Morning Hits I: Stars, Matthews and Hanifin

“I think it’s healthy competition. I’ve spoken to both of them. They both want to win. In the end, it’s about winning. We’re in a very, very tough conference. It’s a tough conference competition-wise and then a tough conference travel-wise. When we start to have back-to-back games; hwen we play Saturday night in Dallas and then have to fly up to Chicago, you get in there about three in the morning. By the time you get to the hotel room and gotta play a five o’clock game, it’s tough. It’s a disadvantage. But it is part of the game. You don’t want to use it as an excuse.

We just think having two elite goalies is going to make a big difference for us. We’re lucky. It’s managable with our cap situation. We have the flexibility to do that and I really believe it’s becoming a two-goalie league. It’s hard for one goalie with all of this travel and back-to-backs. The league is so close. If you can win an extra two or three games because you have a rested, healthy, very competitive No. 1 goalie that you can put in any time is going to make a big difference.

Getting back to your question, I think it’s going to be a great competition. I’ve talked to both goalies. They’re very comfortable with it. They think it’s going to be very great for them. They know that they got a chance if they go on a run winning five or six games in a row, good for them. And once they start to get tired or something they have another guy who can come in and play for them. In the end, it’s all about winning and that’s what we want.”

“If he’s ready to play, he’ll be in our lineup come October,” said Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis. “If he needs more time, we’ll do what we have to do to help in that regard, as well. We want what’s right for Noah.”