Nothing like an 8-1 win to get you feeling good about the home team, and there’s nothing like an 8-1 win to make sure your five-year-old kid has a good time. What’s really amazing is that I’m not sure he saw a single goal. We were up in the first row of the 300’s (ebay purchase for $95 for the pair - that’s a bargain) and his eyes were everywhere but the ice. The ribbon board was a big hit, but then again, so was the press box. Who knows, maybe he was looking for Bucky Gleason to try and figure out what exactly Daddy’s fascination is…

I’m not sure how it’s possible to look like shit in an 8-1 game, but Thomas Vanek sure managed to pull it off. It was as if his goal for the night was to give Carolina a power play for the entire second period while missing - or hesitating on - every single chance he had. Well, except one, that is. I don’t mean to diminish his goal, but it came at a time when the game was long decided and after misplaying multiple chances. I know he’s got about $10 million worth of gripping on his mind, but he just needs to let the puck fly and hope they start going in. Maybe his goal tonight will change that.