Tonight was a complete and utter struggle for the Canes. They actually skated pretty decent especially through the first half of the game and effort was there. But the Canes looked like their sticks were greased up with slippery goop with passes behind guys, pucks bouncing over and off sticks and nothing at all looking crisp and clean. And they had their share of back-to-back game plays with turnovers and a few "cannot move my feet fast enough" penalties. But through 2 periods the Canes managed to hang around. But then yet another whiff behind the goal led to a bang bang goal, a 2-0 Islander lead and a chance for the Canes to mail it in and just long for the clock to do its duty to get them on an airplane for home after a 7-game road trip.

But in steps that heart thing. After about 1 shift for each line and D pairing following the 2nd Islander goal, Coach Laviolette uses his timeout. He starts with an intense speech and finishes with the maniacal eyes and a bunch of arm gestures. And boom, a couple shifts later, BrindAmour and Williams (with help from Gleason and Babchuk) basically willed in a goal while shorthanded. Williams got off a decent shot and then skipped the part where he goes to the bench for a line change. And the tally on BrindAmour's effort was literally a pile that included 2-3 Islanders plus DiPietro plus BrindAmour leaving Williams to swoop in and score a wraparound on the other side while everyone else got untangled. Then enter another Williams laser on the powerplay and a BrindAmour bang in, and it looked like the Canes would steal one. But it just was not going to come easy tonight. Sillinger scored a goal where you have to give him credit and fault no one on the Canes. Hedican blocked the first shot right back to Sillinger who somehow got the shot off in a split second and into the upper corner of the net where Grahame had no chance. And then a couple penalties late sealed it, but the Canes did get a tough point on the last of 7 on the road and as part of a back-to-back against a team that rested the night before.

A few tidbits:

1) 1 point for heart. As stated above, the game should have been over but Lavi willed the ditch effort needed and BrindAmour and Williams responded and just would not leave the building without spilling their guts on the ice.

2) Grahame. The competitor that he is is probably disappointed with a loss, 4 goals against and losing a late lead. But I think you have to give him credit. He gave his team a chance tonight which is all you can ask out of the difficult backup role where you get thrown in cold every 10 days or so.

3) Babchuk. I was hard on him yesterday for a couple small but significant plays. He was good tonight and was the first defenseman who decisively pinched offensively while on the penalty kill to keep the puck in play for BrindAmour and Williams.

4) Cole. We need to start a pool to guess which team is going to catch the scoring wrath when he explodes offensively. Going into this season, there were concerns about lingering effects of the neck injury and also what, if any, the scary incident could have on his reckless style of play in a situation that did not include the extra adrenaline boost from hopping into the finals. I think Cole's game looks fine; he just is not finding the net yet. Here is an interesting way to think of what Cole brings to the Canes. If you told Lavi right now that you had a crystal ball and knew that Cole was only going to score a dozen goals this year, I think Lavi is a bit disappointed, but makes zero adjustment to his role/line/ice time. How many first line scoring forwards can you say that about? He is such an integral part of the forecheck chaos that is the identity of the Canes.

5) Kevyn Adams. He did not see the ice tonight in the 3rd after his 2nd of 2 minor penalties in the offensive zone.

6) Slowly finding the 05-06 identity. In my opinion, 2 things defined the 05-06 Canes team that defied all logic in Oct-Dec last year and eventually developed into a champion - 1) A relentless forecheck and pressure that were there every shift, every night, every situation; 2) A team that lived the "whatever it takes" moniker. The 05-06 Canes came out of the locker room for the 3rd period checking the scoreboard to figure out how many (not if) they were going to score to pull out a win. Going into tonight, the Canes were 0-2-1 in games that were tied going into the 3rd, and had no 3rd period comeback wins to their credit. While they did not win tonight, they did get a point in a game that they were down 1 to start the period and 2 late in the period. They are having a little trouble summoning it, but the identity is still in there somewhere.

7) A point in the standings. 2 is obviously better, but 1 point does move things forward and also closes the road trip out at breakeven with a 3-3-1 record which is not horrible especially from where we were starting it.

For the Isles fans, believe for as long as you can, and maybe it will not end. I have not seen a ton of Isles games this year, and my 2 cents still would have them missing the playoffs. But who freaking cares. In this new NHL, we are still looking for contenders labeled as losers by the preseason expert picks. The surprises to match Buffalo, Carolina and New York (Rangers) from 05-06 have yet to be decided. Chicago? Toronto? Anyone who thinks it is completely impossible for the Isles or any other specific team to surprise just did not pay close enough attention last year.

Go Canes!

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