Contrary to Gomer Pyle’s favorite saying, it came as no great surprise that the Penguins fell to the Carolina Hurricanes last night in Raleigh by a 2-1 count. After all, we finished the season 0-2-2 against our nettlesome Metro rival, in the process garnering only two out of a possible eight points.
Nor is it a great surprise how it happened. As they are wont to do under coach Rod Brind’Amour, the aptly named Hurricanes rolled over us like a cyclonic storm surge, shooting pucks from everywhere while piling up significant advantages in shot attempts (33-19), shots on goal (15-11) and, most significantly, scoring chances (a whopping 21-5) during the opening 20 minutes.