Meltdown in Colorado - Avs 5, Canes 4
by Bob Wage on Oct 24, 2009 1:25 AM EDT
69 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and finally started a game out the way they wanted to, but then allowed two sets of goals within a minute each, took undisciplined penalty after penalty, and ended up losing to the Colorado Avalanche, 5-4 on Friday night at the Pepsi Center.
The Canes have still not won a game on the road this season, (0-4-1) and have now lost five games in a row.
The key point of the game was early in the second period when Tuomo Ruutu boarded Darcy Tucker from behind, knocking the Colorado winger out. After a long delay, Tucker was carried from the ice on a stretcher but fortunately was awake and communicating as he left. Ruutu was given a five minute boarding penalty and a 10 minute game misconduct for his actions.
The Avs took the momentum after that and would score two consecutive goals within 40 seconds during the ensuing powerplay, (and few moments after the PP), taking a commanding 4-2 lead.
Ruutu could be facing a suspension from the league after a review.
The aggressive winger started out the game like a house on fire as he had four shots on goal as well as a goal and an assist for his efforts. But the hit was inexcusable. Ruutu has never been suspended by the league before and is not known as being a dirty player so perhaps the disciplinary action will not be severe which is handed out by the NHL office.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Joe Corvo and Ruutu, the Avs would tie things up when scoring goals at 16:16 and 16:47 in the first. With the score 4-2 in the second after of the Ruutu incident, Matt Cullen would score on a wrap around to keep the score close.
In the third period the Avs got a 5-on-3 advantage and boom, boom, boom they would quickly score again making the score 5-3. But after missing a chance on a penalty shot, Ray Whitney would score a goal a bit later to make the score 5-4.
The Canes would try, but were unable to tie things up.
Eric Staal had a meltdown himself with just 40 seconds left. He was called for slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct, then was given a misconduct and a game misconduct as he blew up at the refs after the call against him.
The Carolina center had a rough night with the officials as he was called for goalie interference after being knocked into Craig Anderson in the second period and was undoubtedly upset about the stick between his legs at the time of the slashing call.
A frustrated Carolina team will take on Minnesota next on Saturday night as they put an end to this dismal State Fair road trip.
Game Notes:
- Once again, Joni Pitkanen played a solid game. He was hung out to dry twice along with Cam Ward when Aaron Ward was pinching during both Colorado goals in the opening period. Perhaps the star defenseman had some flashbacks of being paired with Anton Babchuk last year?
- Matt Cullen and Scott Walker also played well and created several chances.
- The new lines were buzzing in the offensive zone most of the night. The problem was in the defensive end. The Avs were skating unfettered at times in the Carolina zone.
- The team won 55% of the game's faceoffs. Brind'Amour finished at 64%, Staal 59%, Jokinen 55%, and Cullen 55%.
- Carolina added to their league high penalty minute totals and they continue to take more minor penalties than any other team in the league. Needless to say, it's hard to win games when you are killing penalties most of the time.
- The Hurricanes next opponent the Wild, is another team which is struggling. They have a 2-7-0 record and lost in St. Louis on Friday night.
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Awesome game
Fun one to attend, even though the record will say it was chippier than it really was. Other than the Rutuu-Tucker hit and the Staal meltdown I didn’t think there was all that much bad blood. (In fact, no one in the arena really could figure out what Staal did).
But it was a fun game to attend, and the Canes, even though they didn’t look great tonight, have some serious talent. They had some really nice plays that had me nervous.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Oct 24, 2009 1:33 AM EDT reply actions
Hey Jibbles,
I truly hope that Tucker will be ok. I will speak for other Hurricanes fans in saying that we all hope that Tucker will have a swift and safe recovery.
by PittsburghCaniac on Oct 24, 2009 3:47 AM EDT reply actions
My observations
1. Non-stop end-to-end action especially in the second half. I do not think I have seen a game like this with Mo being at the helm. Either he told players to just go for it (maybe because of frustration with the losing streak) or the players lost their heads chasing young Avs around. Lots of action, little structure to the game, atypical for Mo and this veteran team.
2. Ruutu’s hit was inexcusable, I expect up to 5 games suspension. This may also depend on Tucker’s condition. I am just glad it was not on any of the Avs young stars.
3. Great to see LaRose finally play a good game, he showed a lot of energy, was chasing the puck hard, just like he did last season. His best game this season by far.
If they suspend Ruutu it will not be for more than one game…. The actual hit was not as violent as Tuckers head bouncing off the ice (hurts me to think about it)….
WITH THAT SAID: Ruutu really should have held up when he saw Tuckers back turned to him. Ruu has been in the league long enough to know and understand what is acceptable and what is not…. Simply put… he knows better and he should have held up..
But everyone makes mistakes…..
Ruutu will have to pay for his mistake one way or another…. but I am sure that he probably feels worse about it than anyone…
I hope Tucker recovers quickly… I’ve always liked his style of play….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Although I think Ruutu deserved the major, I dont think it was “inexcusable”. Tucker was skating up the boards when Ruutu commited to the check, Tucker slowly reversed and was facing the boards when Ruutu connected. Should and could he have let up, sure, but hockey is an instinctual game and hesitation will get you hurt or left on the bench. Is Ruutu supposed to think, “I want to hit him but theres a chance he may turn towards the boards, I better let up, in fact I’ll just stick check him.”?
If a penguins fan came in here peddling that crap
about that should-be-felon Brooks Orpik, you’d yell for him to be gutted and fileted.
Ruutu should have known better. Dirty hit. It is dirty when it happens to our guys, and if you have any integrity, it’s just as dirty when our guys do it.
If you can see the numbers, pull back or turn aside. That’s it. No debate.
by DidJussiThat? on Oct 24, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Watched the hit a couple more times, it looks bad but at the same time wouldnt have delivered the result it did had Tucker not turned to move the puck down along the boards. Like I said, Ruutu had already commited in my mind and he only knows one way to play the game and that is physical, not dirty. Obviously the Cole situation sits in the back of Canes fans as they watch hits like this but they are not all necessarily with dirty intent.
Ruutu hit
As a Hurricanes fan, I don’t understand how anyone can justify that hit, especially in light of the Cole hit from a few years ago. It’s the same type of play, guy turns and the player has enough time to make a decision whether to bury him from behind or not. Ruutu chose to bury him, and he should be suspended at least 5 games. It was a classless move, and it makes the whole organization look bad. Since he is European, wears a visor, wouldn’t fight Foote, and hit Darcy Tucker, the Canes will lead coaches corner and be mocked for several minutes by Don Cherry tonight.
I am not justifying the hit… Ruu should have held up…. But this hit was not even comparable to the Hit that Orpik put on Cole in ’06…
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
That was in no way comparable to the Orpik hit.
Ruutu caught a guy off balance on the boards. He only moved about 1-2 feet after the impact. Cole hit was 4-5 feet away from the boards and his momentum (mass x velocity) broke his neck. Tucker has a concussion but not a broken neck. It was a penalty but he didn’t come from across the ice to run a guy. It was reactionary….he thought Tucker had the puck. Simple mistake. Orpik had premeditated intent.
The Ruutu hit changed the whole tone of the game from the Canes point of view (certainly mine too). He’s such an emotional asset to the team and knowing that he was gone (and probably devastated) affected everything that came afterward like an anchor. Poor judgment or body control for sure, but not dirty or with intent to injure, given Ruutu’s clean history. I’ve seen him land big hits and go to the official to be sure he was okay, because he cares about staying on the right side of that line.
I’m worried that this will stay with Ruutu a long time and take some energy out of his game.
How bad was the mood on that flight to Minnesota last night? Can’t we just take a month off and start over in December?
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
I’m having a very hard time finding my words today, so HM thanks very much for posting something that I can just point to and say, “yeah, that.”
I was wondering about your reaction last night – with great empathy. Tough moments.
Maybe Scotty Walker will be a good one for Tuomo to talk with the next couple days. This is getting covered big (Puck Daddy won’t let it go in his feature story and again in his 3 Stars, where he adds on some harsh words for Staal’s last minute tantrum)., The Avs Captain made a comment that he knew it was dirty because of Ruutu’s history of hitting late and from behind….Could it be he has Tuomo mixed up with Jarkko?
I’m really really glad to hear it’s “only” a concussion, no broken bones. Darcy Tucker seems to be a stand-up guy (they had a lengthy locker room interview with him on the Av’s site yesterday that I watched) and this is the last thing I’d want to see happen to him or Ruutu. We need to get this behind us, and I agree 100% with Chris below that Tuomo needs to get the suspension and move on.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
it would almost be better with broken bones than a concussion… those can take a notoriously long time to recover from
by Andrea's evil twin on Oct 24, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
You have a point – Cullen lost a lot of a season from that concussion on the hit vs the Rangers.
I gues on broken bones I was thinking of Cole’s hit from Orpik when they had the neck brace. (Or Casey Borer – but that was the bush accident).
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
exactly… Tanabe and cully
A broken bone (other than neck – that’s just awful) heals fairly reliably/predictably. Brains sometimes just don’t recover…
by Andrea's evil twin on Oct 24, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
This was the first game this year I saw this team play without thinking on offense, the passes were quicker, sharper, the shots had purpose and the players were looking to cleanup. This could have been a turning point game or a major letdown. They are looking for balance, when they score they lack D, when they dont score the D is strong. I expect tonight to be a strong showing.
Boy when I woke up, I wasn’t sure I could bear to watch tonight – but now you’ve got me hooked again. I’m such a masochist. (or a junkie) Argh.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
So…. Everyone is talking about the Ruutu hit…
But what about that bone-headed penalty that Staal took at the end of the game to pretty much seal the win for the Avs???
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions
I would love to know what actually transpired there, i think he was talking crap because the start of that incident should have been called a penalty, apparently the ref disagreed?
well… he chopped the guys legs w/ his stick…
As a general (and unwritten) rule… if the first penalty is not called…. the retaliatory action is ALWAYS called…. Stall should have realized that we needed him on the ice in the final moments of the game…. he should have just skated away…..
And we still have not won a game in Denver since our guys were wearing blue and green….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
well… I didn’t expect Staal to do his best Sid Crosby impersonation at the end of that game last night…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
the guy was nutting him with his stick
I’d have taken his head off too.
by DidJussiThat? on Oct 24, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Ruutu's boarding
No question this is not the kind of thing we want to see in the league, but there is a world of difference between this boarding and the Orpik boarding.
Ruutu did not make a charging run before the hit. He was moving parallel to the boards and caught Tucker with an arm/shoulder push towards the glass. Tucker either didn’t see him coming or was unbraced as he went into the boards pretty easily.
It was not a malicious intent boarding, in my opinion. But, it was a boarding and I do expect retributions from the league.
Not something Ruutu should carry around with him, however. Done is done.
OK THE RESULT WAS BAD.
Ruutu should have held up but we were watching it over and over in slow motion. Ruutu had to make a split second decision in real time. The puck was ten feet too far away. Reality check. I have seen that hit over and over. Normally it is interference. Because of the result(knocked out player) the severity gets magnified. It is unfortunate but sometimes that happens in hockey and any other contact sport. There is a fine line between agressive play and a penalty. No suspension. If Tucker puts his arm up to shield the collision with the glass, we are not talking about it. He got hit in an awkward position. Sorry, its hockey…move on.
I'm shocked!!
Nobody has said a word about the atrocious job the refs did. I lost track of the number of missed calls! Trip after trip, ruutu, whitney, cullen, staal (several times)!! no wonder
eric lost his cool… three or four times (in front of the net) the puck comes to a cane who’s
just been hooked, tripped, or cross-checked down!! GRRRR
I know........right.
The Canes must be wearing kick me signs on their backs are something. The penalties called verses the penalties missed so far this season for this team are ridiculous. It is making me think that the league is corrupt. I eluded to this after watching the non-televised game at the RBC against Tampa. There is something to this. If this fan finds out that there is a vendeta against us or there is corruption in this sport, I will never watch another NHL game.
Although… the refs did a great job after the Ruutu hit making sure that the game didn’t turn into a battle royal….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Just watched the game on the dvr, not sure what my take on it all is yet. They sure played with some emotion, took way too many penalty’s and some dumb ass ones ta boot. Lost again, dammit. That first 10 minutes was pretty good. The “kids” on the Av’s look like what I wanted from our kids. I think the mix of youth, mid career and vets like the Av’s had is the sweet mix in todays NHL.
Kind of Ironic all the years wanted to see Tucker get killed and felt bad he got hurt, careful what ya wish for.
I hope to be home for the Wild tonight and read last nights game post. Having lunch with my son then heading back home.
God I hate traffic!!!
A
Our Canes
1) They won’t admit this, but they miss Seidenberg. Alberts is barely a number 6 D,
especially when he plays with Nicky W.
2) Power play is awful . They have lost 2-3 games they should have won just because the
PP is so lame.
3) As observed by others, too many penalties.
Yep – Wysh also got really nasty in his dishonorable mentions at the bottom of his three stars post last night. (targeting Ruuts and Staal)
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I was actually more upset w/ Staal than I was w/ Ruutu…. Ruu made a mistake… Staal was impersonating Sidney Crosby… which would have been ok if he wanted to score a goal to tie the game…. but we didn’t need him acting like a child who lost his ball out there…
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
If the penalties are not eliminated, this team will be in the basement all season long.
Good news….our guys get better as the season goes on. Get Cole back, get La Rose’s head out of his @#$, Get Alberts out of there, Bring back Babchuk(is that possible?), Bring up one of the kids, move Yelle outta there, shift lines a bit, run some plays to get Corvo’s shot freed up on the PP.
The biggest problem here……..no commitment from anyone on the team to go to the net. Other than Cullen, no one is willing to skate into traffic and make a move. When other teams come over the blue line, they use the whole offensive zone to their advantage by cutting hard to the middle. That move opens up the passing lanes and leads to transition goals. We do not have that move. We have the skill and talent to do it……………why do we not do it? I am at a loss. Can anyone answer that simple question. Erik Cole used to do it with regularity. Now no one is. Chad LaRose did it last year some, now just Matt Cullen………..that is it folks.
Ice_Chip says from Twitter that Ruutu has been suspended for three games… according to Paul Maurice….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions
is he going to play wing?
Speaking of… I liked the line w/ Brind’Amour on the wing…. they were not bad…
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm. Heres a guess:
C,W,W
Staal, Whitney, LaRose
BrindyorCullen, Walker,
Sutter, Jussi, Sammy
Yelle, Conboy, TommyK
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Cullen was Centering his line….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Sort of – Brindy was taking the faceoffs, Cully played C in action in the D-zone, and “whatever” in the Offensive end. That’s from the comments Mo made about it yesterday – I think Chip had it in Canes Now.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea, it was fluid, but rather effective. Cullen was on some vendetta. Sutter can’t replace Ruutu, this is a desperate call up by a desperate team. I hope the kid can bring the happy have fun and weork hard vibe with him. I hope I make it home in time for the game dammit!!
I want to see my young man play!!
Both minutes????
A
Well three games is WAY to long, the more I look at the hit it doesn’t seem so bad. I guess you need to be AO not to get a suspension.
by canescup on Oct 24, 2009 12:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
LOL…. I wonder if AO even knows how to pronounce “SleeeewFoooting…”
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
When Scotty didn’t get a suspension after the A-Ward punch, it made the whole thing difficult to get past – still a lot of resentment (and shame?). No question by Nov 1, on Whitney1000 day, this will be done and over.
FWIW, that’s also exactly 4 weeks since the Cole injury Oct 3. Maybe #26 will be backat the same game; surely soon thereafter. That will change the lines big time…(hard to imagine from this bleak vantage point). That could be the right day to begin again.
Remember when we thought the worse thing about this season was hearing Tripp get gooey about baby Parker every time Eric got a goal?
Let’s just muddle through the rest of this month (treat these 3 games like pre-season but with the regular roster), keep everyone healthy. Take the pressure off for now and hope to come in #8 in the standings.
Season re-start: 1:30pm Nov 1 vs San Jose… (is that too late?)
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Oct 24, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm 3 games
Isn’t that what Orpik got? I guess the league agrees with me.
I wouldn’t be so proud of the league agreeing with you….
I’m not being mean… I’m just saying… It’s Bettman and Campbell….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Oct 24, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Faceoffs
On a positive note, as Bob notes above:
The team won 55% of the game’s faceoffs. Brind’Amour finished at 64%, Staal 59%, Jokinen 55%, and Cullen 55%.
Could be the quality of the opposition, but this set of numbers is certainly more in line with preseason expectations.
Goals against
But, on a negative note, I have to agree with Bob that it was the goals against that is the most disturbing aspect of this losing streak:
The new lines were buzzing in the offensive zone most of the night. The problem was in the defensive end. The Avs were skating unfettered at times in the Carolina zone.
Is it the case that the jumbled lines just don’t have the chemistry to cover defensive ice together? Surely we have the individual defensive talent in the forward ranks.
Or, is it that we are still deficient in the D-man ranks. No Tim Gleason, remember.
I like Ruutu as much as anybody, it was a stupid play that he could/shoulf of avoided by simply letting up, but still finish the check. He could of orpick’d the guy. I agree flat out it was a major and game kicker. The three games I think is stiff, but the Canes wanted to become goons and tough, so live with it. Avery get’s them, Orpick paid the same. While I think it’s less of an offending hit, that collostomy bag of a commissioner didn’t. So be it. When you are the most penalized team in the league, made obvious effort to become much more physical, this is what you get.
i’m more woriied as to why Staal freaked out (and why he was kicked out, too???) and why they lost the game.
Still not working well, now with Timmy, Cole, Ruutu gone, lines are changed, we have call ups. Me thinks the soup is getting nasty.
maybe this will be a rallying point. Like the commercials say, “He can carry them on his back” about Stall, time to step up and start carrying. This team is now looking at a possible slide of great concern. Somebody mentioned starting over. Fine, with the 20 poinbt deficit, it’s a start that better be friggin’ epic.
Was a bad hit kids, flat and simple. Punishment was stout, but nobody coulkd really bitch about a 1 gamer, so he/we get screwed for 2 more. That isn’t the big issue of the night. It’s another loss after a 2-0 lead.
Focus people. I think the season is now on the line. everybody has been saying were only “X” amount of games into it. Well now we are where we are and sebveral men down and still losing. It’s now gonna be a real bitch to develope lines, chemistry and a cohesive anything.
The Wild beat the Av’s the other night, these guys ain’t gonna roll over and knowwe are scrambled.
Ugly!!
A
The Staal ejection was silly . . .
But probably had more to do with the time of the incident than the incident itself. You whack someone’s stick like that with 40 seconds left in a game where one guy has already left on a stretcher and you can bet you’re getting thrown out. Yes it was a bogus call, and yes it was in retaliation to getting jack-knifed by a stick, but the refs had 40 second of game left and didn’t want a melee. I don’t think it made any difference to the outcome of the game, so I’m not that upset with it. Who knows, it may have even saved the Canes from having another player get injured in an Eric Cole type situation.
5 seconds left.
Do you believe in miracles?
YES!!
TIME FOR A NEW COACH
He’s obviously lost the team.
He sucked for 10 years. Why do they think he’s any good now?
Lightning in a bottle last year and he was along for the ride.
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