Three and out

Once a team comes to town for the third time in a season, you really ought to be tying up the loose ends of your hounding efforts. In a sense, that's what we did Saturday with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Using mostly items downloaded from the team's Web site, something that has become somewhat of a preoccupation of mine, we focused on team items, adding another 27 autographs to the collection. And, as usual, he scored the most using team sheets, snagging 16 autographs from Rod Brind'Amour, Cam Ward, Ray Whitney and long-time toughie Tom Barrasso, the 'Canes new goalie coach.

Apparently, I was simply along for the ride, getting only one puck, this Team USA from Erik Cole. To my credit, I did get a couple cards each from John Grahame and Ladd.

For the second trip in a row, we missed out on Eric Staal. We saw him take his bags to the bus, but then he walked back into the hotel. It seems he's become fond of taking a back way out of the hotel. It's too bad, too, as they were only six of us waiting at game time.

Suffice it to say, barring any major trade that brings a big name to Tobacco Road, we're done with the Hurricanes for the year.