Tonight's game marks #2 playing minus 4 of the team's expected top 6 defensemen. The kids/depth are getting a lot of minutes and so far are making the most of it. I am hereby naming our current defensive crew the castoffs. Of Babchuk, Hutchinson, Tanabe, Seidenberg and Commodore. Every one of these guys has been voted off the island by at least 1 if not 2 teams for very little in trade. All (except maybe Babchuk who is a little younger) are at that point in there career where they need to prove they belong in the NHL or risk disappearing. (Commodore being an exception because I think he already has made it.) The group played well on Saturday, but it was at home, it was against a struggling Islanders team, etc. But the castoffs got stronger with the addition of a new member in Seidenberg and are now 2 for 2 in terms of putting forth a decent (GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN!) defensive effort and helping pick up 2 points including a road win tonight.

I have it as definitely Hutchinson on bass, Tanabe on keyboard, Babchuk on lead guitar, Commodore (with the playoff hair of course) belting out the words and Seidenberg banging on the drums. But tell me if you see it differently.

Since I am feeling lazy, let me just cut/paste some keys from from the Islanders game blog:

1) Gritting your teeth and battling. 3 of the Canes 4 goals were of put 2-3 bodies within 15 feet of the net and then grit your teeth, win physical battles and hack at the puck until it goes in the net.

NEW COMMENTS: THE GOALS WERE NOT QUITE AS MUCH THE UGLY/GRITTY VARIETY, BUT THIS STILL SEEMS ABOUT RIGHT ON. THE WALKER GOAL WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF A FORCED TURNOVER CAUSED BY LAROSE' EFFORT ON THE FORECHECK. THE BELANGER GOAL WAS FROM A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AROUND THE CREASE.

2) Special teams. What happens if we see the sputtering version of the Canes powerplay that seems to rear its head about every other game alternating from the nights when the powerplay goals seem to come in bushels? Minus the powerplay goals, this game is 1-1 with 5 minutes left. Throw in a powerplay (0 for 4 on the night) goal from the Islanders, and is this a horribly frustrating 2-1 loss?

NEW COMMENTS FOR LEAFS GAME: SO CHANGE A COUPLE OF THE NUMBERS AND THE TEAM NAME AND AGAIN TONIGHT THE DIFFERENCE IS 2 POWERPLAY GOALS FOR AND 0 POWERPLAY GOALS AGAINST.

Okay, okay...I'm not really that lazy. A couple new comments:

1) Ward. He continues to play his best hockey of the season. He has now given up only 19 goals in his last 9 starts and has given up 2 or less in 7 of the 9.

2) Step on fingers while you climb. I hope the Canes are safely above the #7/#8 playoff spots come early April. But right now they are not. And there is no guarantee or free pass that says they will be in 3 months either. So stepping on the fingers of the teams right below us is a good thing. Islanders, Leafs...check. Coming up on the schedule - Capitals X3, Lightning.

3) Plus 2. But then the optimist in me did notice that Atlanta lost tonight and now sits only 6 points in front of us with a meeting in Raleigh coming this Saturday.

For another night, the roller coaster is on the upswing.

Go Canes!

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