Carolina Offense Shooting Blanks, Lose to Devils, 2-0
by Bob Wage on Oct 18, 2009 4:01 PM EDT
161 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes could not solve Martin Brodeur on Saturday night as they dropped a contest to the New Jersey Devils, 2-0. The Hurricanes offense is now ranked 28th in the league, averaging a paltry 2.0 goals per game. More importantly, they remain just one point out of last place in the Southeast Division.
The Hurricanes "powerplay" only had two opportunities to make a difference, but could barely gain possession in the New Jersey zone. They finished with zero shots on goal and the unit is now ranked 29th in the league at an unbelievable, 11.1%.
After delivering a season high 48 hits against Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, the team was credited with only five hits Saturday. If not for the outstanding work of Cam Ward, this is yet another game which could have been a runaway for the opposition.
Some positive news for the Canes is that Joni Pitkanen returned to action and looked good. He played a team high 28 minutes and seemed confident at bringing the puck out of the Hurricanes zone. He also made a few nice plays on defense.
Cam Ward was the story for Carolina though as he kept his team in the game and stopped 28 shots on 29 attempts. The one goal that did get by him was not a shot at all, but a bounce off of Jamie Langenbrunner. The Jersey captain crashed the net and had the puck bounce off his shoulder when Ward tried to knock the puck out of the crease.
The other goal was an empty-netter by Zach Parise.
While the game-winning goal could be considered lucky, Langenbrunner created that luck with his hustle and desire to crash the net, a strategy the Hurricanes forwards should take note of.
The loss gives the Canes a 2-4-1 record, good for fourth in the division. Their five point total is five points behind division leader Washington. It's still very early, but the team can not afford to fall too far behind the Caps and expect to make a legitimate run for the division lead. The team has now lost three games in a row.
The Canes intentionally took an easy path through training camp in order to save energy for the regular season and keep people healthy. They played an NHL low four exhibition games. How has that strategy worked?
They have yet to field an entirely healthy roster for any game this season and now Aaron Ward went down last night with an "upper body injury", forcing the Canes to rotate five defensemen most of the game. Eric Staal has been nursing an injury and Staal, Brind'Amour, Cullen, Pitkanen, Samsonov, and Aaron Ward skipped practice Sunday.
It will be difficult to fix what's wrong on offense when so many players can not even attend practice.
Game Notes:
- As mentioned previously, the team was credited with only five hits. Tuomo Ruutu had three. That stat does not seem accurate, but the team intensity was obviously not the same as in earlier games this year.
- Andrew Alberts dropped the gloves with David Clarkson in the first period and took the Devil to the ice as he controlled the bout.
- Carolina had 26 shots on goal, but did not have the same quality chances the Devils had.
- Cam Ward once again was awarded one of the stars of the game, but had a loss to show for his efforts.
- Tim Gleason had another solid game and led the team with three blocked shots. Pitkanen had two.
- The Canes won an abysmal 38% of attempted faceoffs. Brind'Amour led the way with 50%.
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first!
hope the Canes can find the net soon, it’s a shame to lose out on the points this early in the season… could mean making or missing out on the playoffs.
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Oct 18, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions
it was good seeing Pitkanen back out on the ice tho. Thought he looked pretty good considering how much time he had missed.
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Oct 18, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions
Bob,
WOW. I knew the team was strugglin but when you look at the numbers it makes me feel even worse. 4th in the southeast? Horrible. Faceoffs? Last in the LEAGUE in scoring? Let’s hope it’s a deep draft in 2010-11.
by Cane Addict on Oct 18, 2009 4:15 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
It’s actually considered one of the weakest in years. Tho the top end talent is good. But it’s way early to make those plans.
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 18, 2009 8:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
We talked about this (among other things) last night and I just wanted to get your opinion on it Bob.
While Staal’s dedication and toughness is not in question, I wonder if it wouldn’t be more beneficial to both him and the team in the long run to not play him if he is injured. To me at least, it’s clear that he isn’t any where close to 100% despite not practicing. I know the team as a whole is struggling to score goals and that as one of our top offensive producers, he’s an important component of getting off that slide, but bottom line is he isn’t producing. And it’s not because he’s not trying (I know that we give him a hard time, but I think most of us understand that he is really trying), but because he’s hurt. Frankly, I’m concerned that this iron man streak may result in him being out for a long period of time if he’s not careful. Am I completely off base here?
Jury's still out...
…for me. We’re only 7 games in with this abysmal 2-4-1 record (yes, I know, almost 10 percent of the opportunities now gone).
But, three road games from now (NYI/COL/MIN) we could be sitting at 5-4-1 and we’d be saying “Mmm, okay. 1.1 points per game pace says playoffs, but need to step it up a notch for the division. Like the roll they’re on.”
No question they’re underachieving, but where they are at 10 games, or even better, 20 games will be a better indicator of what we have. There’s a stretch of very winnable games in early November that should have us with a decent point total by the mid-November 20-game mark.
Right now, it’s an intensity thing to me…individually, and as a group. We’re just not winning enough microbattles, despite a seemingly speed advantage. It’s not universal, but some seem to still be missing a gear for whatever reason.
Good news is this should be the easiest thing to fix on the fly. Now, what to do about the power play…well, that’s another issue.
Personally I don’t think they can win the next three games (NYI/COL/MIN) . Game one counts for two points just like the 82 nd game. Every game is as important as the next.
Get the puck off the boards and to the middle of the ice. Somebody has got to go to the net, and somebody has got to have the smarts to get the puck into some space. Winding the puck around the boards over and over is just a waste of energy. Let Pitkanen be more risky with his place, because last night he was the only one who looked to have the creativity to generate anything.
Penalty Killing
Another positive is 100 % penalty killing including 1:43 5 on 3. Beyond that and Cam Ward there is not much more positive to talk about.
I think it is a stretch – if I remember correctly, Alberts also made the mistake that lead to a breakaway for that first goal…
by Andrea's evil twin on Oct 18, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
My bad – Kaiton made it sound like a breakaway… maybe someone who actually SAW what happened can help me out here…
by Andrea's evil twin on Oct 18, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh man I’ve been waiting for this!!!
First lemm get the Staal bashing over with. He sucked, he’s going to suck until he get’s fixed, keep him off the ice. If it’s not a physical injury and he just can’t stand not playing with Cople trade him, better yet, shot him, then trade Cole. We lost a good part of a whole season with some phantom shoulder injury. His problem is motivation not an injury. Start peeling his friggin’ skin off in little bittty slices and feed it to starving chickens in front of him until he decides to play.
Enough for now.
The rest of the team looks like mite/squirt/pee wee hockey. It woid be funny if you didn’t want one team to win. I hear that Rod is coming back, blah, blah, blah,. Well the bus is leaving and he’s still not even consistant in the FO circle anymore, wake old man, you are done. Yelle, same bus, don’t forget the Geritol. Walker at least still has grit, but he’s not the player he was. Somebody mentioned speed (initials are Elsker) I have been pining about the lack of it. I think play so far has shown this team is WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY slower than the last few years. Now it’s begining to show.
This team screwed the pooch, the fans and themselves this summer. Thought they had it all worked out and karma was gonna carry the day. That short preseason was the stupidest thing I have ever heard of, if you got pussy’s, weed them the hell out, don’t say “Oh gee, wait until points are on the line”.
The choice to not hold tryouts and/or ignore what little there was is coming back now and I hope is bitter as skunk piss. There is almost always gonna be injury and call ups. So instead of thinking forward and bring the youth up we bring in Yelle and retain this veil of veteran superiority. Well guess what, while they make nice plays when it’s right in thier reach they ain’t doing much else and the chemistry of this team sucks. The friggin’ D has looked like the Keystone cops on a few occaisions. The forwards just are not getting it done. Barring the game before last night there has been no hunger and no drive, this looks like a bunch retired nobody’s that don’t care and are just collecting a check. Maybe some of Lavi rolled off on them.
This lack of effort is why I gave up being a STH. They are not playing hard enough to earn my money. I workk a helluva lot harder for my nickels than what I am seeing here. While I did like Pits and Rosie had some effort, they ain’t the Captain or the marquee player. Ward is one and he’s the only reason we have any stat life and aren’t just rock bottom 30th across the board.
I had several more to make and I am so pissed off I can’t keep them straight, maybe a drionk and I will try again.
Outside of Ward there is nothing working right on this team
Oh and the lack of a PP, told ya that was gonna kill us but even I had no idea how pathetic it could get. Hell I got an idea, have Cam dress out as a forward and stick in Leighton and give him a shot on the PP, God knows he can’t do any worse. Hell if we can get Ward scoering too, Mr. Hockey take on all new meaning.
Screw it, I’m gonna go eat dinner and be back later,
Rant to be continued,
A
Strange, I actually liked brindy’s play last night. He seemed to be one of the few working hard.
If we have so many people missing practice, maybe we need to jsut bring up a whole line from albany. I am sure they would rather be where it is warm this time of year.
Congrats on the job!!
Your attitude and I mean this with the utmost respect, is part of the problem. Your defending Brindy on a night he was under his usual FO percentage and had 0 assists and and 0 points. When you set the bar so low that he doesn’t drool or drop his colostomy bag it ain’t hard to see the glass half full. I expect a little more out of the captain of my team.
I bet the Rats would of put up a better game. They at least would of honored Cam’s effort with matching effort. I have no sympathy for any loser than didn’t give his all. I don’t think one man on the ice could say that was as hard as they could try. If they do they are a liar or pathetic, probably a pathetic liar.
Many people shit on Sutter cause he got slammed by weight, Wallin did the same thing last night. It happens over and over all the time, it isn’t a sign of anything more than a rough sport.
That kid should be here on this team now. He’d be the beacon of light Mo could use to shame the rest. I don’t think whether you like Sutter or you can deny the fact the kid would be playing for his life every night. That’s what this team lacks, that’s what JR’s short sightedness has given us. Points are gonna be a bitch to come by this year and we are gpoing to need more of them. Somebody also forgot to tell Atl. they were supposed to suck. This division is gonna get real crowded and ugly.
We were supposed to come out of the gate strong and start racking up points. This team just looks racked.
A
I don’t put a lot of weight on fo% this year, the refs have been a bit spastic in how they are dropping the puck this year, as well as knocking people out of the faceoff circle. Half of the faceoffs I have seen have left one guy standing there looking like he wasn’t ready, probably because the ref was holding him off while dropping the puck. (not for our side, but in the several games I have watched for other teams as well)
The sutter hit is apparently used by New jersey tv as part of their commercial. I think that could be a great motivator for the kid. But I was one of the doubters during the off season-wondering about going bigger in a league that awarded our ability to skate fast well into the third period, adding more and more veteran players while the kids in Traverse city were doing such a good job. At the same time, which team won the AHL last year? Hershey-the capital’s team. Which team won the ECHL? Charleston stingrays-the washington capitals team. While the kids definitely bring hope for the future, they haven’t really shown a true season’s worth of winning form yet. Plus JR likely has his orders too-if his boss says “get more defensive players, I will spend to win the cup this year” he had better do so. But so far none of this year’s moves have worked nearly as well as last year’s.
Rant part deux, scratch that I hate the frenchy’s,
Rant continued.
I blamed Mo two games ago and wanted the team to step up and they played a pretty solid game, the only solid effort all year and it was weak in the second. Still good effort and I think Mo was happy. Last night they interviewed Mo inbetween periods and he was livid. It was the first time I have ever seen look like he wanted to be somewhere else. That tells me Mo wanted to build on the previous game and the wheels didn’t fall off the bus. The bus turned into a little yellow on and the guys turned into tards and didn’t do their job.
Mo has a good opportunity coming up with this inane fair road trip coming up. He will be able to control about every aspect of every players life on and off the ice. I would expect Mo to take full advantage of that. In Colorado or Minnesota rent two adjoining hotel rooms with no heat for the whole team. Go in and kick one of toilets off the flange and tell them they better learn to get along and get organized.
I can’t at this point fault the coaching staff outside of maybe Francis. It’s not like the guy doesn’t know the deal so I’m inclined to believe the team just isn’t meshing yet. Goaltending has been great, that and effort would make this team way more successful.
I reckon that’s my core beef. This team looks stupid. They blow the easiest plays, yet occaisionaly make great ones. They are too slow to pinch, they better learn that, because apparently all that veteran savvy isn’t worth shit on that one.
You know I just went back and watched some points to pick out and bitch about certain players. You know what I see? Nobody was having fun or excited. Looked like a bunch of guys having a shitty day at work. Once you get the idea in your head your job sucks or is unfair or if he doesn’t do this I’m not gonna do that, it sucks. This team needs to find out who they are and if there be some folks that don’t fit, shit can ’em. No matter how good this team can be, they gotta start earning points. It is still a business after all.
I tried to be glass half full for over a week…..
Oh well, to the glue factory with the old guys and bring up the kids!!!!
A
Look at these paragraphs!!!! hurray!
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 18, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Mo actually said a lot of what you just ranted. Not in so many words or as colorfully, but the gist was the same.
“Our power play and our five-on-five game is suffering from exactly the same issues — we’re slow in what we do. And a puck to the net is not the first mind set, and that’s what we have to get to. The plays that we’re trying to set up come after. They come after you’ve driven the net and pounded the puck and you find the seams. And that’s the same with our five-on-five game: we’re trying to make the plays before we just do the simple, ugly things.”
Where did you get that? I was trying to find video of the post game presser and couldn’t?
BTW, don’t tell me stuff like that it will go to my head!!
A
from Branecky’s blog
Our power play and our five-on-five offensive game are suffering from the exact same issues," said Maurice. "We’re slow with what we do. A puck to the net is not the first mindset, and that’s what we’ve got to go to
Also sitting out Sunday’s practice were Staal, Rod Brind’Amour, Matt Cullen, Sergei Samsonov, and Aaron Ward. None are expected to miss any game time, including Ward, who left Saturday’s game after the first period with an upper body injury
GM of CanesCountry.com
Thanks CG and Bob. I’ve been vulturing waiting for the opportunity here, but have been looking for stuff like that and it was like the cone of silence!! Anybody got the postgame presser on vid?
Thanks again,
A
I am pretty sure that since it’s an away game, the Canes don’t have one. NJ doesn’t seem to have one either.
Hmmm, last year I was pretty good at finding them, might of been HULU or something, I don’t remember. I think there is a presser after every game, isn’t there? Seemed like it last year.
How’s the weather down there? Got a durn frost warning up here.
A
There is one after every game, but if it’s not a home game Canesvision doesn’t cover it. As far as it being somewhere else, I don’t know.
The weather here is bipolar. Literally. Yesterday it was freezing and rainy. Today it’s sunny and comfortable.
Maybe for Mo , too.
Hey can Andrea prescribe drugs now??? Man have I got a Christmas list!!!
Just kidding..
A
Oh, why? I mean I was kidding. Hell my chemistry is probably still good enough to whoop up whatever i wanted, just don’t party like that anymore.
A
Nope, not one of my super-powers…
by Andrea's evil twin on Oct 18, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
BUT WHY? WHY are they SLOW, WHY isn’t getting the puck to the net the first mindset, WHY does the power play suck sooooo bad, WHY is our five on five game suffering?? We already know these are issues what we need to know is WHY they are issues. Mo apparently knows ALL the issues so why are they still issues? Are the players not motivated? Are there more injuries than have been made public? Does he need to sit Staal out a few games? His not playing at 100% at this point is most likely NOT in the best interest of the rest of the team, regardless of his iron man streak. THANK GOD for Cam, if not for him things could be a lot more grim. I am a glass half full kinda girl so yeah, the Alberts/Clarkson fight and Cam were the only higlights of the night for me….
From my youth in the military units/squads, etc. got scrambled up every so often. I know when we were all friends and tight, we were alot better than when you are breaking in and training new guys. I think some of the why’s are due to the fact of a non existant pre-season/no red white game, not much time together, very differant playing styles for some. All boils down to having new kids on the block and older veterans that are twilighting.
My .02, not a clue what Mo thinks….
or maybe I am Mo and just post here to blow off steam..
Gotta love the internet,
and no I ain’t Mo.
A
At this point, it's just a lot of maybes
Maybe Mo doesn’t now why they are still issues either. At some point, there’s only so much coaching you can do and then it’s up to the players. Maybe it’s because they expected to pick up right where they left off (everyone producing and rolling along like a machine) and now that they aren’t, they are freaking out and gripping their sticks too tightly (I’m more inclined to believe it’s this one). Maybe they don’t have quite as much chemistry yet as we thought they would. Maybe they are hurt. Maybe they’re just lazy and don’t care. Maybe Staal really is lost without his human security blanket (could we just sit Cole on the bench next to him?)
Yet more "Picturesque Speach"
not a vision I needed to read.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
he’s too talented/highly paid to need a security blanket, get over it dude. I believe some of the chemistry thing but as early as most got to Raleigh for “Brindy Camp” I think that’s kind of a stretch? There are certain players who stand out to me so far as much improved, Gleason being on top of the list, unfortunately he doesn’t score goals. Cam has looked Awesome so far, Joni being out has certainly hurt the team but the loss of one player should not make that deep an impact. I don’t know what the answer is just some observations on my part.
Don't be.....
especially if team members actually read these pages.
Get them thinking what they look like in the eyes of their fans.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
And that's a bad thing how?
(jk Paladin6) but it was there for the taking ;-D
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Yea, I think CG had too many slams and let that one pass. She and Jenni rarley miss an opportunity!!
A
If we were to gang up on one of them on occasion
we’d be bad guys and ostracized.
Such a double standard, like the “avid fan”/“stalker” thing.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Oh why start now?
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
he’s too talented/highly paid to need a security blanket, get over it dude.
I hear you Jen. Trust me. But for all his talk about not needing Cole, I really think Staal plays better with him than without him. I don’t know why (I’m thinking it’s more mental than anything else hence the security blanket title).
As far as the chemistry thing goes, it’s more of a concern with the d-men I think. Pairings have been different how many times through 7 games? Albe and A.Ward have both said they’re still getting used to their partner. But considering that most of the forwards are the same from last season, they don’t have much of an excuse on that aspect of the game.
Again, we’re in total agreement. Cole being in or out of the lineup shouldn’t make or break his game.
I think he's more hurt than he lets on
and that while is “tough”, there’s that line between “tough” and “foolish”
I think if he’s that hurt, he’s not borderline, he’s crossed the border.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
I’d have more respect for him if he admitted he was hurt and took care of himself thereby taking care of the team in the long run. This refusing to sit out baloney isn’t doing anyone any good.
Weird is not the word I'd use.....
“WTF is he thinking” if he’s doing it again, is what I’d call it.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Wait...what are you talking about?
Jen threatening to get out the milk was the weird part. Is that what you’re talking about?
The team is pathetic, I think they are trying to be last in every category, and doing an awesome job at it. I’m tired of hearing fans say it’s only **** games in but once you get so far back there is no catching up. Looking at our division and how we are playing we need to start looking at the draft for next season. I don’t think we will be last ( we’ll save that for the NYI again) but we will be down pretty low. Thank GOD we have alot of contracts due this season because the team needs an over haul. JR started with the Yelle signing and I’m still not sold on TKO ( whoopeee you got a shorty) what have you done since. PP has been bad going back to the Whaler days and I don’t see that changing. We are to old and to SLOW.
Maybe, just maybe half way through the season we may be talking about how awesome the Canes look, but I just don’t see it.
What more do you want Kostopoulos to do? He wasn’t signed to score goals, he was signed to grind out a few minutes a night on the 4th line, kill penalties, and punch people.
Funny though he sucks at punching people. He’s gotten his ass kicked every time.
by canescup on Oct 18, 2009 7:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Pathetic, LOL!!! That reminds me of that Michele Therien speech from a couple of years ago, i still laugh about that!!
7 games down and 75 to go.....
and I read some people are hoping for a deep draft? Right now, the only draft I get from that is the one blowing between their ears. (Yeah, I know it’s Canescup but that particular style of breeze would explain a lot of their posts.)
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. If the Canes have just 25 points after 35 games, yeah I might start posting like Canescup.
But right now, chill, enjoy the games and look forward to a Canes’ rebound.
OBTW, to appease the hockey gods, I’ll put Staal’s bobble head in his own corner with an actual “Cone of Shame” ala the dog in that movie (never saw it so I don’t know his name) and I’ve deleted both Game 7s of the first and second round when they beat the Devils and Booins.
If the Hockey Gods demand blood, I’ll give ’em some.
Also, I look forward to Nov 7th at the Cary Ale House to see some of you in our own “Cool Bar from Canes’ Country”.
Ciao
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
I agree LCD. I’m not freaking out yet. I’m disappointed that they have started poorly yet again. But there is still a lot of hockey and it wouldn’t be the Canes if they didn’t make it harder on themselves.
While they may think they always have to live up
(or is it down?) to their moniker “Cardiac Canes”, there are times it’s to over done.
This is one of those times.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Agreed
Wouldn’t it be nice if they just played well consistently? That way they wouldn’t have to score multiple goals in the third period to win or come on like gangbusters after the break just to make the playoffs.
It’s looking like the Canes have decided that people were giving them too much credit before the season started, and to combat the word that they should be in the pack for the playoffs and the “clear 2nd place team in the division” they are trying to knock themselves down to being written off. At which point they will then make their miracle run to barely make the playoffs.
It’s the strategery of the Canes…
by Pirate Caniac on Oct 19, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
Plenty of time to second-guess JR’s trades of FA’s for players/picks/prospects later. We’re not there yet.
I’m pretty sure JR has a Plan B (and more) IF this group doesn’t work out.
The org has lots and lots of assets right now. Making an example of a few of them to bring up Paladin 6’s kids has and will always be an option.
Just not, as you say, YET. :-)
I think more than a few of the players
know that as well.
Be interesting to think though that could be at the root of the issue for the Canes. Their play smacks of guys doing too much or not enough with their line mates. Like Staal’s one-too-many-pass to Whitney when he had the angle. Or so many of them trying to do it all themselves.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Breeze.......nice
You know the NYI started talking about Tavares ten games in last year and look what happen.
What I’m saying is they look JUST THAT BAD so you never know. I see you are one of those fans that keep saying uh it’s only two games in…..uh it’s only 5 games in…….uh it’s only 10 games in……uh it’s only 15 games in. Wake up man, there is two huge points for every win (you know that right) EVERY POINT IS GOING TO COUNT THIS YEAR IN OUR DIVISION. We could very easily get behind the eight ball and finish last. The other teams in our division have shown they are stepping up this year…..Canes have NOT.
;-D
Like I said, when it gets later in the season and they are still playing like we could get a team together from this board and beat them, our posts will be indistinguishable.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Can I be the enforcer? I’m bigger than most of the Canes, and with the way most of them fight I figure it would be a pretty easy job…
by Pirate Caniac on Oct 19, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions
The reason I can remain so calm is that IF it turns out to be such a nightmare start that we cannot recover (and I have been a STH through a few of those seasons before), then I also know that JR will begin to make it rain.
By the trading deadline, this org would be so rich in prospects and picks that we would be set for a decade. Not a bad scenario.
But, I’m not going to start thinking about that path just yet. Doubt JR is, either.
1.1+ points per game is the playoff pace. Yes, we’re off that pace, but it’s not a straight-line graph phenomena. We need more data points before any predictions can reasonably be made, that’s all.
As long as the team is actively trying to fix the problems, I don’t see a reason for fans to freak out just yet either. I am sure they are aware there is a problem and just as anxious to get things back on track as we are. If for some odd reason, they all thought every thing was peachy, then I would be concerned.
So, back to the game
Honestly, a goalie duel that ended with the only goal (forget the EN’er) being hit off the goalie’s stick before unfortunately then being bounced back into the net off of someone’s shoulder…
Well, that’s not really that disappointing of a performance.
Thought their scoring chances were better than ours. Thought our goalie was better than theirs, despite the shutout saying otherwise.
This was a L, no question. But, not a bad L in my book.
We can play with those guys.
yeah we can play with those guys…but the devils are not a good hockey team right now, and “playing with those guys” and losing in regulation doesnt earn you points.
The consistent effort is whats lacking. The last 5-7 minutes of the NJ game is the way they should be playing for 60 minutes.
You 2 have a certain tenacity…..sick in it’s own way, but admirable in it’s strength. That will haunt me for awhile..
btw lcd posted that some of the players may actually read this, I would imagine that’s 2 unhappy hockey guys.
A
Tripp may have lost a little of his ability to reach out to the team
darn that.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
He's going to have a difficult time for a while
too bad
so sad
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Hey this one was all Jen. I will admit, I may have planted the seed. But she watered, fertilized and harvested that bad boy.
Ah, naked pics
inter-spaced with the terms “Fertilized” and “Planted the Seed”.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
So is my mind dirty enough for this board?
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Well Jenniwa30
my night has been ruined.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Oh, I want to keep you as a friend.....
so I won’t say what I’m thinking.
A conservative is someone who wants to get rid of all illegal immigrants,
Just as soon as those guys finish mowing his yard and building the shed
Oh dear God I hope it’s me…
yea, right, that’s what were talking about….
I just can’t believe Jenni ain’t lopped me off at the knees yet..
A
I’ve had 2 baseball and 2 hockey games this weekend. (with the boys). All I can say is that it is very strange to read this dialog all at once from an outside perspective….
Haven’t read every comment but has anyone pondered whether the solution for “shooting blanks” – as Bob aptly describes it – is a team-wide symbolic reverse vasectomy – some kind of extreme ceremony seems to be in order to remediate whatever ails them. Has Wallin got some more voodoo to give? Cam is the only guy impressing me (beyond words) every night. The rest are riding on his coat-tails.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 18, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I was wondering where you’d been. We’ve pretty much fallen apart in your absence (and for that matter, the absence of the real Carolina Hurricanes) so I completely understand how strange everything must sound. You should really check out the game thread from last night-some of the best (and scariest) parts of the night happened right there.
I think we all just silently agreed to leave the shooting blanks comment alone although I don’t think the double meaning was lost on anyone. Maybe Cam should be the one doing the voodoo. But as good as he is, I don’t know if even he has enough for everyone.
From a previous life i understand impotence can be hard (no pun) to deal with. So shooting blanks kinda was fitting. I always wondered if my time as a shrink would be worth something…
A
So what you are saying is that with all the weight of expectation the whole team is putting too much effort into playing the game and trying to score, and that all that effort and mental strain is doing is making the problem worse?
Two things have always worked well for me-dumping the girl, or alcohol. Depending on whether I liked her or not. What is the league policy on HWI? (hockey while intoxicated) Should they be on Cialis, so a hockey game can breakout any time the canes are ready? (I don’t know how many are healthy enough for hockey activity.)
Hockey games don’t last for longer than 4 hours, so I think they’d be good.
by Pirate Caniac on Oct 19, 2009 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions
cole
Any idea yet if Cole’s injury (4-6 weeks) is going to be on the 4 week or the 6 week side of the ledger. Seems that if it took an MRI to find the fracture that it isn’t that bad.
It's easy to be critical
and say this player sucks and that player should retire. Granted, we were all excited about the start of the year and there’s no way to say the Canes haven’t disappointed in the early going. But the D and, especially, Cam have been very solid. Outside of the Boston game, they’ve given up 14 goals in 6 games in regulation. I don’t think the Rats would make us better on defense. Offense has been a challenge, but it’s gonna be all year — we don’t have a scoring line and our energy guys — LaRose, Jussi, Samsonov — can be negated with some size. The coach mo quotes at the top of the thread are spot on; until we start throwing pucks at the net and forcing the defense to react to our offense we will continue to struggle with scoring.
I think the Canes are close to breaking through. Hopefully, this road trip will help with the team’s chemistry and get guys to start believing in each other and having some fun and just letting the puck go. I’ve said before that Staal needs a sniper on his wing — I’d settle for some speed at this point; just someone who can get up the ice with him. With a nod to Paladin, I’d really like to see Boychuk come up and get some time with Staal on the first line, just for the speed. I know he’s a center for the Rats, but he’s a left-handed shot and might give Staal and Whitney a boost on that first line.
Believe me, I feel everyone’s pain over the slow start, and I remember just missing the playoffs because of bad stretches early in the year. But the D and goaltending are off to a good start and can carry us until the offense starts to click. So I’m gonna keep wearing my lucky t-shirt under my jersey and keep having lucky dinners for road games and keep believing. Go Canes!
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