Division Woes Continue - Panthers 3, Canes 2
by Bob Wage on Nov 25, 2008 10:49 AM EST
42 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have a tough time winning the Southeast Division if they can not win the majority of their division games. Last night's loss to Florida gives them a 3-5 divisional record. While they are 2-0 against Tampa Bay and have split games so far with Florida, they have yet to beat Washington or Atlanta in four attempts.
Coach Laviolette seemed happier with last night's effort, but it was not good enough to overcome the last place Panthers. As we mentioned yesterday on the blog, Florida coach Peter DeBoer called out his team. They obviously responded and seemed to have more jump than the Canes did, especially in the opening period while taking a 2-0 lead.
In the second period, the Hurricanes turned it on and kept pressure in the Florida zone for several minutes. They shot the puck and crashed the net, a simple recipe for success. The only problem is, the club does not seem to do it often enough.
Tuomo Ruutu scored the team's first goal on a rebound, and Chad LaRose scored the next, also on a rebound/loose puck in close. Once the score was tied, the team eased off a bit and Florida picked up steam. The Panthers scored what would eventually be the game winner with just a couple of minutes left in the period.
In the third period, the team could only muster seven shots on goal while playing from behind and did not seem as desperate as they needed to be. In the final 36 seconds, even with a two-man (6-4) advantage, the Canes could not get any decent shots on net and mysteriously were still passing the puck as time expired.
The loss gives the Canes a two game losing streak as they come back home to face the Flyers tomorrow night.
What's next?
Should they start taking the ice for their "pregame skates" or maintain their non-ice workouts? Should the coaches scramble up the lines again? The team's three game winning streak is now a thing of the past and a tough stretch of games is coming up.
Notes-
Joni Pitkanen was given a jolt up high last night and left the game early. No word on his status yet.
Tim Gleason reportedly is feeling better, but there is no word about his return.
Amazingly, the Hurricanes did not get called for a single penalty the entire game. Unfortunately, that meant Brandon Sutter only got about seven minutes of ice time.
Goofy idea-
Matt Cullen doesn't seem to mesh well with Bayda and LaRose, and Brind'Amour seems a step or two slow. How about they switch lines? Or maybe even allow Sutter to center Bayda and LaRose?
0 recs |
42 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
That was a very boring game…..where is the fire with these guys? On paper it’s a team that should be killing the division. It boggles the mind.
by Hanrahanfan on Nov 25, 2008 11:04 AM EST reply actions
I think Sutter, LaRose and Ruutu would be a smokin’ line right now. Hell, play them all game and rotate Samsinov and the few others that actually try and see what gives. This team is floundering.
That 3rd period was dismal, no life or spark.
A
by Paladin6 on Nov 25, 2008 12:16 PM EST reply actions
I don’t think our team sucks… but I have almost resigned myself to the fact that we are just barely above average… There is no other reason for this… Lazy play isn’t the only reason for it… I think that our team is just slightly above average… therefore we get this win 2 lose 3 win 3 lose 2 win 1 lose 3 win 2 lose 3 and so on…
Our team does not have enough talent to take two minutes off in a game… They are not the Red Wings or the Sharks…. They need everyone working as hard as they possibly can for every second they are on the ice in order to win… and until they realize that then we are going to get beat by the panthers and the predators… Two games that should have been wins but were not because our guys took time off….
I also think the coach is partially to blame… nonsensical line-combination changes during mid-game, mid-period and so on… combined with not being clear about the style of play he expects (which seams unclear at times) has led our boys into a strange wilderness which is now in it’s third season…
Moses… where art thou?
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 12:36 PM EST reply actions
Ha! Seems…
you know.. seams = seems.. accept = except… and so on… you get my point…. (be nice to me!!!)
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 12:38 PM EST reply actions
The first period was perhaps the most abysmal period of hockey I’ve ever seen the canes play. Every single puck battle was lost. At times it seemed like the panthers had 8 guys on the ice. Thats a sign you’re getting out-hustled bigtime. The second period was almost a reverse but Bubba is right…once the score was tied..especially later in the period, we let off the gas. Third period was an exercise in futility. I thought the canes had some jump but the panthers played a good Jersey Devil’s style of stymie ball. Wasn’t much fun to watch after they tied the score.
—Justin
by Justin Walther on Nov 25, 2008 12:41 PM EST reply actions
You think this team would realize what is on the line here. We are on the verge of eroding everything gained by the Cup win. Bring back LaCouture. Fire Lavi. Put a shock collar on Joni and shock the **** out of him every time he is out of position without a forward back to cover him. O and find a way to dupe the Bruins into a Lucic for Eaves trade (yeah right, I wish!)
by wylde4canes on Nov 25, 2008 1:28 PM EST reply actions
Hate the Bruins, like Lucic. Wylde, you hit it – people aren’t going to spend money in this economy on a loser, or even an average team. JR better have something cooking – there needs to be a shakeup. Pretty soon the RBC center will be 2/3 empty.
by marc on Nov 25, 2008 1:43 PM EST reply actions
I think one guy who had a below average performance that kind of stuck out to me was Leighton last night. He gave up a few big rebounds and didnt look real sharp like normal and that was disappointing. I thought he could come in and get us a win while giving Ward a well deserved night off. I also dont like how from my point of view he kind of threw his teammate under the bus and blamed the third goal on him. In a post game interview he said something along the lines that he didnt see the puck on the last goal because of two people skating in front of him but that a defender told him that it went off of them. I just dont like that from a goalie. If you didnt see it then just stop there and take the blame, you are a goalie after all. Am I looking at that the wrong way or did anyone else think that too?
by Jonathan on Nov 25, 2008 1:54 PM EST reply actions
By the way, I think the team looked bad all but parts of the second. Really didnt deserve to win that game but I thought we might be able to pull one out!
by Jonathan on Nov 25, 2008 1:59 PM EST reply actions
This thought/idea is not fully developed (and I’m at work) so maybe others can clarify or finish it for me, correct me, or expand…
The problems stem from what I consider the intersection of a few variables. We are always teetering on the edge of success and there is so much skill in this team. We see flashes of brilliance. This is why we are all getting so frustrated and pulling out our hair.
Anyway… back to the “intersection” or “mixture” concept… *This is perhaps obvious and applicable to any team, but it is even more so and even more important for the Canes – because the table is so delicately balanced on these legs.* Things are so delicate right now (and we have a “high risk” system/team makeup anyway) that without 110% every night in each of what I consider key “ingredients”, or with one key ingredient missing, the Canes fail.
The mixture/intersection of the following: (A) raw emotion and 60min effort, (B) physical presence on ice and in front of the net and finishing of checks for time/space for skill fwds, © goaltending, (D) points from the big boy(s), and (E) the system – the up-and-down-the-ice transition system Lavi employs in the offensive and defensive zones (with limited emphasis on Defense – exception and when it works is when they go outside their system with subtle changes like with the Coyotes and successfully against other teams recently and press the transition forecheck hard).
We knock on the door so often but things are so high-risk and delicately balanced (especially on top of an already high-risk system) that with one ingredient missing and without everything operating (OR EVEN PRESENT – LaCouture, please!), the whole house of cards falls apart and we fail.
Did I miss a present-day CanesTeam-specific “ingredient” in the intersection/mixture?? Maybe this is a ridiculous way to look at things. I dunno. But we can’t point to ONE thing. It is the mixture these specific variables and how they apply to this particular team/coaching makeup.
Or not… and maybe this is just crazy.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 25, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions
I disagree about Pitkanen. He definitely got burned at least once this year for a goal while he was pinching but iirc, that was right after he came back from missing a few weeks. Perhaps his teammates have learned how to handle him on the ice but I think he’s been one of our best players on the ice..especially the past few games. He’s been responsible and also is easily our best passer. He hits guys moving forward instead of dumping the puck up the glass (or straight to an opponent like babchuck).
by Justin Walther on Nov 25, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions
Leighton did not put up a great perfomance, no doubt, but I did not take his comments as throwing anyone under the bus per se.
I do believe that it would have been a valid point, even if he was calling a guy out. As a defenseman, you need to be aware of the fact that you are screening your own tender. Hell, if you can’t be bothered to get in front of the opposing teams goalie, or to clear opposing forwards away from your own, the least you can do is get out of your goalies line of vision.
by wylde4canes on Nov 25, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions
Hrm…I must be the only guy on here who didn’t see anything special out of LaCouture. I’d much rather have a guy like Helminen up. He seemed to have more skill than LaCouture and aside from a couple preseason games where Dan was super high energy, he seemed slow on the ice. Why do you guys want him up so bad? If you’re looking for pure energy instead of skill, bring up Conboy. Now THAT’S a good idea!
by Justin Walther on Nov 25, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions
I still think that our team is just only slightly above average… Great teams can still win games when they don’t give 100. Our team has to give 100 for the entire 60 just for a chance to compete at winning the game…. it’s not 2006 anymore… We were ahead of the league as far as tweaking the new rules and exploiting bigger and slower teams… but the rest of the league has not caught up and passed us…. and we haven’t done much to compensate…
it’s a bummer… but I think it’s a reality… we are a mid-level team…
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions
Jonathan
I agree that if Leighton had played a good decent game we would have at least tied with a point and a chance at the win. If he ever wants to be this teams or any other teams #1 he’s going to have to do better than that. The 1st goal was the one that I blamed him for more so than the 3rd goal.
Having said that this team should have blew Florida out of the water. Another team and coaching loss.
Sarcam Alert…Is it just me or does this team seem to like having the spring and the summer off while their making their salaries? Think about it. Either that or their making bets in Las Vegas on winning some games then losing the last place teams. Think about it. It’s scary that those 2 senarios make sense.
I’m just saying…
I’m just a disgruntled disappointed full season ticket holder fan of this team right now.
by Caron on Nov 25, 2008 2:18 PM EST reply actions
Justin,
LaCouture banged bodies, consistently parked his big @$$ in front of the net, and stood up for his teamates. He may not have been a speedy forward, but we have enough of that. We need to be a nastier team to play against. I am ALL for Conboy coming up as well, I just think LaCouture make smarter decisions on the ice. A while back I said I wanted a grind line with Ruutu, Sutter, and LaCouture, but it Could just as easily be Conboy. I just want a team that will be harder to play against, and that will know how to spark it’s own fire.
Another thing I would advocate is putting Staal on the wing for a tryout. He scored two of his three goals double shifting on a line with Sutter (center), freeing him up of some of his defensive responsibility.
by wylde4canes on Nov 25, 2008 2:24 PM EST reply actions
This team was built for offense, from the D out. Pit, Corvo, and Kaberle are offensive D. Babchuck is part of the offense first plan because of his cannon. This D was put together to keep pace with the high powered offense that the ‘Canes USED to have – Samsanov, Whitney, Staal, Williams, Rutuu, Eaves, Brindy, Cullen – all are SUPPOSED to put up at least 20 goals easy, which makes our “sandpaper” & D guys – Walker, LaRose, Bayda, Gleason, Seids, Wallin & Brindy’s face off ability – all the more valuable. If you play in the offensive zone (like they are SUPPOSED to), then the D isn’t as big a worry. The opposition isn’t going to shoot on our net from behind the red line. The game plan is simply not working, because our offense is getting out worked and targeted, and no one goes to the net. With great shots from the point, you NEED bodies to go to the net – hence, only our hard working “sandpaper” players are scoring (Rutuu, Bayda). The Hurricanes lack of ability to keep the puck at the opponent’s end of the ice unravels the entire game plan and makes the goalies look worse than they are.
by marc on Nov 25, 2008 2:34 PM EST reply actions
yeah… last season when we took a good stretch after the all star game… our team had good results because we had guys like Conboy and Brookbank in the lineup and other teams thought twice about roughing us up… and when those guys were on the ice other teams were more pensive as to where they positioned themselves… I agree that our team needs to be more tough than it is…
the confusing part about that is that we have the guys to be that way… but it is almost like they are afraid of contact… Ruutu and Walker are two of the smallest guys in stature on the team… and they do the majority of the hitting and banging…. Imagine if Pitkanen grew a mean streak and decided to put his body into someone… he should be lethal out there… but he isn’t… he nearly had his head taken off by a guy who was 6 inches shorter and probably 30 pounds lighter (and notice nobody else took up for him either)… Hell… Brandon sutter has shown more fight in the past two or three games… and that’s after Weight decapitated him… he weighs 90 pounds soaking wet and plays like he is Joni’s size…
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 2:41 PM EST reply actions
marc – YES… Awesome, as usual!! You expressed and illustrated my lengthly thoughts a few posts above much more clearly, intellegently and succinctly than I can. Totally agree.. it how all of these pieces of the puzzle are mixing together. One of the pieces (or type of players/system involved) has to adjust.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 25, 2008 2:45 PM EST reply actions
You know, Sutter, Staal and Ruutu would be a nice line, too.
I kind of think Sutter is one of the better playing guys on the squad. He got squat for minutes last night. Same crap last year with Cullen. Then the Brookbank thing. I mean are these guys here to play or just have good seats and when the planets align Lavi comes down from on high and bestows minutes as he sees fit?
I think it’s been a proven fact that the best players thrive with big minutes. I do not agree with the amount the players are getting right now. Sutters skinny ass would be looking for the nearest Golden Coral after everygame to pack in the carbs he burned off in 30 minutes of ice time. Next to would be Ruutu with two plates. Seidenberg may still be on the ice…
The guys that would be cold and stiff from sitting on the bench would be our big guys. Staal and Roddy just are not pulling any weight. Then this shit about a guy getting splattered and nobody does anything? We don’t need someone else to come up, we gotta give a damn. After you kick a dog enough, he won’t stand up for you. These guys look like kicked dogs. I’ve been part of alot of hockey. I have never witnessed this lack of give a crap. If LaRose went after LaRouque and got his ass whipped, I’d still respect his effort. That’s what’s missing. Even in the wins, this team doesn’t click. Walker isn’t even doing it anymore. I’m sure he got kicked around for the hand incident. The other day when Ruutu stuffed the dude into the bench and Wallin got called for whinning. I liked that. Ruutu was passionate and played hard and then Wallin was pissed he got called and had the stones to step up and say something. I don’t give a fuzzy rat’s bananna skin purse if they play 5 on 3 all dam night if they play with that level of intensity. They are losing now, at least I could respect them for playing hard.
I along with most of the rest of the NHL teams has little or no respect for this team and I’m afraid there is little or no self respect left.
That is a very scary, expensive, hard to fix situation.
Home and home on either side of Turkey Day. Philly fans are merciless, this will be 2 interesting games.
I hope JR’s stocking up on Zantac. He had best be stressing out and trying to come up with a way to right this sinking ship.
He said we lost our play off berth last year at this time. How many times you gotta make the same mistake before you learn?
Hope all enjoy the holiday!!
A
by Paladin6 on Nov 25, 2008 2:55 PM EST reply actions
BTW, Chip over at LSB says Williams is in a Red jersey not yellow. Seems too fast for my liking. He blows that tendon again he’s gone for the season and his career may be on the line. Again, didn’t we just go through this last year and fail the test?
A
by Paladin6 on Nov 25, 2008 3:09 PM EST reply actions
Paladin,
Well said. The lack of caring is astounding. No team unity, Staal scores 3 in front of Mom and Dad then goes to sleep for two games. What the hell. Don’t these guys get it? They are getting an absurd amount of money and the franchise has put a lot on the line for them. Maybe a coaching change is in order. It seems like Lavi’s interviews are just going thru the motions too. Let’s move on. Good bye Lavi.
I am going to say it. Erik Cole ….. please come back.
by Ken on Nov 25, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions
I never thought I would say it… but I think Lavi needs an early vacation. It is obvious that his players don’t give two craps at this point… it shows… they might have got their butts chewed between the 1st and 2nd last night… they scored two early int he second and then quit playing for the rest of the night…
If they play this way against the flyers…. not only will they lose… but half the team will leave the ice on stretchers…
I’ll be there to support them…. but I’m certainly afraid to watch!
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 3:31 PM EST reply actions
Samsanovfan, thank you. I appreciate the compliments, and I appreciate being able to air my views in a blog where there is intelligent discussion as opposed to the shouting & insults I have seen (and gotten) on other blogs. (Thanks again to Bubba & Cory). I’m also thinking that everyone is more or less in agreement about what is wrong with this team. I really hope JR does do something… and quickly. That something BETTER not be rushing Williams back too quickly.
by marc on Nov 25, 2008 3:35 PM EST reply actions
I hope Williams will take his time… but even he couldn’t cure it all by himself.
This past Thursday the team had a post on their own web site blaming the economy for their lack of making a deal… I mean… they want to shed sallary. But if you trade a player who makes (say) $2 million for a player who makes $2.25 million then that is a wash (what is $250,000 in the scheme of $40 million bucks?)… They should trade someone and fire someone just to show the rest of the bums that they are serious!!!
by Mateo on Nov 25, 2008 3:42 PM EST reply actions
Lots of venting going on here today and rightfully so. This is a good place for it.
Hopefully, Williams will work his way into shape before attempting to get back into the lineup. Last year’s attempt was too soon. It’s amazing that he has come to this point so quickly. I was watching him skate last week and he looked good.
by Bubba on Nov 25, 2008 4:04 PM EST reply actions
Glad that report from LSB scared the **** out of more than just me. What astounds me is the lack of ANYTHING today from the franchise. No one is on 99.9 saying that the last two games were unacceptable, you have not heard about closed door meetings or bag skates or anything. Just apathy from the top down.
by wylde4canes on Nov 25, 2008 4:19 PM EST reply actions
I too am frustrated by the “win 2, lose 3” schedule we seem to be putting together. Since we did so well after the All-Star break last year and were basically the “River Rats” rather than the ’Canes, I wonder…
If the ’Canes were the AHL affiliate and the River Rats were our NHL team, who would you send up or down?
by Julia on Nov 25, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions
wylde4canes – agreed (as usual). Today more than usual I keep looking at the Canes website for some sort of news. As in, “_ _______ or _ __ recalled from Albany” – fill in those two spaces :) Or some feature article just to take fans’ minds off of the inconsistencies (and the fact that we lost to what was the worst team in the league by the numbers/standings) and to reassure us that solutions are actively being sought rather than accepting this inconsistency. The silence is odd and I would love to be a fly on the wall. Again, I am now thinking it might not even be just coach per se… might be this specific mixture of these particular variables mentioned above (including the on-ice system – so there is an aspect of the coach and his style choices/preferences) that does not lead to success. They have to adjust somewhere or they are going to keep banging their heads against the wall and remain frustrated. Opponents have us figured out. And patches here and there, players recovering and coming back, or line shifts still will not improve things in a FUNDAMENTAL way and lead to success.
I do think the Canes are, at the core, better than this and the team is not meeting its potential.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 25, 2008 5:16 PM EST reply actions
It is like they keep trying to force this formula to work. But this mixture of things is too delicate and risky and requires too much every night from each variable for it to work consistently. Ultimately, the coaching staff and mgmt are responsible for strategic decisions. They have to shore something up and learn from the games where they had success. And I do think there is a definite pattern in the successful games last spring and this fall – in subtle system adjustments in all three zones, in physicality, and in the particular players who are given minutes in order to emotionally shock the team.
by SamsonovFan on Nov 25, 2008 5:27 PM EST reply actions
I’m new to this site and realtively new to hockey in general, but I’m going to throw my two cents out here anyway.
The intensity of the team has changed since ’05. We have most of the same core and very similar complimentary pieces. However, the only guys who routinely get up for games are the ones on two-way contracts or those who still have Albany fresh in their minds. The ones that have been in the show for a while seem to have gotten lazy. I want to blame the players, but even those who just came over from other teams seem to contract this virus very quickly. Ruutu is probably the one exception that comes to mind, but even he comes out flat now and again.
I’m usually the last to call out a coach when it comes to other teams I cheer for, but I really think Peter has to be the problem. There just seems to be a lackadaisical mindset that our guys show way too often and the only cause I can think of is coaching.
One thing I noticed last season was that whomever we brought up from Albany came to play every night he was with the club. Those guys (Bayda, Aucoin, Conboy, Brookbank) all showed heart and toughness and that likely was a reflection of their coach. That same coach is now on the bench here in Raleigh, ready in my opinion to change the mindset and direction of this club.
I think Rowe has the toughness and coaching style that these guys need in order to stop embarassing themselves and their fans, but will we wait until it is too late?
by TrickyD26 on Nov 25, 2008 6:31 PM EST reply actions
My wife calls me a sore loser…
My response: I’ll take a team that loses every game but showed the heart, desire, and effort to try and win every night…over what we are getting now.
by WStout on Nov 25, 2008 6:32 PM EST reply actions
Hey look at the bright side the Crapitals keep losing too.
Still only a point out could or should be alot worst.
by canescup on Nov 25, 2008 6:39 PM EST reply actions
Wstout – I agree with you buddy..the effort last night was pathetic..I live in Canada and know how hockey is meant to be played..last night wasn’t it……Stall in the 1st period….standing around waiting for someone to work for him…it’s a disgsuting to watch…..this team aganst Montreal played with passion. since horse***….I don’t understand is these guys hide in the south markets because if you played like this in Canada….well Corvo knows what I’m taliking about……play your a** off or get off the ice…give me a true effort and I will respect you
by Bad Boy on Nov 25, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions
I’m probably alone on this one, but I didn’t think the effort last night was all that bad. I do think that Florida played like there was no tomorrow, especially in the first. I don’t think a team can maintain that kind of energy for an entire season. I am beginning to think that whenever this team loses, 75% of the the fans will automatically claim it was because the team wasn’t giving enough effort regardless of how hard the team played. By the way, those bag skates and closed door meetings have allegedly already taken place this season. How many times can a team do that before it loses the effect?
I also think that, on a better night, Leighton gets a blocker on the goal from Booth, maybe stops the next one, too.
I do agree that this team has too hard of a time keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and has not created enough chances off of quick transitions – one of the things this team is seemingly built for.
I have always resented comments from our neighbors to the north that seem to imply that we just don’t know much about hockey. I just do not appreciate hockey snobs looking down their noses at fans in areas where the sport is still relatively new. The Maple Leafs – other than Luke Schenn – play their butts off every single night? The Habs? Sens? Please. Stop listening to Don Cherry.
by Sluv on Nov 25, 2008 8:55 PM EST reply actions
I agree with everything Justin said in the comments. Especially with regards to Joni. With a player like Joni, it’s going to take some awareness by the other guys on the ice. Joni’s not going to stop pinching in the offensive zone, and we shouldn’t ask him to. The other guys are gonna have to be aware, and the high forward needs to cover the vacant point when he does that. Maybe they’re not doing this rotation enough in practice, but it’s not all on Joni. He’s going to make some mistakes in the offensive zone, but he’s going to help in all three zones more than he’s going to hurt us. In the past, when we’ve had defenseman with bad habits (read: Avi Tanabe), there was no upside to balance the mistakes.
by d-lee on Nov 25, 2008 9:03 PM EST reply actions
To be true…Bad Boy!! Game in and game out these guys are only consistent in their inconsistency. It’s been the one thing I have been able to depend on as a Hurricane fan. Like many of my hockey breathren here in N Carolina I got my early hockey in an original six town…I’m not too proud too admit that I’m old enough to have seen Gordie Howe skate for the Red Wings. Which is what these guys remind me of…the Red Wings before Joe Louis Arena became city hall for Hockeytown. Prior to the days of Stevie Y the Wings were just awful and quite cheap to see too.
Back to point regarding the inconsistency, this team will not win more than 4 games in a row this year. Especially with a lack lustre power play and poor execution in their own end of the ice. Many prior posts to this site have said that any team that plays Carolina tight and disallows ice they win and sometimes win big. I read some of EJ Hradek today and he’s got the Canes as a Bubble team at best this year…sad to say I agree with him.
If you list the requirements of a team set to run deep into the post season the Canes currently don’t have them.
1) Goal-keeping- I list as capable but with so many skill players in the league, Ward and Leighton need some solid defense game for game. Without that, not even Brodeur (poor example due to injury) can provide complete games.
2) Defensive play has been a train wreck…way too many turnovers as opposed to the quick outlet to clear the zone and launch a relentless offensive unit. Not too mention this corp of d men lacks grit and allows too much open ice for the opposition.
3) The forward linesmen lack leadership on the ice every night. In the past we have had steady Brind A’mour but this year he’s been off his game and Staal isn’t picking up any slack. So I can state that when your leading Forwards in points production, play on the third-fourth lines something is wrong-terribly wrong. Given the talent level here it’s sad that the one player I have truly enjoyed so far this season is Sutter-a rookie.
4) Special teams play has been the one thing that surpasses the incompetance of our blue line play. Far too much of the dump it in with a man adavantage…this is a skaters game. Move your damn feet, pass the puck, keep the zone and penetrate!! The best illustration of how poor it is has to be the Nashville game. 10 minutes on the power play in the first period alone and nothing. Two 5 on 3’s and only two shots on goal for the last one. Man I miss Jeff Daniels for this discipline.
5) Coaching-Yes I saved that for last. Laviolette rides the hot seat for certain and he knows it. Rutherford and Karmanos didn’t move Jeff Daniels to Albany and bring Tom Rowe in for nothing. Or is it that Daniels was due a head coaching gig in only his 5th season of coaching at the pro level?? I think not. Miss the playoffs again and Laviolette is gone. My money is on Rowe to succeed in that event.
I am a Canes fan through and through so don’t get me wrong folks. But unless somethings get shaken up soon we’ll have a lot more of this mediocrity to endure. BadBoy I have to add that nobody hides in the Southeast Division point blank. The Southeast Division has claimed the Stanley Cup in 2 of the last 4 seasons so wake up!! While that statement is a bit out of context from your remarks, hockey is an international sport. The sooner our northern neighbors understand that hockey does belong in the South the better this game will be understood and yes, shared. I can only close by speaking for myself BadBoy-Momma taught me to share, even when it came to my hockey stick!! Go Canes!!
by Eman on Nov 25, 2008 9:31 PM EST reply actions
Olympia for hockey and Cobo Hall for entertainment, I remember, too.
Amen, brother.
A
by Paladin6 on Nov 26, 2008 6:17 AM EST reply actions
When you can’t stop the other teams best goal scorer expect those results. Ever notice how the leading goal scorer on the other team ALWAYS pads his numbers a bit against us? That’s been a consistent theme this season, we cannot stop the other teams best player. Ever.
by Matt on Nov 26, 2008 7:35 AM EST reply actions
which comes full circle to my begging for a TRUE shutdown pairing and a grind line. Put some sandpaper on the ice instead of wide open spaces!
by wylde4canes on Nov 26, 2008 1:26 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Canes Country
Related FanShots on Canes Country
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
