin Faulk skates as well in small places as any defenseman in Canes history.
7-(2/2) For 1 game watch what he does in 10-foot spaces to win a puck, keep a puck or ward off someone trying to take it from him.
8-With 5 points in past 3 games just when it looked like all was lost, Justin Peters put his stamp on the 2013-14 Canes season. #ContributionMade
9-If he works w/o the puck, Bowman will break out offensively by virtue of playing with 2 heady vets who are strong with the puck on their stick.
10-Not an easy/pretty path to get there but 2 points out of a playoff spot is not bad after 17 games. #JustNeedABurstatSomePoint
Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63
Go Canes!
Matt on Google+ 
Carolina Hurricanes Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»