The good:

• Wow, our first shootout win since 2006–curiously enough, that last shootout win was also in Philly, and was also won by the Warchief.
• We had guys scoring! It’s a miracle!
• Gritty gritty game. A “watershed moment”, as Fearless Leader would say.
• Watching that game was like having some awesomely mindbending sex. It was that intense (for the record, the last time I said that about a game was when we played Dallas to a 4-4 tie in 2001 or so). It gets “save until I delete” status, along with the postgame show (which shows the Warchief’s shootout winner).
• Crackers didn’t crumble.
• Chad LaRose. Need I say more? He’s a little yip-dog, sure–but he’s OUR little yip-dog!
• Matt Cullen = money in the shootout.
• Nicky Wallin = money on defense. Heia Sverige! *waves flag*
• (T-dub for the win)
• It is raining in Raleigh right now, 2 inches forecast for tonight through tomorrow morning. Considering we’re deep in a drought here, this is a good thing even if it’s not game-related.
• The Warchief’s shootout winner, which Biron watched go up in the air, come down….only to roll off his back into the net. How the hell do you MISS that? Don’t be expecting the Phillies to give you a call come spring training there, Marteh. Oh look, there’s a YouTube:

The Bad:

• Cory Stillman’s out for the season. Bet me? Bet me. That knee injury was, in the words of Fearless Leader, “Theismanesque”–really it wasn’t, since no snapping of the tibia and fibula occurred, but it was still bad. Very very bad.
• Bret of the Gimpy Hip needs to retire. That’s just it, he needs to retire. He’s not making good decisions out there, he’s gotten slower this season (which tells me that the hip is gimpier than he and the rest of the tribe is letting on), and he’s just becoming a liability out there. Love you like a brother man, but it’s time to mosey off into the sunset.
• Our power play has once again reached a level of futility not often seen since 15 December 2003.
• Our penalty kill is still blowing chunks–this is a “constant bad” that is an unfortunate side-effect of the puck-pursuit system that the Hurricanes play, but still gets a pro forma mention here.

The Ugly:

• Derian Hatcher and his nice little stealth elbow. Fuck you, you nasty-ass neanderthal.
• Did I already mention our power play?
• And, of course, the same people that were all “BOOOO, WE SUCK! TRADE EVERYONE! FIRE TEH COACH ZOMG!!!!!1eleventy!!1″ last night are all “YAY GO CANES WOOOOOO!” tonight. Pick a freaking lane, people. Sheesh.

So the guys are currently en route back to Raleigh, and will be off until Tuesday when Chairman Mo (the winningest and losingest coach in Whalercanes history) comes to town with the Leafs. Should be an interesting one.