Canes stomp all over Habs; Habs trounced 6-2 & now only 2 points from 8th spot
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jeff Skinner has made scoring look easy at times during his first season with Carolina. For a change, so did another of the Hurricanes' rookies.
Skinner had two goals and an assist, defenseman Jamie McBain had his first career two-goal game and Carolina beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 on Wednesday night to continue its push for a playoff spot.
"Looking back at the beginning of the season, I don't think I would have predicted [myself] to be here," said Skinner, who leads all rookies with 58 points and has 29 goals. "I look back and don't predict a lot of things that have happened, so you just sort of just try to roll with it, and hopefully we can keep it going."
Cory Stillman had a goal and an assist and Joni Pitkanen also scored for the ninth-place Hurricanes, three points behind Buffalo and the New York Rangers in the race for one of the eight Eastern Conference playoff spots. Carolina has won six of its last eight.
"We're playing really well. We're playing with some confidence, and that's what you need to do, especially at this time of the year," said Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward, who made 38 saves. "You can't play with fear of the what-ifs. You've got to take care of your business and enjoy the challenge that we have in front of us."
Mike Cammalleri and rookie P.K. Subban scored power-play goals for Montreal, which held a 40-35 shots advantage yet lost for the fifth time in seven games.
"We knew they were going to be desperate. They're fighting for the playoffs," Canadiens defenseman Roman Hamrlik said. "We just were not ready mentally. ... I don't think we competed, and they outworked us tonight."
Carey Price stopped 22 shots but allowed four goals in two periods for the Canadiens. Alex Auld replaced him to start the third and finished with seven saves.
"I can't blame the goalie," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said. "I think it was more tonight where our defense, we made some mistakes that cost us."
Habs lose again
Hey Hey ! Again... another thread about the Leafs and guess what ? another post about the HABS !
