First off, apologies for the lack of updates here at Hurricanes Insider. Over the course of traveling for the holidays and invevitable lack of time to see games, we have been delinquent. We are back, as are the Canes. On the 23rd of December the Canes played their worst game of the year against the Montreal Canadiens, and that took some effort given some of the games played earlier this year. Since that latest low point, the Canes have played better hockey. The record hasn't been great, going 3-2-1 in the past 6 going into today, but the quality of play has been better.

Today's contest against the Senators had all the makings of a dud for the Canes. A 5 pm start (odd start times rarely suit the Canes), an Ottawa team that had played the night before and a relatively full building as a result of Military Appreciation Day. And the Canes did not disappoint...coming out flat and lethargic for the first period of play, and had it not been for Cam Ward holding the fort, the Canes could have easily found themselves down 2 or 3 goals. As it stood though, the first period ended 0-0.

The intermission discussion amongst the team must have been a lively one as the Canes came out with an edge in the 2nd. Kelly scored a goal that Ward would definitely want to have back, and Tom Kostopolous answered it 40 seconds later off of a beautiful feed from Sutter. From this point forward, the Canes kept their foot on the gas and did not look back. After being outshot 16-5 in the first, the Canes outshot the Sens 28-16 over the final two periods.

Tonight the Canes fought from a deficit, got the lead, and put their foot on the throat of a team that they were better than. This has not happened often this season, and was good to see. Absent of a run of mythical proportions, the Canes are playing for pride, and future employment with this organization. And it is encouraging to see some of the key cogs of the teams vets (C. Ward, Staal, Pitkanen, Gleason) meld with the youth of the future (Sutter, Boychuck, Carson).

Also, in a year when Jim Rutherford has been lambasted by the fans and writers alike (justifiably to be honest), he deserves some credit for the signing of Tom Kostopolous. This guy comes to play every night, and never takes a shift off. Add that he will drop the gloves with anyone, though he will rarely win a fight, makes him a perfect compliment to this team, now and in the future.

Interesting week this week for the Canes, facing the Maple Leafs and Red Wings. Expect to see Tim Gleason continue to make a statement to Burke for his exclusion off of the US team.

Go Canes.