This post will be updated as noteworthy things occur during tonight's feature game... the Carolina Hurricanes vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. Go CANES! I've also started to interlace my little random thoughts. I'm so glad I have ya'll to talk to while I watch my game. :)

I love Aaron Ward. This man downed Lemieux into the boards in the first couple minutes of the game. *evil grin*

8 minutes left in the first... CAROLINA GOAL!!

It's comforting to know that after a year "off" I can still just start screaming names by seeing numbers. Ok, there are a few that changed that monkey with me, but it's all good. It's like going home. Just yelling at the TV and acting a fool in my living room... THIS is hockey :)

SCORE AGAIN! CANES w/ 2 minutes left in the first. OH BABY!

Second period around the 6 minutes remaining mark... Boulerice and VandenBussche go at it. Of course my cane jerseys him. HA! I love hockey fights, best part? The resulting black eyes - so incredibly hot.

The elimination of the red line as a factor in two-line passes is definitely opening up more breakaways. I'd hate to think the thrill-factor there could fade if we see it too often. The goalies half look like they're afraid to leave their crease now despite the clearly delineated area to which they're confined.

Ok, third period the Penguins decide to play and take it to 2-1 Canes.

Hedi pulls Gonchar into the penalty evening things to 4 on 4 for a critical moment before it drops 4 to 3. What a penalty happy world we live in. A few clears and we're to the 5 on 3. Another timely clear and then the Pens drop themselves into the box. 4 on 3. And Palffy ties it up. 4 on 4 and then back to the Canes power play but no such luck... overtime. Now, if we had the Canes team of 2001-2002, no doubt overtime would be ours.

Nothing remarkable in overtime, so we're off to the shootout - also known as the death of the Chiefs, but that's irrelevant to this game. I love how they use snippets from EA's hockey game when they give info on the shootout. BIG! :) I do actually like the shootout, nothing better than the whole crowd getting their boo and cheer on (for those that don't understand, this would be the exact opposite of chillin).

Lemieux shoots first... nothin but Cam.
Stillman SCORES!
Palffy is up next... NOTHIN!
Cullen deflected.
Crosby comes in third for the Pens... DENIED!

The CANES WIN! As Ric Flair would say WOO WOOO WOOOOO!