I was hoping for a Hurricanes win in Game 1 over New Jersey. What I got was fun. In fact, it was almost too fun.

Before I get to the paranoia…

“Lucky bounces” aside, Carolina turned Marty and the boys inside out this afternoon. (“Lucky bounces” is apparently a trademark of the Associated Press, as they stuck with that line through at least three versions of the wire copy on this game. Nevermind that the first rule of hockey offense is “get the puck on net and good things happen”. Whether that good thing is a rebound that comes onto the stick of one of your forwards (see above), or a supposedly invincible goalie come playoff time putting his stick down to help it between his legs and/or off his defenseman and into the net (see goals 1 and I believe, 3), you get the puck on net and things work to your advantage. So AP, please kiss my 6-0 ass.)

Now, that said, I’m terrified about Game 2. Carolina had their way in this game, and after five straight one-goal games (including the last four wins) over Montreal, they finally opened it up and put it away. That said, Montreal also won the first game over Carolina quite convincingly, and we know what they’re doing right now. (FORE!) Well, not right now, because it’s dark. But you get the idea. New Jersey is too veteran to think this will be too easy, but getting game one under the belt in convincing fashion is a relief. I did, however, enjoy watching this “veteran” team loose their cool after about the fourth goal (see above), and Marty getting yanked after the sixth. (Oh, and that little shit Brian Gionta getting knocked around after one of Cam Ward’s 21 saves was pretty damn amusing, too.)