Last night, while watching the Hurricanes smack around the Panthers — 6 Hurricanes goals in the third period! — on TV they showed a small feature about Cam Ward and his day with the Stanley Cup. At one point they, of course, show him after the game hoisting the Cup. Quite like the picture to the right, actually. Julia turned around and said “Papa, why does he have the Piston Cup?”

(The reference may be oblique for those either not hockey fans or not Cars fans. The Piston Cup is the Pixar take on the Winston Cup trophy as seen in their movie Cars. The Stanley Cup is the trophy awarded to the champion of the NHL.)

Were I to purchase a named sweater of the Hurricanes, a serious contender would have to be Kevyn Adams. A perennial fourth liner, Kevyn exhibits work ethic and tenaciousness on defense. He centered one of the two penalty kill lines last season that stymied the best powerplay lines in the league. An alternate captain, he was also a great ambassador for the game. (Picture is from a couple of years ago at the Skate with the Canes event. Kevyn was on skates, I’m not that damned short.)

Kevyn ends his 5-year stint as a Hurricane today in trade for a young defenseman from Phoenix. A trade had to happen given the Hurricanes played a 5-man defensive unit in the previous game with injuries to Wesley and newcomer Tim Gleason. And, frankly, Kevyn hasn’t seen the ice time he used to. Laviolette has his choice of penalty killers this season, with stalwarts Brind’Amour and Williams anchoring one and several ad hoc lines featuring Craig Adams, Chad Larose, Trevor Letowski and Eric Belanger, Kevyn hasn’t played the role he had in the past. Add to that the limited opportunities for grinding it out by the fourth line this year, and you see a diminished role. Hopefully he’ll see more play time in Phoenix.

Thanks for everything Kevyn, including the picture.

I believe at one particular point in this video, the Dallas Stars’ Patrick Stefan becomes an atheist — or a firm believer in a particularly malevolent god. I invite you to see where you think that turning point is. It’s not as bad as it could be — they didn’t end up losing the game — but you can’t help but think Dave Tippett wanted Stefan’s head on a pike for the next 20 minutes.

My poor Hurricanes. They truly can’t decide whether to win or lose. After shellacking the best team (admittedly without their top goalie) in the NHL they lose to the worst team in the league. They follow that up by getting shut out by the Penguins. Tough space.

We were there on New Year’s Eve watching our ineffectiveness against Philly, all of us including our good Canadian friends who are currently visiting. It was enjoyable and exciting but ultimately disappointing. We almost force Joel — one of said Canuckian friends — to go to the can late in the third as he was absent for both of the Hurricanes other goals and we needed something, but even that wouldn’t have helped. It’s so odd to see flashes of brilliance and dominance amidst stretches of mediocrity and seeming laziness.

The coolest thing to see was Flyers goalie Robert Esche come out for his first-star honors after warding off 40 shots. It’s rare to see a visiting team member come out for three stars honors, and I personally saluted him for it along with the visiting Flyers boosters in attendance. On his way back off the ice he gave his stick to a kid in a Flyers sweater along the exit row. Entirely, completely, utterly cool and I tip my hat to him. He’s won a casual fan in me and almost certainly a lifelong fan in that kid. This is in stark contrast to other players I see who won’t even lift a hand when heading off the ice after their home three stars honors. I’m looking at you, Cory Stillman. You’re younger than me, heed your elders.

Georges Laraque, one of the most renowned enforcers in the NHL, provides some fascinating insight into an often misunderstood part of the game of hockey. Simply classic.