Canes at Thrashers - Pregame Hype
by Bob Wage on Nov 14, 2008 10:37 AM EST
24 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes are in Atlanta to take on the Thrashers tonight in another Southeast Division showdown. The Thrashers are winners of four straight games while the Canes have lost their last two. Atlanta has not played since their 5-2 thrashing of Carolina on Sunday.
The Hurricanes are coming off a tough practice yesterday and should be acting like a team with something to prove. Their fans are calling them out, their coach is fighting for his job, and the general manager of the franchise has even questioned their recent work ethic.
Will they respond?
The players are certainly saying all the right things, but can they back it up?
The previously injured Matt Cullen, Joni Pitkanen, and Brandon Sutter are all healthy and should play in their second consecutive game. Frank Kaberle, Patrick Eaves, and Justin Williams remain out.
Several Hurricanes are in the middle of some dubious "streaks". Eric Staal has gone five straight games without a point. He has only scored two goals all season, (which were not empty-netters.) Sergei Samsonov has yet to score a goal all season. (16 games). Former Selke winner Rod Brind'Amour currently has the worst plus/minus stat in the league. (-13).
The Hurricanes have only scored seven goals in their past four games, not nearly good enough for a team that relies on offense to win.
The good news for the club is that they feel comfortable playing in Philips Arena. The Canes had a 4-0 record there last year and have a lifetime record of 17-4-3-1 in the rink. Cam Ward has a career 7-1 record in Atlanta and will be between the pipes again tonight.
After Michael Leighton's showing against the Caps on Wednesday night, Carolina's goalies now have eerily similar stats.
- Ward - 4-4-2 GAA 2.86 SV% .910
- Leighton- 4-2-0 GAA 2.80 SV% .910
The puck drops at 7:30 tonight and the game will be broadcast by FS Carolinas.
TGIF!
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Bubba,
Is Ward or Leighton starting tonight? Hopefully Ward.
by Jonathan on Nov 14, 2008 11:06 AM EST reply actions
Oops, sorry just overlooked the sentence up above where it says Ward will be between the pipes tonight. GO CANES!
by Jonathan on Nov 14, 2008 11:07 AM EST reply actions
Staals stat line for tonights game………..2g 1a, 7 sog……….
by TylerA on Nov 14, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions
or possibly,
10 SOG 0G 0A
hopefully not though.
you cant say he isnt trying.
and people that do are justtalking to make people think they are smart.
he deserves the long awaited ending of this streak
the look on his face when he broke his bad streak last year is forever engrained in my memory.
lets see it again tonight.
by chris j on Nov 14, 2008 11:44 AM EST reply actions
I think tonight starts the short leash for Petey boy. He better fire this team up for an epic run or his days in the triangle are numbered.
BTW IMO Staal’s slump continues until we find a way to sit him for a while. Playing while injured is noble, but it doesn’t give him time to heal and come back at 100%
by wylde4canes on Nov 14, 2008 12:30 PM EST reply actions
whatever, what is 100?
what does that mean?
is there anyone else on the team at 100?
if you are physically 100% from sitting out,
your not conditioned for the pace ofthe game,
look at sutter, first game back played GREAT
is he 100???
who knows
there is grey area here, that doesnt support the term 100
no one is 100% ever
lok at semin, great run, but was he just not 100% last year?
if staal has an injury that needs him sitting, hed be sitting.
let me say it like this:
staal sitting doesnt help us and the reason is because hes not sitting.
if staals sitting out would help the team, hed be sitting out.
thats why these people get paid money to make those kinds of decisions. its their job.
the fans know more about staals condition than the trainers just becuse hes had a bad stretch? no
-c
by chris j on Nov 14, 2008 12:51 PM EST reply actions
Well I know what I see. He is playing hesitantly, and normally when that happens to a guy Staal’s caliber it is because he is playing with some type of injury he is protecting.
And no the trainers don’t make the final decision on who get’s dressed, that is between the coach and the player. A trainer is just a consultant really. If Staal tells Lavi I can play through it, Lavi is going to dress him. If you don’t like my 100% then fine, He needs to get back to whatever percentage it is he can play without pain effecting his game.
Since when did people get so freakin’ snitty around here.
by wylde4canes on Nov 14, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions
Staal has gone down to the ice injured and come back in to play a couple of times now. I think it’s pretty obvious he’s nursing an injury. I just hope that choosing to play through it and giving a sub-par on ice product isn’t to Staal’s detriment.
by janeybell on Nov 14, 2008 1:53 PM EST reply actions
I’m too anxious to see what comes out of tonight to add anything meaningful. This is really a crucial game.
by Cory on Nov 14, 2008 1:56 PM EST reply actions
I agree Cory, tonight is a huge game for our season even though it November. As far as Staal goes, I went to the Atlanta game this past Sunday and watched the warm up and when he would take half slap shots to stretch you could see his face kind of wince as if it hurt to do that. I think Rod is another player that needs to just sit for a while until he can get going. His 70% is not even close to good enough and I think his numbers are showing it, i.e. his plus/minus.
by Jonathan on Nov 14, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions
I feel the same way, Cory. I am losing sleep over this! :) I have been reading all the comments… hope for all our sakes and sanity that they pull things together tonight. Shows how much we all care and love the Canes.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions
{ P.S. – Conboy and LaCouture, por favor. }
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 2:54 PM EST reply actions
Drop the puck!!!
Drop the puck!!!
Okay, so I am a little excited as well to add anything of substance!
by puckheadjones on Nov 14, 2008 2:58 PM EST reply actions
I just hope for the sake of everyone sitting around me that we don’t blow this game because my fuse is getting really short with this team. If people are hurt, park them on the bench and utilize the AHL roster. Being a season ticket holder and watching this load of crap on the ice is not my idea of being a happy ticket holder. My wife barks that Ward better watch his back but Leighton has a ways to go before he can even be considered a serious threat to Ward. Please for the LOVE OF GOD let us win this game.
by torinn on Nov 14, 2008 7:00 PM EST reply actions
Dammit. Dammit.
At least the effort was there… so what is the problem??
I am now more convinced that there is something inherently wrong with the fundamental system that Lavi has them playing… in both the offensive and defensive zones.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 10:09 PM EST reply actions
And the cloudy fog of negativity, reduced confidence, and unemotional engagement doesn’t help either. That is a product of the team culture.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 10:17 PM EST reply actions
This team is through… Lavi is out and he knows it. The look on his face when this game ended is proof enough for me. Hes a nice guy and a great coach but for some reason, nothing is going right with the Canes. Shame. Total shame.
by Parker on Nov 14, 2008 10:20 PM EST reply actions
Agreed, Parker. That look was more negative and unemotional than usual. I have been hesitant to load on the coach, but enough is enough. The system and team culture is not promoting: (a) the best performance from skilled and talented players, and (b) achieving the individual (and team) player progression and development possible. THE GREATEST FAILURE IS POTENTIAL NOT MET.
At least Francis and Rowe are here.
My two comments above cover my feelings on the issue.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 10:29 PM EST reply actions
I think the correct word and description for that look is: “vacant”
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions
“THE GREATEST FAILURE IS POTENTIAL NOT MET.” I love that quote. Thank you for that!
by Parker on Nov 14, 2008 10:37 PM EST reply actions
thanks, Parker :). also applicable to the promise of America and American society as well as the current state of the world (it is/was election season!), no matter what your political leanings.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 10:47 PM EST reply actions
… also, the Canes seem to win (both late last Spring and then early this season) when guys like Conboy and LaCouture are here to provide some spark and physicality. Sorry to repeatedly harp on this issue. And sorry for another post tonight (it is therapeutic). Can’t wait to now read all of your thoughts, my friends.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 14, 2008 11:02 PM EST reply actions
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