CANES FINALLY LOSE TO RANGER IN EMBARRASSING FASHION

Carolina

With the undefeated streak of 16 games finally snapped, the Canes look to rebound from a game which they wished they could have back. During the game, the continuing feud between electrifying right winger Alexei Kovalev and captain Shane Doan seemed to escalate.

"These two need to work this out now," said head coach Joel Quenneville. "They were chirping at one another most of the game and to me, that shows lack of focus. We need to be focussed to win in this league."

The Canes fired 35 shots on net but the story apparently is the lack of effort shown by Kovalev. Doan confronted the winger at the end of the second period where a shoving match began.

"Alexei needs to step up when we need goals," said Doan. "He is supposed to be the man, supposed to be the go to guy. He gets paid more than anyone on this team to play like that? Hell, Welly was out there giving it and Alexei was too busy watching the clock like he had somewhere else to be."

Kovalev, who ended up -2 in the contest, was responsible for both short handed goals that the Rangers scored. Kovalev was stripped of the puck once and made a bad pinch on the second.

"It was a bad game," said Jay McKee. "We need to move on and forget about it."

Kovalev could not be reached for comment. The Canes next game is against the Penguins.