Andrew Alberts Ready for Opening Night
by Bob Wage on Oct 2, 2009 1:45 AM EDT
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Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Andrew Alberts is fired up for opening night. The 6'5 bruiser was signed during the offseason to beef up the blueline and he has performed as advertised so far in the preseason. Interestingly enough, his first official game for Carolina will be against the team he played for last year, the Philadelphia Flyers.
I asked Alberts how he felt about having to play against his former team his very first game.
"Oh, it's going to be fun," he said. "I'll have dinner with a couple of the guys, (ex-teammates), the night before, but on Friday it will be all business. Home openers are special. I have friends on the other side and I am looking forward to playing against them, but most importantly, this is my first game as a Hurricane and I am really looking forward to that. The fans will be jacked up and the players will be jacked up. It's just going to be a lot of fun."
I also asked him if he was starting to get comfortable playing alongside new pairing partner, Niclas Wallin.
"It takes time," Alberts said. "We have been working the penalty kill a lot together in practice and we are learning to read off each other. Nic is a great guy and I'm enjoying working with him."
The Carolina lineup seems set for Friday with the only question being whether or not Joni Pitkanen will play. While he has missed most of training camp and has not played a single preseason game, the defenseman has looked good at practice this week. I asked him on Wednesday how his knee felt and he replied, "It feels better everyday."
Coach Paul Maurice will make a final decision after the morning skate, but all signs seem to point to him being in the lineup.
Look for these lines if everything goes to plan:
- Staal, Whitney, Cole
- Cullen, Ruutu, Jokinen
- Brind'Amour, LaRose, Samsonov
- Yelle, Kostopoulos, Walker
- Gleason, Corvo
- Pitkanen, Ward
- Alberts, Wallin
Obviously, Cam Ward will be in net.
The Flyers line combos could be as follows, but they are subject to change: (still discussion about this at Broad Street Hockey)
- Richards, Giroux, Gagne
- Carter, Briere, Hartnell
- Pyorala, Van Riemsdyk, Betts
- Laperriere, Asham, Carcillo
- Timonen, Coburn
- Pronger, Carle
- Parent, Syvret
- Ray Emery in net
I'm taking a vacation day Friday so I can attend the morning skate and post more reports throughout the day. Check back for updates and more interviews.
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Everyone is talking about how good philly will be, but with their goal tending situation I just don’t see it.
Should be two tough games back to back, I hope we come out of it with at least 2 points.
Emery has it in him to be a solid goalie.
He’s done it in the NHL before, and he was nothing short of spectacular for much of last year in Russia.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 4:53 AM EDT up reply actions
While I would agree that Emery had a good season a few years ago in Ottawa, it’s a bit of a leap to say he was spectacular in Russia as if that translates to the NHL. Heck, Babchuk is probably a spectacular D-man in Russia.
While I’d agree that the NHL and the KHL are not a straight apples to apples comparison, it can’t be denied that Emery played well there last year and has had success in the NHL. Whether or not he can do it again in the NHL is very much up in the air, and the insurance policy of Brian Boucher is not exactly what I’d call calming. That said, Emery has a real possibility of being good enough for Philly to make the Flyers very dangerous.
Embrace big ideas!
A real possibility of doing well. And a real possibility of totally losing it. Philly can be a tough crowd and an odd choice for a historically tempermental player to try a “comeback”. No doubt the Flyers will be dangerous regardless of who’s in goal.
by drifterscape on Oct 2, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't suggesting that he would be spectacular over here.
I am, however, suggesting he’ll be no worse than adequate. He’s got the skills.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
pronger…
Pronger….
PRONGER, YOU SUCK!!!!
LET’S GO HURRICANES, clap, clap, clapclapclap, LET’S GO HURRICANES!!!
2 points hell!! I Want 4 and 6 points out of Staal and 2 shut outs from Cam.
and a beer
A
Opening Night
OK opening night finally is here so put on your skates and show’um how it’s done.2pts tonight and 2 points tomorrow night. Let’s get the season started in a big way.
robert
This game is going to be PRONGER UGLY. This is hockey baby!
When Pronger smells the RBC ice again after losing in the SC with Edmonton, he is going to start have psych jerking recall, start acting like a rabid dog and then start body slamming our players. With this being his 1st game as a Philly, he has to make a statement to their fans. I’m actually scared to see him on the ice. God Bless our players tonight. I don’t see any of our players being a match against him tonight. Hopefully Rosie will talk some of his junk to him and get him off his game tonight, but if he hurts him, his ass is mine.
I feel for Albert’s and the pressure he has on him tonight. I’m excited to see him play. I don’t get the vibe that he is a flashy body hitting defenseman like Pronger, so as long as he plays a good solid defensive game, I could care less if he body slams anyone tonight.
C
Meh, Pronger isn’t that game breaking. The Canes have shown an ability to handle big hulking defensemen.
See: Chara, Zdeno v Eric Staal
Two things:
1) I’d put the odds of an Alberts v Pronger throw down at about 120%. Both guys on new teams, both guys with a reason to go. You have more time to recover from a bad night on opening night then you do any other night of the year.
2) Chara is no where near as physical as Pronger. He’s no where near as dirty. He’s no where near as gritty. Chara is maybe the better defender. I’ve never seen anyone use size the way Chara does and he has size in spades. But that’s not Pronger’s game. Pronger takes the best parts of Sean Avery, and yes, there are good parts, and combines that with more physicality, better defensive awareness, and then adds some nastiness. He’s not what he used to be, but he’s not that far off either.
Embrace big ideas!
...and LaRose, Chad
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
maybe we can get this kid in the locker room for the pre-game speech???? LOL!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI&feature=player_embedded#
Okay,
Where’s everyone going to congregate? I’d like to meet you guys and put a face to the names for the ones who don’t have their pic up as an avatar.
I sit in the Mezz of 329.
Where does anyone meet in the lot?
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
Anyone looking for a way to watch the game tonight
http://www.channelsurfing.net/
check one of 2 links on there. They should work.
by packpigskinfan25 on Oct 2, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions
Game is being broadcast in HD tonight on FSN
by SouthernHockeyFan on Oct 2, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
wish I had FSN...
oh well…. the computer it is for me! =)
by packpigskinfan25 on Oct 2, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Opening Night
This is the time of year that I hate the fact that I live In Charleston.
Wish I could be there!!!
Give’em Hell Fellas!!!
GO CANES!!!
by ChucktownMikey2 on Oct 2, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions
“Heck, Babchuk is probably a spectacular D-man in Russia.” Yea he probably is…..he’d probably post numbers in the range of Top 5 in the league in goals scored by DMen, Come in second on his team behind only its leading star in the +/- category, all while playing over 18 min a night! Man if he’d only do that in the NHL maybe he’d get 1.5-2 mil a year!
Well, that...
And being willing to go along with the CBA that he implicitly agreed to as a player in the league.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Oct 2, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha!
So we’ll see Wardo and Alberts on Saturday up here in Boston!
I forgot Alberts was on Carolina.
Hopefully we get back on track Saturday after last night.
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