Saturday Morning

The second Saturday in March and even though the weather has been a bit gloomy you have to get excited about what we have been witnessing of late. An intense, determined bunch of Canes will throw it on the line again tonight as they meet their rivals from upstate New York. Ah yes, the Buffalo Sabres come to town. Not your loaded up hated Sabres from two years removed or even from last year's Cup or nothing crew. But this Buffalo team is fighting for their playoff lives. They are damaged in the sense that they have been economically impacted over the last calender year with the loss of Chris Drury, Danny Briere and most recently Brian Campbell. They have been hit with the cruel world of restricted free agency which has really inflated their payroll and still they press on. I got to see this team this week in Philadelphia. They played a focused game and earned two points out of South Philly. They then proceeded to go home the following night and lose to Washington. So goes the parity world of the National Hockey League. They been idle since. They need it. The Canes need it. Sound Good ?

Swing Day...

This could be a big day in terms of the standings and how things finish in the Southeast. Washington plays this afternoon in Boston (1pm). Now you would think the Bruins who have been outscored 19-5 in three games last week. Losing 10-2 to the Caps on Monday followed by a 1-0 overtime loss at home Tuesday. Then it was Toronto that humiliated the supposed playoff bound B's on Thursday. If they can do the Canes a favor today and should the Canes take care of business tonight there could be a seven point lead as you have your coffee tomorrow. That might be enough. You never know but with three weeks to go a seven point bulge is pretty secure. You  would think.

Suspendable Offenses...

No suspensions from the NHL on Friday. Nor should you expect any. Players getting hit from behind who barely escape injury. Out west a blatant high stick from Nashville's Jordin Tootoo that was deemed "A OK". The league seemed more concerned about what went on in the aftermath of the Aaron Voros  blindsider on Eric Staal than the hit itself. Yes, the attention of the league turned on Erik Cole who defended his teammate. After all he's been there before. He's had his neck broken by someone who hit him from behind. He should know better, stand around Erik and watch that hit. Although it was penalized  it doesn't warrant any discipline. Who knows it might happen again. By the way, Tampa Bay had the only suspension on Thursday. The team suspended their own Andre Roy for going crazy after the jumbotron folks in Philly kept showing him getting one punched by Riley Cote. The Flyer bench was laughing at the replays and Roy went crazy and reportedly made a "gesture" at the Flyer bench. He has to be physically put back on the bench by his coach. The team sent him home to cool off. Hopefully Voros and Tootoo cool off on their own.

Tonight's Line-up...

You can expect Bret Hedican (personal reasons) back in the Cane line-up tonight. Ray Whitney (leg) would be a surprise. There's a slight chance but it might not happen until next week. The question would be does Dennis Seidenberg stay in a Peter Laviolette go with seven defensemen. If so Tim Conboy could come out. Wade Broobank (leg) injured in the Minnesota game should be "good to go".

Enjoy !