Long-time reader Ken Berard writes that he took full advantage of his seat at Saturday's home opener for the Caps:
It's a pity that you missed opening night. Great energy and an even better game. I thought you might appreciate this firsthand account.I sat in 101, Row D, seat 11...right next to the Canes entry, behind their bench.
1st period: Semin unloads a wicked slapshot that Ward can't handle. End of the 1st period, as the Canes come off the ice, I tell Ward, "Semin's gonna light you up in the 2nd."
2nd period: Semin scores again. Ward comes off the ice. "I told you what was going to happen. I'm trying to help you out, brother. He's getting the trick next period." Ward, eyes to the ground, starts cracking up laughing.
3d period. Hat trick. Final buzzer. Ward waddles past and glares at me as he enters the tunnel.
It was a great hockey moment. It's always nice to know that you *can* get inside the opponent's head.
Looking forward to a great season, esp. 3 more home games with the Canes.
And three more opportunities for incidents like this:
According to the ever useful Hockey Fights.com, the Hurricanes engaged in 17 fights last season, five of them were against the Caps, four in the season finale alone.
