RALEIGH, N.C. -- For the second straight game-day, the Carolina Hurricanes sported a special guest star
on the ice.
For Game 6, it was Erik Cole making a shocking appearance in the pre-game warmups, a cameo that led to his
equally shocking insertion in the lineup for that night's game -- despite the fact that he had missed almost four
months with a neck injury.
Monday morning, it was Carolina center Doug Weight tooling around on the RBC Center ice during the morning
skate. Weight injured his shoulder late in Game 5, was scratched for Game 6 and was expected to be a no-show
for the deciding Game 7, as well.
In fact, Weight said after Game 6 that he was in incredible pain and that he was looking at an eight-week
layoff.
Well, somehow in the magical environment that is the Stanley Cup Final, Weight might have condensed eight
weeks of recovery time into 48 hours.
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Weight did not speak to the media after Monday morning's skate, but his coach and teammates refused to
rule him out for that night's do-or-die Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton.
"We have got lineup decisions to make," coach Peter Laviolette said. "Doug looked good out there this
morning. I said he wasn't going to be in Game 6. Was asked about Game 7, (but) we'll make those decisions
when the game comes. But he looked good."
Looking good is obviously open to debate in this case. Weight clearly has an injured right shoulder. Some
reports have listed it as a third-degree separation, the worst possible separation of the shoulder. Monday
morning, Weight skated around, made a few passes, but rarely, if ever, took shots to test the shoulder.
But, the Hurricanes don't need Weight to shoot. They need him to be the creative passer that has made
their third line a threat and given extra bite to their power play. They need a guy that Edmonton
will have to account for each time Carolina enters the attacking zone.
Can Weight be that guy, at least?
Laviolette was non-committal Monday morning.
"We don't give a whole lot of information about injuries or lineups, so I am not going to go into it too
deeply. I saw Doug out there making all the passes that he usually makes."
The mere fact that Weight appears to be attempting a comeback is unbelievable and has given the Hurricanes
-- desperate for any positives after blowing their last two chances to claim the Cup -- a boost heading into
tonight's Game 7.
Does Matt Cullen, Weight's sometime linemate, think the crafty, veteran center will play?
"Who knows about Dougie," he said. "Doug's as tough a guy as there is, so who knows if he will be out
there tonight."
Was he surprised to see Weight out there this morning, grinding his way through a clearly painful morning
skate?
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Weight's value to the 'Canes goes well beyond points.
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"Nope, not at all," Cullen said. "He's as tough as they come. He's living and dying with that injury right
now. He wants to win that Cup as bad as anybody, and we know that. We have so much respect for that guy. Even
to see him out there this morning really helps us."
Kevyn Adams also was non-plussed. Since Weight joined the team late in the regular season, after a trade
from St. Louis, Adams has been impressed with Weight's grittiness and tenacity. Still, does he believe that
Weight can overcome the pain that is sure to accompany playing even a limited role in Game 7?
"Nothing would surprise me at this point," Adams said. "Erik Cole came back and played Game 6 and I didn't
know that until right before game time."
Well, will Adams be surprised if he looks to his left as he laces his skates for the pre-game warmup
tonight and sees Weight doing the same?
"It would be great to see him playing," Adams admitted. "Obviously what he does on the ice is most
important, but the guys know what he has done to try and win the Stanley Cup and we all respect that.
Defenseman Mike Commodore also hopes to see No. 39 out there Monday night as Carolina takes its final
crack at ultimate hockey glory.
"He's the definition of a hockey player," Commodore said. "I hope he goes. I hope his body is good enough
to allow that to happen."
Stranger things have happened in the Stanley Cup Final, but Doug Weight's return to the ice for Game 7,
just five days after suffering a shoulder separation will certainly merit honorable mention if it comes to
pass.
