Special Teams Implode - Wild 3 Canes 2
by Bob Wage on Dec 24, 2008 3:41 AM EST
10 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes played what could be considered a good game in St. Paul last night, but their failure to capitalize when they had their chances and a few untimely mistakes ended up costing them yet another victory as they lost to the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2.
As Ron Francis eloquently and accurately stated between the 2nd and 3rd periods, "they were playing hard, but they were not playing smart".
It's not the first time this season that ineffective special team play came back to bite this team. Fans have seen it before. Not only did they fail to score on the powerplay, they could not score during a full two minute 5-on-3. They allowed a shorthanded goal while they had a man advantage and their penalty killers were unable to kill the only powerplay attempt that the Wild had all night long as Marian Gaborik scored just 18 seconds into it.
The good news is that the Hurricanes scored the first goal of the contest. After a somewhat sluggish start, the action picked up and Carolina started to put on some pressure in the Wild zone. With a little over a minute left in the opening period, Scott Walker sent the puck in toward the crease and Rod Brind'Amour easily tipped it into the net. It was the first goal for the captain since mid November.
The 2nd period was the killer, even though it started out well. Joni Pitkanen skated the puck deep in the zone and found Ray Whitney cutting toward him. Whitney put the puck on net and it was inadvertently tipped in by the Wild defenseman. Scott Walker was creating havoc in the crease and should get some credit as well.
After that, the period belonged to Minnesota. Marian Gaborik got things started as he skated with purpose into the Canes zone. He found Mikko Koivu who sent a nice shot on net, it went off Cal Clutterbuck who was parked in the crease, and the Wild were on the board.
About four minutes later, Scott Walker was called for the only Carolina penalty of the night, but it took all of 18 seconds for the Wild to take advantage. Koivu returned the earlier favor and found Gaborik at the side of the net. Michael Leighton strayed a bit too soon leaving the short side wide open as the sniper easily tied the score.
The Hurricanes went on their second powerplay in the contest with about three minutes left in the period, but they mis-handled the puck and the Wild came down the ice with a 2-on-1 advantage. Leighton made the initial save on Eric Belanger, but directed the rebound perfectly out to Stephane Veilleux who buried it.
The third period was an exercise in futility as try as they might, the Canes could not get the puck past goalie Niklas Backstrom. Fairly early in the period, they initially had a four minute powerplay when Tim Gleason was bloodied with a high stick. But the extended man advantage eventually turned into a two minute, two man advantage as another Wild was called for tripping Ray Whitney.
The 5-on-3 looked pretty good as the puck movement was decent and the effort was there, but they never really came close to scoring. The Wild defense collapsed and the Canes could not get anything close in. They bombed away from the outside, but the shots were either over the net or into Backstrom's pads. To the goalie's credit, there were no juicy rebounds available during the sequence, he was able to steer them to the corners.
Carolina now has lost two of their last three, all on the road. They will face the Thrashers next in Atlanta on Friday night, a team they have yet to beat this season.
Game Notes-
The biggest news of the night was Maurice's decision to play Michael Leighton instead of Cam Ward. "Wardo" had been red hot since coming back from his injury, so the game time decision had nothing to do with his play. One hypothesis is that he may not be 100% and they rested him as a precaution. These are all huge games though. If Ward is able to play, he should play, especially with two nights rest between games. It would be perfectly understandable to rest him with a back-to-back situation.
Where was Joni Pitkanen during the 5-on-3? Maybe he was out there at some point in time and I didn't notice him.
Justin Williams almost lost the puck again at the blueline which would have resulted in a breakaway for Gaborik. That incident will surely be addressed during the next meeting with the coaches. Paul Maurice was not very happy the last time Williams did that during the Panthers game.
The Canes outshot the Wild 37-23, but one reason the Wild had fewer shots is that the Hurricanes blocked 17, while the home team blocked 9. Joni Pitkanen led the team with three blocked shots.
Rod Brind'Amour had a good night with a goal and an assist, but still could not manage a "plus". Walker and Whitney also had good games.
Matt Cullen has been snake-bitten lately and has not scored a goal in the month of December. Patrick Eaves remains scoreless for the season, although came close again last night.
The Canes need to learn how to play with a lead. While the team is jumping out to much better starts under Maurice, they are not finishing as well as they need to.
Washington and Florida both won last night which now leaves the Canes eight points behind the division leaders and just one point ahead of the Panthers. Carolina is in 9th place in the conference standings.
0 recs |
10 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
If you cannot score on a 2 minute 5 on 3 you deserve to lose that game. Backstrom looked great but we usually make opposing goalies look like heroes, so that was no surprise. I hope the team will continue to improve because as bad as it has been this year (ups and downs), we still have a great chance to make the playoffs. Merry Christmas!!
by grasshopper on Dec 24, 2008 7:24 AM EST reply actions
the first 4 to 5 minutes of the second period were quite horrible actually. We could not settle the puck in our own end as the Wild were all over us. It was disturbing to me that we couldn’t even get it past our own blue line.
by neaux on Dec 24, 2008 7:59 AM EST reply actions
Stall was a non factor again(when the other team’s star player shows up, Stall doesn’t), Samsonov looked disinterested and Leighton has zero rebound control off his pads = another game they shouldn’t have lost…a few more of these and we’ll be out of the playoffs again….it’s mind blogging why this team can give a 60 minute effort against Montreal, but not against anyone else
by Bad Boy - Very fustrated Canes Fan on Dec 24, 2008 8:06 AM EST reply actions
I said it earlier in the year and I will say it again, Leighton gives up TOO many rebounds!
by Jonathan on Dec 24, 2008 9:31 AM EST reply actions
O.K. Trying to pull a positive out of this game…i was really impressed with our 4th line through out the game. Especially encouraging was Sutter and Eaves seeming to be comfortable with each other.
by blacklisted on Dec 24, 2008 9:38 AM EST reply actions
None of the goals were “bad goals,” but all three were ones you like stopped. To give up one of them is forgivable, to give up two is disappointing, to give up three is unacceptable. Yes, the 5-on-3 didn’t convert, but they win with Ward in net with the way he’s been playing.
by Cory on Dec 24, 2008 11:19 AM EST reply actions
I’ll ditto Cory and add iff special teams was even a prt of this team or our start Staal exerted his will, it also should of been a win.
Lot of missed opportunity there.
be interesting how the Thrashers game goes.
Any word on if Gleason is gonna look purty still?
A
by Paladin6 on Dec 24, 2008 11:40 AM EST reply actions
Gleason’s wasnt bad. Just a tiny bit of blood in his nostril from what i could tell. Just enough to get a major penalty. Im sure hell look just fine.
by blacklisted on Dec 24, 2008 12:59 PM EST reply actions
Funny thing is, Wild management is holding Gaborik out of action for the next two games. One game too late for the Canes.
by Bubba on Dec 24, 2008 1:00 PM EST reply actions
I just rewatched the game, was doing some stuff and needed something in the background.
So I looked for technical things.
Walker was fantastic every shift. Joni needs somebody to play at his level and he will be part of a great team, whether here or else where. He was a step ahead all night, unfortunatley he was also a step ahead of our guys and got hung out to dry or got caught pinching. He played well. The so called “4th” line may have some awsome potential, Sutter and Eaves both did well. LaRose was skating very well, too and made some very smart plays. These guys deserve more ice time. Ruutu again is a force on the ice, he commands attention. Cullen, too, with Williams were something that may be a good thing. Cullen’s a little guy but back checked 2 Wild players at the same time cleanly and took both out of the play to allow a clear and was fast enough to get back in postition for a rebound. Ofcourse Backstrom didn’t cough one up.
So the negatives.
Staal. flat out a none force. He needs something, he’s playing for shit. I’m gonna go againsy a few here and say Leighton was terrible. he couldn’t hold onto squat and was caught out of position over and over. The PK wasn’t as good as it has been in the recent past. The PP sucked, that 5 on 3 needed to produce a goal. Not that they didn’t play and the Wild didn’t defend well, it’s just giving up a shorty and not making a goal on a 5 on 3 is the death nell of most any team. That’s kinda what I saw, we didn’t get any luck, but we didn’t make any either.
I think Mo boned it by putting in Leighton. I guess inter division games are more important, but the thrashers are about the only team that can’t catch us (I hope) and that’s when I’d throw Leighton in. Play Cam, he’s been the hot stick.
Cullen won a couple good faceoffs. Anyone think maybe Staal and Rod (who didn’t play poorly) need some 3rd or 4th line time? I think the thrashers is a great opportunity to test out some of the potentials. Sutter, LaRose, and even Eaves are putting out big effort. I grant they can’t play first line teams, but the thrashers we have an opportunity to shake out a few things. I gotta say that with all that has transpired all has gone well and as I thought except we have no Eric Staal of yore and Rod just isn’t the same. Other than that these guys are coming together. You give us a serious threat out of Staal, put in Cam and we win this one.
maybe still shaking the bugs out, I still am not gonna hollar for heads until mid Jan. I really think the pieces are here and somebody or something just needs to jar them into place. Williams is still coming back, but I liked him and Cullen. This team has several guys playing with some serious heart right now. I like that. I hope we can start turning that into points.
A
by Paladin6 on Dec 24, 2008 3:19 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.
