Canes flirt with disaster, beat Cats, keep streak alive

It was a really ugly game, but Carolina managed to narrowly avoid catastrophe as they defeated Southeast Division rival Florida Panthers 4-3 on Friday night.

In an imitation of their 2002-03 selves, the Canes were absolutely horrifying on the power play. The word "anemic" doesn't quite do justice to it. Carolina "enjoyed" FIFTEEN power play opportunities, including two different five-on-three situations, but only managed to pot one goal while up a man. Honestly, at least two of those power plays looked more like penalty kills, because the Panthers had shorthanded chances. A few other power plays elapsed without us even taking a shot.

I hate to sound like a spoiled little bitch, but the boys played like total shit, and they're very lucky to have won. They could have scored about ten goals. They certainly had ample chances. In actuality, they kind of deserved to lose. One for fifteen is completely inexcusable. Especially in our own barn.

All pissing and moaning aside, there was some good. Eric Staal once again demonstrated that he's in the upper echelon of NHL by adding one goal and one assist to his already astonishing numbers. He now has 25 goals and 24 assists in 34 games. He's on pace for a 118 point (60/58) season. On his goal, he came in on a breakaway, and wristed one past Luongo that barely eked by the right post at 4:39 of the second. He also assisted Brindy on the only power play goal we scored -- a five-on-three. That goal put the boys ahead 4-2 at 12:41 of the third, and proved to be the game winner.
Incidentally, on the Brindy goal, Marturs Gerbe picked up an assist, his second of the season. He's now in a seven way tie for league lead in goalie assists.

Viva had just scored a nifty goal at 9:38 of the third to snap a 2-2 tie. Kevyn Adams and Erik Cole assisted. Cole was being harassed, and made a ONE HANDED pass to the streaking Williams.

The Canes other goal was really sweet. At 14:24 of the first, Bret Hedican centered a pass to Matt Cullen out front. Cully had his back to the goal, but backhanded one through his legs and past Luongo. The secondary assist came from Cory Stillman.

For the Cats, Olie Jokinen scored two goals (15:41 of the first and 18:29 of the third), and assisted Gary Roberts only :53 into the second. Since the local media hands out the stars of the game, Jokinen was denied that meaningless honor, but he deserved to have the second star.

The ugly ugly win means that Carolina swept their five game home stand and have won seven of the last eight contests overall.

Buffalo cruised past Tampa 4-1, thanks to solid play between the pipes by Ryan Miller, who was unfortunately left off Team USA. Although the Sabres weren't able to pick up any ground on the blazing hot Senators, (who beat the Islanders 4-2) the Sabres victory is good news to Canes fans, as it allows the Canes to widen their lead in the Southeast to nine points.

Up next for the Canes: a Boxing Day matchup with the Bolts in Tampa. Then home against Philly, on the road against the Thrashers, and a New Year's Eve home game against the Habs.