Hurricanes Tripped up by Bolts, 5-2
by Bob Wage on Oct 10, 2009 11:13 PM EDT
29 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night, 5-2, as Cam Ward valiantly made a ton of outstanding saves in the losing effort. The Lightning out-shot the Canes in the first two periods 17-9 and 11-7 but the goalie was able to keep his team in the thick of things until the deciding third period.
The Hurricanes were called for seven penalties, adding to their league leading total in that category. The penalty kill looked good and was equal to the task until the 13 minute mark of the third when Steve Downie tipped in a shot from the point to give the Lightning a 4-2 lead.
The Canes looked sluggish in the opening period as the rested Lightning seemed to skate circles around them in the offensive zone. But the period ended up scoreless due to great work by Ward.
After goals were so tough to come by in the previous period, the puck seemed to have eyes in the second. Eric Staal got things started with a powerplay tally as he used his patented wrap around to put the visitors ahead. It was a short-lived lead though as the Lightning would tie things up less than a minute later on a blast by Paul Ranger.
Ryan Malone would put the Bolts up by one with a backhander just 15 seconds after Ranger's goal. It would be the first goal of a hat-trick for the ex-Penguin.
But the Canes tried to make a game of it. Rod Brind`Amour scored on another powerplay as he answered with a backhander of his own. The second period ended up tied at 2-2.
The third period was all Tampa Bay on the scoresheet, even if Carolina did even up the shots on goal stat, (10-10). Ryan Malone would score his second of the contest when the Canes defense failed to control a bad bounce off the boards. Jussi Jokinen took a retaliation penalty and Downie scored his insurance tally with the man advantage, and Malone finished things up when he dove on the ice past Staal and hustled to knock in an empty-netter.
The Hurricanes had won their last two games, plus eight in a row spanning three seasons over the Lightning, but the home team put an end to both streaks. Next up will be the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
Game Notes:
- Eric Staal made several nice plays later in the game. He faked out Vincent Lecavalier on one sequence, and broke open for another open shot after that, but Antero Niittymaki was up to the challenge.
- The Canes were out-shot for the game 39-26. Staal led his team with eight.
- The hits were even for both teams, 19-19. But this was Carolina's lowest total in some time. They had 32 last night and 42 the game before. Niclas Wallin, Andrew Alberts, and Scott Walker had three each.
- The face off percentage was abysmal at 34%. Cullen was 20%, (2 of 10), Brind'Amour 29%, (6 of 21), Staal 33%, (6 of 18), and Yelle 70%, (7 of 10).
- The fourth line had reduced minutes as Yelle played 8:10, Kostopoulos 7:35, and Conboy 3:32.
- Joe Corvo led the team with three blocked shots and 27:23 of ice time.
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Cam was (and is) all one could want from their #1 goalie. How in the heck Ranger’s goal snuck under his pad is a total mystery. No question that he single-handedly kept us in the game for quite a while. He sleeps well tonight.
Staal’s eight shots our of our meager total of 26 were all dangerous and not merely padding his shot count. His opening goal was something out of nothing. Sheer creative goal-scoring effort. He sleeps well tonight.
Brind’Amours backhander was a thing of beauty right into the upper righthand corner. Classic Brindy. He sleeps well tonight.
Malone certainly deserved first star. He was a beast. Niittymaki second, in my opinion, because he was just great. Probably Cam for the third, just for holding ’em back for as long as he did.
Disappointing outcome, but it will be good fodder for the coaches to use during the many practices that should be available in a two games in ten days schedule.
I’d pretty much agree on all that. You could tell they were off from the first puck drop.
I’d add that the penalty thing has to change or it will haunt them all year. While I think some of the calls were garbage, we still made too many mistakes and were playing shorhanded in front of a hot goalie. Was a real waste of Cams skill./effort
A
Cane's game
It was a good game for 21/2 periods. but ,everyone knows you have to play 3 periods. Maybe we can take care of business wednesday night against the pen’s.
robert
I thought there were some positives to last night-few and far between as they were.
1.Cam was nothing short of spectacular which may or may not be recognized by someone solely looking at the boxscore. He kept them in this game for as long as he could with very little help-although outside of the two goals in the third, I thought his D stepped up as the game went on.
2. Staal had his best game thus far this season, hands down. People said he played well against Florida, but I wasn’t impressed. Last night, I was impressed.
3. Rod notched his 1,168 point, putting him two away from Bobby Hull for 47th place. That’s a record I would like to see tied and broken within the next month or so. I know it’s still early, but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from him-a comeback may not be entirely out of the question at this rate.
4. The PP finally clicked-twice! In the same game! While that isn’t a for sure indication our PP troubles are over, it’s at least a step in the right direction.
The only thing I do not agree w/ you on is Staal. If we were judging him on the same standards that we would judge Jussi, or Walker, or any of the guys who play on the lower lines then I would say that he is doing great…. But I really expect more out of him. He should be judged by and accountable to higher standards than any other player on the team. Friday night his passes were never on point. He had several pucks that he just lost…. and he just seemed lost for most of what I saw.
The amazing part of all that is that he still managed to score an unbelievable goal last night…. But I really expect more out of him than what I have seen so far.
Otherwise our team didn’t look too bad last night if you closed your eyes and didn’t watch take into consideration that they played really hard the night before….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 11, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I said best game so far this season; certainly not his best game period and most definitely not the best we should expect from him. Friday night was not a good night for Staal and I agreed with people who voiced that opinion. Heck I voiced that opinion myself and got quite a bit of crap for it-I need to learn to avoid saying things about him in front of people wearing his t-shirt. The positive I was trying to point out is that last night held less of the negative things I saw Friday night and more of the things that I expect from him. I saw glimpses of playoff Staal and “take the game in his hands” Staal that I hadn’t seen up until that point. Granted, there is still quite a ways to go before I’d consider him up to where he should be, but that’s true of almost everyone on the team right now so I was going with the half full glass.
And I don’t hold him to the same standards that I hold a player like Walker to because you can’t. They are distinct players with different roles on the team and I’d like to think I judge each player based on their individual roles and corresponding expectations. For example, I’m not going to rag on Gleason because he didn’t score 15 goals. That’s not his job. I would however be disappointed if he had an awful defensive night and let opposing players take runs at his teammates all while pretending he’s a forward.
Phew that was long. Sorry. :)
no chemistry with the puck, they dont know where their linemates are in the O-zone, limited puck posession.
On a positive note, the Rats manhandled Rochester. I remember the analysts at the draft saying Bowman was a steal in the 3rd round and that is ringing oh so true.
Good point about Albany and Bowman – I went ahead and put up a fanpost with some links. The local press is quite taken with all the rookies and overall sound pretty excited about their home team.
I saw Bowman some at training camp in September was very impressed – he stood out on the ice for his speed and confidence with the puck.
Some bad news though: Brett Carson broke his wrist in Friday night’s game and is out 4 – 6 weeks.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 11, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Same old song and dance.......
I think we look pretty much like we did last year, which is also what most predictions were about this team. That being said, games like this will come back to bite us in the ass at the end of the season. Those 2 pts. were a must from a team in our division.
I also think Joni is our missing link right now, our D is lost right now.
I saw our guys skate into each other way to much last night, they still don’t know where each other are ( looked like the bad news bears on skates).
Staal again was very slow for most of the game. I noticed it took him a few minutes to get up when he was knocked down ( which was ALOT). On one play he was pushed down and by the time he got up everybody else was on the other end. That hurts because he is my fav player, but he needs to pick it up maybe watch some tapes of AO.
Win two lose two win two lose two…….get used to that this season.
Agree with you about Joni which I never thought I would say (him being the missing link for the team-I’m not his biggest fan). I’m all for a tougher, more aggressive E.Staal, but how would tapes of AO help? So Staal can master leaving his feet prior to a hit? ;)
I understand your point
on Joni… but it seems like the D should be more in tune then they are, by now!! They have been playing without Joni all offseason.
by packpigskinfan25 on Oct 11, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Our speed is down in Albany learning chemistry or some crap, I guess that’s good because there is none on the Canes yet. I think the best thing I have seen out of the Canes is the pairing of Staal and Ruutu with Whitney or another puck handler. Staal is a force to be reckoned with and when paired with his pacifier the whole line can be shut down by taking Staal out. It appears now that if you double team Staal and try and take him out Ruutu hurts you or the other forward makes a play to the D or back to Staal.
I know most of you love Cole, I hated when we brought him back and almost cried when they resigned him. He’s a shadow of his former self, he has never fully come back from the neck. Staal is not an AO, Crosby, Datsyuk type player. He need good line mates and then that’s when he shines. I think Staal is also a little bit of an underacheiver, he doesn’t play hungry every night and I wish he would. I am beginning to think it may be a confidense issue. As his faith in this line seems to grow, like Ruutu crushing a dude off of Staal, he’s getting ballsier.
I think they are the line to watch for explosive points.
I hate to shit on Cullen, he’s one of my favorites. His whole carreer he’s been a hot and cold guy. I need him to find his A game and turn it on and keep it on. Oh yea, and buy Brindy a dam beer or something and get some face off tips, Cullen shpould be well into the 45-50% area to be a 2nd line center and I think that’s his spot on this team.
And quit taking all these penalty’s. We obviiously are having trouble winning games, playing a man down only hurts.
My .02 and worth what ya paid for it.
A
Totally agree with you…. Stall has all the symptoms of “new baby syndrome” (I’m gonna get hell for that one). He has not been very good so far…
He may be a 50-goal scorer some day if he would not wait until after New Years to get going…. He needs to wake up!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 11, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Joni is a head case…. nobody believes me right now…. but I’m telling you…. my bets are on Joni being a total head case for the majority of the season…..
When the coaches say the he is “medically ok” to play but that the player “just doesn’t have the confidence” to play….
He makes millions…. tell him to hire a therapist….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 12, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought Alberts and Harrison looked pretty darn good battling against the boards behind Ward for most of the night. Harrison is starting to grow on me, and Im starting to really like the guy. Hes not afraid to shoot. Maybe Im wrong but I thought Alberts and Harrison stood out more than any other dman. I also enjoyed AWard turning around and manhandling St. Louis early in the game.
Agreed, I really like Harrison and Alberts. They’re never going to be 40 goal scorers (or even 20 for that matter) and if that’s what people expect then they are going to be disappointed, but they have a distinct role on the team and play it well. Up until Friday, I hadn’t seen either of them in person so I didn’t have strong feelings one way or the other. But after watching Alberts just ruin people along the boards and seeing Harrison have a really solid game, I’m trusting JR more and more.
More on the positive notes side of things, I continue to be amazed to watch our team hit as well as any team we see these days. We give as good as we get (19-19 in hits last night) and sometimes give quite a bit more (32-10 against the Panthers)
On top of that, I now see as many cross-sticks, shoves, pins, etc. going on after the whistle that come from our side as the other, unlike last year when we were seemingly manhandled after every whistle. Wish that kind of stuff just was not tolerated at all…but, since it is, far better for us to give than get.
Candy Canes we certainly are no longer. This team has some swagger to it that I like…a lot.
you also see us as one of the most penalized teams in the league…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 11, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
True ’dat. But, most of ’em are due to being caught flat-footed and/or being beat down the ice (see “slowness” factor below).
But, I am optimistic that tendency will be drastically trimmed (‘cept for Ray, who just can’t seem to help himself at times). That’s just not what this org expects. And, ultimately, we will get what we expect (“Cut that out!”).
unfortunately we got slower as we got bigger. Bigger can be better, but unless our D can move the puck then we have regressed. Pitkanen worries me, because if he’s not healthy then our D has problems. Are the Canes hiding problems with Pit and his knee? We’ll see.
Long-term, we do have to begin to look forward to blending in the speed we have cooking in Albany with some of the acquired toughness here.
I also think we can and will move faster, as a team and individually, as the season progresses and confidence grows.
Pitkanen I think will be fine and a horse for us again this year. He’s in better shape than last year and proved then that he can take a lot of minutes.
Taking it easy on a post-surgical knee is just good asset management. It’s a long season.
It’s odd how 3 to 4 weeks has come and gone and there is still something wrong. Maybe there is just more to the story (or injury) than what there telling.
by canescup on Oct 11, 2009 8:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
see my post above…. Joni is a head case…. I’m telling you…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 12, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
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