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Apr
22

Raucous Roar in Raleigh; Canes Tie Series

20090421carnjdGame4win “ Amazing ”: The most over-used word in the English language today has been used to describe cheese sandwiches, mediocre music, and mundane software. However those in attendance for the Carolina Hurricane’s game-winning goal with just 0.2 seconds remaining last night saw something “ amazing ” in its truest sense. With the win the Carolina Hurricanes removed the twisting knife and knotted the series at two games a piece. Game 5 is tomorrow night in New Jersey, and it will be interesting to see how the teams respond to such an emotional, series turning game.

The Canes dominated the game for two periods and led 3-0 before a very late, second period New Jersey goal. The crowd was so comfortable with the game that it wasn’t even loud late in the second period and people like Lulu.com’s Bob Young (dressed in bright yellow for a Hurricanes game) exited the building during the second intermission. What these false fans missed was the newest entry to the RBC Center’s Top 20 historic moments (who could have believed 10 years ago that Opening Night of Raleigh’s first large, air-conditioned venue would be eclipsed by at least 20 greater moments in just 10 years?).

The Canes were listless in the Third and by 11:14 remaining in regulation, the Cane’s giant lead and momentum had completely evaporated. In the waning minutes it became all but clear that this baby, just like Game 2 and Game 3, was headed into overtime. Could the team and the fans stomach a Devils win that would all but end the series?

Not to worry. As Joni Pitkanen casually skated the puck along the blue line with seconds remaining, NJD goalie Martin Brodeur extended well out of the crease and got bumped by a crossing Jussi Jokinen. Just then, the puck found Dennis Seidenberg’s stick and shot like a laser, glancing off of Jokinen’s stick into the goal. The crowd went wild as the play was reviewed. However, when the referee confirmed the goal and the Canes’ win, the crowd exploded with a deafening roar so loud that not even the booming RBC Center horn could be heard. That’s loud, and that, my friends, was amazing .

Thanks so much to ESPN who did not include this as one of their Plays of the Day. The Sports Leader is apparently still staging their infantile temper tantrum.

NOTE: I forgot to add this to the story. After the game John Forslund was on 99.9FM discussing the night and told an interesting story. He was talking to (NJ players) Jay Pandolfo and (I believe) Brian Gionta after practice on Monday and the players went out of their way to tell Forslund how impressed they are with the Hurricanes fans. They said that in New Jersey the fans only applaud goals, hits, and fights. Not only do the fans here applaud those basics, but they also applaud zone clearing plays, great saves, and even great passes. He said they went on to say how impressed they are of the fans’ knowledge of the game, not just in the context of being a basketball area, but in the context of the entire NHL.

  • MikeB

    “Thanks so much to ESPN who did not include this as one of their Plays of the Day. The Sports Leader is apparently still staging their infantile temper tantrum.”

    Easily explained… a team in red and white that plays at the RBC Center cannot and will not get positive media coverage, plain and simple! *takes off his official Wolfpack tin foil hat*

    What an intense game last night. I scared the crap out of my wife (sleeping in the other room) when I squealed like a little girl. Loved the whining from Brodeur and surprised that the talking heads on Vs. and ESPN agreed that the no-call on interference was the correct one. I cannot wait til Thursday!

    Also, Primetime with the Packman did their show from the RBC Center yesterday (with special guest Rick Flair). It was most of the crew’s first game ever, and they sure picked a great one. Hopefully this will help with getting more buzz in the Charlotte area.

  • http://www.jonathanhawkins.net Jonathan Hawkins

    What a night…

  • Dana

    Mike,
    I went to eat with some friends in Charlotte in 1998 and when the subject of the Carolina Hurricanes came up, one of them said,”Yeah, after a couple of years in Raleigh they will move to Charlotte.”
    Did you know that they designed their arena for basketball to the point that they really CAN’T have hockey in there? For minor league games they push back the lower level seats on only one end, resulting in center ice being offset from the center of the lower level.
    http://tinyurl.com/cnz9bq

  • MMI

    Marty and the Devils broadcaster need to review their Rulebook — Goaltender Interference counts only when the Goalie is in the crease. Not ONCE during that play is Brodeur in the crease.

  • http:/varmintbites.com Varmint

    Actually, on Sports Center this morning, this was #2 of their Top 10 Plays of the Day.

    And it hit Jokinen’s skate, not his stick.

    But yes, it was AMAZING.

    I loved how the guy on the video kept saying that it was goalie interference — “you can’t say he was out of the crease,” he said. And then there were like 3 angles showing Brodeur being way out of the crease. Too funny.

  • Thomas

    You Tube video: That announcer has “NO CLUE” of NHL rules. Baby Brodeur is outside the crease (he hit Jussi). He has a history of complaining about the ref’s when is get’s beat.

    That was a “GREAT WIN”!

    Win Game 5 Canes, than win it in Raleigh
    Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.danamccall.com Dana

    It was the latest regulation goal in playoff history.

    In other news, the meatball calzone at the Mama Mia cart is pretty darned good. The tomato sauce is really good.

    Also Ric Flair needs to quit that tanning bed. My heavens!

  • Subway Scoundrel

    Was at the game and “WOOOOW”. No way was it interference. Marty skated forward and bumped Jussi to warn him to stay away as they had been screening Marty all night like any team against the Devils. The issue here is Marty got caught and wanted to blame it on Goalie interference.

    Outside of the fact no ref will call a non flagrant call in the last 4 minutes of a playoff games, tHis goal is good when looking at last part of this paragraph.

    69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper – This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed. In other words,goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed. Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a REASONABLE EFFORT to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgement of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.

  • MMI

    Thanks for the clarification, Scoundrel. Admittedly, my rulebook lookup came via Wikipedia instead of NHL.com. It is still clearly an allowable goal, but it’s nice to have the letter of the law in hand, too.

  • http://www.danamccall.com Dana

    I heard Darrin Pang talking about how it was “the right call” during lunch. He said,”As much as I hate to say it…” Just why do you hate to say it, Darrin? Huh??

  • Kevin

    Wow, best money I ever spent. I used this as an excuse to not buy U2 tickets, but alas, I snagged a few from a friend. I was concerned at the game, it was pretty clear our fans only had half the booze in them as Sunday, and we fell a little flat, as fans, in the 2nd and 3rd periods. But damn, did everyone wake up at that last shot. I was jumping up and down as if I was at the Jonas Brothers concert. This is already bringing back memories of ’02 and ’06. Go ‘Canes!

  • David

    That’s funny, Dana. I was having dinner with friends in New Orleans a few years back and mentioned the Hornets. One of them said, “Yeah, well they’ll be in the Big Easy before you know it.”

    He also predicted that any city that put all its chips on one industry like say, banking, would revert to inferior status to another up and coming city across the state.

  • Kevin

    I’m pretty sure the ‘Canes enjoy their split-rent status with the City of Raleigh and NC State. I can’t think of a single reason why they would be interested in Charlotte. Population? Raleigh/Cary is up to 1.1 million alone, so I don’t see a shortage there. Unemployment rate in Raleigh is a few points lower than Charlotte. RBC Center enjoys excellent highway accessibility and tons of parking. Charlotte’s light-rail and limited parking really don’t provide a better alternative. Cost of living is lower in Charlotte, and that could negatively impact ticket prices. Three major, same conference, universities provide an interesting fan base as well.

    I just don’t see it.

  • http://www.danamccall.com Dana

    Kevin,
    My friend spewed this nonsense back when published attendance in Greensboro was <10,000 frequently. Nevermind that the Bobcats are currently one of the 5 least valuable NBA franchises, rank in the bottom 5 in NBA attendance (14,526), and have never, in their five years of existence, ranked higher than #22 in attendance.

  • DanM

    Where was the FSN HD broadcast of the game last night??

  • http://www.danamccall.com Dana

    Dan,
    It is ABSURD that only games 3 & 6 will be in HD. The Canes should be blowing out the programming managers at Fox Sports South for this. My bet is that the shortage is on HD equipped production trucks. There are plenty of HD cameras out there these days. If the NHL wants to really sell their product, they should demand that all games are in HD or not allow the network to show the game. It should be part of the NHL brand (something like “High Impact, High Definition; The NHL)

    As far as our Sunday game time goes, it depends on the NYR/WAS game on Friday. If NYR finishes WAS off, then NBC will have to fill their 2pm Sunday game time with our game. If WAS wins Friday to force a Game 6 in that series, then NBC will be chomping at the bit to show that game, and we will be bumped to 7:30 on Fox Sports South (in HD). I wish it weren’t like this. I need to get a babysitter set, and I won’t be able to finalize Sunday’s plans until probably 10pm on Friday.

  • http://www.danamccall.com Dana

    One thing hit me today: if the bump with Brodeur was so egregious, then why didn’t he show ANY sign of disgust until after the lengthy play review? Why wasn’t he protesting from the time the buzzer sounded?

    His argument rings completely hollow, and it is pretty insulting that the national media is even paying any attention to his ridiculous display.

    Ever hear the term “spit the dummy”? Brodeur’s tantrum was a perfect example of this Aussie phrase.

  • Subway Scoundrel

    Dana said “I heard Darrin Pang talking about how it was “the right call” during lunch. He said,”As much as I hate to say it…” Just why do you hate to say it, Darrin? Huh??”

    I might can add a insight to this from my point of view. And take in the fact, I like Darren Pang.

    When the Canes played the Red Wings in 2002 and ESPN was comvering the games, Barry Melrose, Jon Saunders, Steve Levy and Darren Pang were announcers for ESPN. After a game, they went down to Sullivans and were hanging around. I was down there and started to hang around. Now, this is before Glenwood South was, well, Glenwood South. He talked a good game about the Hurricanes and Raleigh, but as they were getting ready to leave, so was I and Darren walked outside first. Two guys in I think Philly jerseys, maybe Maple Leafs jerseys stopped to talk to him. He did not say anything bad about Raleigh or the Canes but he did directly say to them, “This series will be over soon. No way the Canes will win this.”

    Now, he was right but I kind fo got a feeling that those guys (outside of Melrose) have not been back to Raleigh since and still see us as 1) small po-dunk red-neck town (why I hate the Redneck hockey moniker) and 2) they wished the whalers were back.

    Just got an idea that Panger was not impressed with Ralegh. Of course, hanging around ESPN guys who hate the Canes/love the Whalters, what do you expect. Especially Steve Levy.

    BTW, the local Raleigh groupies were circling their table at Sullivans. You could tell who were happily married guys and the ones who were looking to score a goal.

  • http://www.jonathanhawkins.net Jonathan Hawkins

    You could be right about Pang, but I think you are reading too much into things. With regards to his specific comment the other night, you have to remember he was a goaltender, so his instinct is going to be to side with the goaltender every time, which is likely why he “hated to say it”. I would buy more into the Hurricanes disrespect thing if not for the fact that Panger is the color analyst for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Posted by Dana on April 22, 2009 | Tags: Sports . | ( 19 ) Comments

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