There’s no argument that the Canes will have their hands full with the Red Wings tonight. Hopefully, I’m there to see it. With freezing rain forecast for Chicago and Detroit and the early 5 p.m. start, there’s no guarantee I can get from Montreal to Detroit in time for the game, although I re-booked myself onto the first direct flight today, which is scheduled to leave in a little over two hours, knock on wood.

Worst-case scenario? Hop a WestJet flight to Toronto ($79 CAN), cab it downtown ($35 CAN) and take a noon VIA train to Windsor ($98 CAN) that is supposed to get in at 4 p.m., then cab it to the Joe ($15 CAN). Five years ago, with the exchange rate that would have been a lot cheaper.

Enough about my problems. The Canes chartered out last night, but their day isn’t any easier than mine, facing the NHL’s top team on short rest etc. etc.

“The key for playing them is trying not to be in awe of them and sit back and watch,” said Hurricanes forward Ray Whitney, making his first visit to Detroit since the Red Wings bought out his contract in August 2005.

“When we watch teams, we’re not very good. We have to be ready right from the start to compete and play our game, which is what you saw (against Montreal). … You sit around with Detroit and you have to pay the price.”

[More:]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeff Hamilton was back in the lineup so the Canes can roll four lines. With Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby out, a good night from Carolina’s fourth line would be a huge advantage. Andrew Ladd (7:58 Saturday), Trevor Letowski (10:48) and Hamilton (healthy scratch) should certainly be well rested.

Meanwhile, think Chad LaRose is fired up for his first game at Joe Louis Arena since he was a 7-year-old mini-mite?

“I’m jacked,” said LaRose, who has procured 60 tickets for friends and family. Of course, his last visit didn’t end well.

“I had a penalty shot and I missed,” LaRose said. “I cried all the way home.”

Whitney, on the other hand, isn’t buying any extra tickets.

“I have some good friends from there from the year I was there plus the lockout,” Whitney said. “I don’t think I was there long enough to have made any mark or impression on the people of Detroit.”

12/09/07 at 11:44
Good luck in your travels. Get there safely. The bigger question is for the NHL. Why do they allow a team to schedule a 5 p.m. game against a team that not only plays the night before, but is coming in from Canada. Poor Detroit has to play the next night in Nashville. The 'Canes should have requested that the game be moved to 7. They have switched their game on Wednesday to 7:30 to accomodate Canadian t.v.

12/09/07 at 13:53
CDN $45 for a cab downtown from Pearson, not including tip. The $17 alternative is the Pacific Western Airport Express downtown that drops you off at the Royal York Hotel across the street from the train station.

12/09/07 at 15:41
Good luck getting there Luke. Let us know how it goes!