Please God Let Them Be A Bunch of Jerks

Hockey Night in Canada Muppet and all-around-old-man-yelling-at-clouds has made it official: By doing their "storm surge" celebrations on home ice after victories, the Carolina Hurricanes are hereby proclaimed to be a bunch of jerks. Let's unpack that one, shall we?
One, sick burn there, Don. Going to call them hooligans or rapscallions next?
Two, no grown man who dresses to go out in public like Don Cherry does gets to comment on anyone's attempts to express their individuality. When Cherry gives up the jackets that look like mid-90s screen saver patterns, then maybe we can talk.
Three, thank God the Hurricanes are doing this, precisely because it demonstrates a little bit of personality. If you look back at the past ten years of Canes hockey, it is notable for a lack of success, a lack of quality goaltending, and a lack of personality. Not only was the team always bad, but it was bad and boring, with as much personality as a stoned marmot. They were agonizing to watch, and a large part of it was that the team had no identity, win or (mostly) lose. Now, however, they've got something. Maybe it's immature. Maybe it's premature - after all, the Canes are still on the outside of the playoff bubble looking in, despite their scorching hot streak since New Year's. And maybe it's a sign that the Hurricanes are indeed a bunch of jerks who like showing up their opponents (but only on home ice after a victory), but I'll take it. Give me a bunch of jerks who actually play like they care about the result and show it, and you've got my interest. Combine that with a few actual wins, and you've got my attention.

Staaled Out

To quote a video game a friend of mine wrote, do you want to know what the definition of insanity is? Roughly speaking, it's trying to win year after year with the same core of "stars" that has failed to make the playoffs in ages.

Great Moments In Crowds Versus Jerks, Hockey Edition

Not shown: Cam Ward getting heckled

It was the guy yelling on his way out the door that made tonight's game memorable.

The game itself, not so much. Cam Ward had stood on his head for a little over two periods when suddenly the roof caved in, and a 2-1 Hurricanes lead turned into a 5-2 deficit in a hurry. And after that last goal was methodically stuffed in behind a flailing, desperate Ward by Jaromir Jagr, as the crowd started filing out toward the PNC Arena parking lot, one guy stopped as he headed for the exits.