Still Winless On The Road: Stars 2, Canes 0
by Bob Wage on Nov 24, 2009 1:02 AM EST
53 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes had another disappointing game on the road Monday night and lost to the Dallas Stars, 2-0. The Canes remain the only team in the NHL that has not won a single game on the road. The team is once again tied with Toronto for last place in the league.
The visitors came out flat in the first period and were dominated at times by the home team. They were out-chanced 8-1, out-shot 11-8, and took three minor penalties in that opening period. More importantly, it seemed like Dallas kept the puck in the Carolina zone most of the time. The score was 1-0 when the 20 minutes was over, but it could have been much worse.
Manny Legace deserves kudos for fine play and was given third star of the game.
Dallas scored both of their goals on powerplay opportunities. The Canes on the other hand were 0-5 with the advantage and had almost a minute and a half of a 5 on 3 that they squandered. While most other teams seem to be able to form a triangle around the crease area, then attempt to pass the puck to openings across the crease, the Canes just pass the puck around the perimeter over and over until someone decides to fire a puck on net from the outside.
Using that strategy, not surprisingly the team has not had much luck with the two man advantage all season long.
The Canes thought they tied the game up in the second period when Ray Whitney used his skate to kick the puck to his stick, and guide it to the net. The puck beat Marty Turco and was called a goal by the on-ice officials, but replays apparently showed that the puck never touched his stick and it was ruled no goal. Whitney was upset after the game because he felt that the rule stated that you had to lift your skate off the ice to institute a kicking motion.
Regardless, the score remained 1-0.
Brad Richards scored early in the third during another powerplay when his shot hit Joe Corvo and flipped over Manny Legace into the net.
Carolina took a total of five minor penalties in the third period alone, more or less killing any chance they had at a comeback.
Next up for the Canes is another roadie, this time in Anaheim on Wednesday night.
Game Notes:
- Manny Legace made 27 saves on 29 shots and deserved better than this outcome, but it seems like we said the same thing regarding Cam Ward a few times earlier in the season as well.
- Tuomo Ruutu left the game early with a lower body injury. He had 11:44 of ice time.
- Tim Gleason and Brenden Morrow both got fighting majors just 25 seconds into the game. The Dallas captain was sending an early message to his team, that this was going to be a physical affair and they followed his lead.
- Dallas out-shot Carolina in every period and ended up with a 29-22 advantage.
- This is the fourth time Carolina has been shutout so far this year. They were shutout once the entire season last year.
- The Canes were called for a total of nine minor penalties, including two, too many men on the ice calls. The Stars were called for five minors.
- Carolina was credited with 45 hits, led by Chad LaRose with six. Tim Gleason and Brandon Sutter each had five.
- Rod Brind'Amour was back on the ice for powerplay time, (2:11), after having minimal powerplay time the last two games.
- The team had 17 giveaways led by Joe Corvo and Niclas Wallin who each had three.
- Joe Corvo led the team with five shots on goal.
- Erik Cole was called for two selfish crosschecking penalties late in the game, negating any possible chance for comeback. Check that, the first one was technically a high stick, but it was delivered in a crosschecking fashion.
It's difficult to say much positive about the game. The team will have to put it behind them and play much better in California.
0 recs |
53 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Whitney was upset after the game because he felt that the rule stated that you had to lift your skate off the ice to institute a kicking motion.
I would love to someday hear an official clarification on this from the league. I remember vividly after the GM meeting two or so years ago Rutherford was quoted as saying that the rule had been clarified to remove the term “distinct kicking motion” and replace it with lifting your skate off the ice. Since then I have seen no evidence that shows that what he said was true.
Dallas seemed to be flopping all over the ice tonight. Cole’s second cross checking was so gentle as to be laughable. He skated in slowly with his stick up and didn’t even push off. Looked like a dive to me.
Also it looked to me like the Whitney’s non-goal was touched by the Dallas defense.
Sour grapes.
Deja Vu All Over Again
It’s deja vu all over again. The Hurricanes team as now constituted almost never wins when facing physical teams such as Dallas, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Philadelphia. Last night was as painful as the Eastern Conference finals when the Penguins demolished the Hurricanes. Last night’s team showed once again why the Hurricanes have to re-tool if they want to be competitive next year. This year is virtually over as far as playoffs. The math is becoming increasingly improbable for a playoff run; and the team that showed up last night looked old, slow, and tired. Even when they had power plays, the passing was disjointed, puck movement was imprecise, and finding players shooting gap at the slots was like trying to find an endangered species. For a team on the verge of elimination from playoff contention, the lack of urgency was astonishing.
Legace was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance. He kept the team in the game; and truly other than the incompetence of Wallin in front of the net in general, and on the first goal in particular, it was a one goal game. Why Wallin is given penalty kill responsibility is inscrutable.
Sadly, Ray Whitney had two excellent opportunities; and the disallowed goal is a reminder how pathetic the officiating is in the NHL — as if anybody who watches the NHL on Center Ice needs to be reminded of the joke that is the NHL with respect to officiating. Still, Whitney is one of the premier clutch performers in the NHL and it was simply unfortunate that he couldn’t get off a clear and indisputable shot rather than having it hit his skate.
This Hurricanes team has earned its position as one of the worst teams in the NHL. It’s not explained by an officiating conspiracy, the injury bug, or bad bounces. In addition to key injuries to Staal, Cam Ward, Pitkanen, and Walker, it is explained by (1) a power play that is plainly awful; (2) Wallin and Aaron Ward being slow footed and unable to keep up mentally with the pace of the game, and making critical mistakes at key times; (3) too many forwards sized around 5’10" and approximately 180 lbs and who lack blazing speed and unstoppable offensive moves; (4) the inability of Cole and Samsonov to establish themselves as goal-scoring threats; (5) the lack of a pure scorer on the wing whom defenses have to respect every time he is on the ice; (6) the absence of at least one if not two jumbo power forwards — similar to (a) Bryan Bickell — Chicago, 6’4" 223, 23 years old; (b) Bobby Bolt, Anaheim, 6’4", 228 lbs, 22 years old , or © Patrik Berglund — St. Louis Blues, 6’3", 211 lbs, age 21; and (7) the lack of a bona fide goal scorer on defense.
The Hurricanes are one of the only teams in the NHL that do not have a jumbo, net crashing power forward. In fact, most NHL teams, such as Boston and San Jose have four or five large-bodied forwards either on their team or in the system.
Jim Rutherford believed in this team and kept the veterans intact in order to give them one more chance during their career to make a serious run for the Stanley Cup. Many other NHL GM’s would have looked at the age of the players and would have traded them or not re-signed them. He took a reasoned risk and it was a risk worth taking. Sadly, these veterans have not displayed the kind of last chance, urgent, indomitable effort needed to lead the Hurricanes.
In the end, almost all significant failures of a sports team that underachieves can be explained by Okam’s Razor — which states: “the simplest solution is almost always the correct answer.” There are usually identifiable root causes and usually involve several factors coming together.
The simple answer to the Hurricanes is that the veterans have failed the team. They have not brought playoff-like intensity and focus to their game. They have been sloppy in their approach to the game. Their effort level has not been inspirational. They make mental mistakes that should be made only by inexperienced players and not by 32 to 39 year old seasoned NHL veterans. They have not led the team by their example and play on the ice.
Obviously, the loss of Staal and the loss of Cam Ward and the time lost from Pitkanen’s and Walker’s injuries hurt the Hurricanes; but the veterans such as Brind’Amour (39), Wallin (34), Aaron Ward (36), and Yelle (35), failed to provide leadership on the ice. They were the ones taking wooden-headed penalties, being beaten to the puck or being horribly out-of-position. To a large degree the /- statistics of Brind’Amour (/- 18) and Aaron Ward (/- 11) speak to key veterans who are under-performing. Joining them with poor +/ statistics are Sergei Samsonov (/- 11), Joe Corvo (+/ – 10) and Joni PItkanen (+/- -10).
The offensive drought is also clearly apparent. In terms of veterans, when Staal was injured, the veteran forwards needed to step up their game and needed to provide scoring punch. In particular, two key veterans have not risen to the challenge. Both Samsonov (31) and Cole (31) have not been able to lift their offensive game to spark team through scoring goals. Samsonov and Cole each have only two goals thus far this season. Add to those problems the fact that Chad LaRose has only one goal thus far this season, and that Scott Walker has only two goals, and the Hurricanes are clearly in trouble.
The good news is that most cellar teams are uniformly bad teams. They have far too many holes to fix the problem in one draft or by bringing up players from the minors. Fortunately, for the Hurricanes, they have the makings of an elite team; but are being dragged down by career worst performances by a few key players. For the Hurricanes, being able to find a franchise player to go with Staal is the first priority. The second priority is increasing size and speed at forward. The third priority is an offensive defenseman to go with Pitkanen. I assume that Corvo will be traded at some point this season.
The upcoming draft is going to solve in large part the Hurricanes lack of an additional elite forward. The Hurricanes poor performance this season will give them excellent positioning for the draft.
Also, many of the needed players are already in Albany and should be ready next year to step up. Next year Boychuk will bring much needed speed and scoring ability. Bowman’s offensive talent will also make a significant contribution to the team. McBain, Rodney, and Carson will be ready defensively and their speed and athleticism will be a welcome improvement defensively. As is always the case with teams in transition, younger players will replace well-liked veterans.
In short, this season has been far beyond disappointing; but the failures this season will pave the way for long-term success for the Hurricanes organization. The bright future makes games like the Dallas game almost bearable to watch.
Let us know how you really feel
and don’t be afraid to speak your mind.
Actually, I got to watch the entire game and the place I went to actually had it playing live over MNF.
All I think happened was that they ran into a hot goalie last night.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
But at least he has paragraphs and intelligible spelling! Thanks so much for that, ADog.
(Look last night was disappointing – I would expect we’re all a little raw)
Hurricanes Hockey: Never for the faint of heart.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 24, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
Quite the novel you got started there.
We used to have a medium large forward. Andrew Ladd. But the Ruutu trade was a good one overall. We could use a cheapish big body up front and I don’t think there is one in Albany.
I noticed from the minutes that AWard was paired with AAlbert in the last D-pairing. That meant Wallin got almost 20 minutes. That’s not going to work. Wallin’s comparitively low PIM and +/- will have a meteoric rise if they play him 20 mins a night.
I’d rather give AA a chance at the extra minutes.
by drifterscape on Nov 24, 2009 8:41 AM EST up reply actions
You Forgot ONE!
A Coach that knows how to WIN IN THE NHL….MO is not that guy
A coach who took a sub-par team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 and a good team (that had to make a comeback) through two 7-game series (and beat the best teams) last season…. surely he doesn’t know how to win in the NHL….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 24, 2009 9:07 AM EST up reply actions
Rod’s back on the power play and they get a goose egg. I had a Lab that learned faster than this franchise. LaRose and Sutter are the top hitters, while good for them, that’s pathetic for the team. Binky had Staal meltdown at the end, good to see the force is still strong between them.
Of all the stuff that was/is wrong with this team, I think picking up Lagace was a good move. Wards gonna need to step up and fulfill his contractual obligation. They probably aren’t gonna keep poor whipping boy Leights and Manny wants a job.
So all you Wallin defenders that keep asking why I hate Wallin, anyone watch the game?
Corvo’s looking for reservations on that list.
Back to frustrating Canes…again.
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Think Rod was out there only b/c Ruutu was hurt. Definitely a soft spot on the roster: guys who are willing to stand in front of the net. Sutter does it pretty well. There’s not really anyone else in the pipeline to fill that role either except Mattias Lindstrom, and he’s a long way from proving he can be an NHLer.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 24, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
Hey, it's all okay....
1 game where they didn’t get a win or a point in 6? I’ll take that.
Just like getting too high when the Canes win, going too low when they lose is just as crazy.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
Also, you forgot to mention Staal’s lack of production prior to injury. I know people arer saying he was injured prior to being out but, Will he bring anything to the ice when he returns……. stay tuned.
I am not meaning any disrespect to the veterans, Hockey is a business, any business when it is having problems either lays off some employees or offers buyouts, or just plain gets rid of them, this team is not working, veterans, past champions or whatever are not performing to the level needed to get the job done. That is a fact, and cannot be argued…Brindy I respect you, thanks for the hard work, the cup, and your leadership, its not your mind or determination thats not fit for duty its your body.. Plain and simple.
I knew it was not you CG, Jacks points.. like mine are opinions, he can berate me all he wants, I watch every game I can on TV, I go to almost every home game, and I spend a fair amount of money going to those games, as much as what Brindy has done earns him respect, my money well spent gives me the right to voice my opinion , just as Jack does and I respect him for it.
I haven’t berated anyone. They’re not going to let me on this board if I do. Don’t speak for me either. You think I like to see bad hockey? You think I like it? That is not my point at all. I don’t like to see any of them struggling but I’ll support them. They deserve it. They haven’t quit and I don’t like quitters on my team. I’m on the Caniac team and when you give up on a Hurricane, you’re a quitter. That’s it.
Y’all act like I’m blinded by my love of the team. I’m fully aware of the struggles. My point is I’m not going to turn on them after 5 months, a year, or 3 years. They just went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Only 4 teams made it that far in all of the NHL. Now I’m supposed to act like they’re worthless? I’m not going to do it. I HATE the results of these first 6 weeks. HATE the losses. But I know as much as I care, there are 2 dozen + guys in a uniform that care more than I ever can. They’re the ones busting their asses with nothing to show for it. All I’m doing is sitting still watching the games and posting on a board with people who turn on their players like the direction of the breeze.
I’m willing to wait it out. It will get better and it will get better with the same players being torn into.
By the way. I didn’t call out a single person by name in my “Fan Post.” Not one name did I mention, but it was going to be shut down so I deleted it since it was soooo offensive to criticize a “Caniac.” It’s okay for a “Caniac” to demoralize my favorite players on my favorite team, but heaven forbid I criticize the “Caniacs” doing it. Now, I’ve been called out by name. See if that shuts anything down. I’m fair game now. Y’all come and get me. Pile on! At least you’d be doing it to someone who really can’t play hockey.
Love, love, love the 'Canes!
trying times
Your opinions are as welcome as anyone else’s. I’m sorry you felt the need to delete your post.
While your name was used above, Max said he respects you for your opinions. I don’t consider that to be a personal attack, so no, this will not be shut down.
anyway, everyone has their own definition of what a fan is and how one should act, so please try to keep an open mind.
Question for you- If Rutherford trades one of these players who is going through a rough patch, how would you perceive that?
GM of CanesCountry.com
I beg to differ whether it was personal based on the standards you just set with me over what was censored in my FanPost.
Everybody in that FanPost I created had decided to be a part of that discussion. I didn’t give anyone anything back more than they gave me and I didn’t find anything in there personal. The one time a post I made looked as though to the reader I stepped over the line, I apologized immediately to her, and I apologized for mistaking gender of someone. Really I didn’t owe apologies to anyone and I did it anyway because I didn’t want any hard feelings. Max wanted to take a cheap shot outside of a locked and deleted thread and called my name out to do it. Max suggested sarcastically that I may have enjoyed a certain element of that loss. BLASPHEMY! That’s not respect. There wasn’t anything in my thread that was personal, even the stuff I apologized for. There was some sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek type posts but y’all deemed it personal and no one’s name was used. Whatever. I was going on how ultra sensitive y’all were about my thread. So yes, if we used the same sensitivity as what was used on my thread, then yes, you should at least give Max a warning. I got a warning and was locked. Over nothing. It was the best discussion I’ve seen on this site in a looong time. Y’all locked it. I’m not going to leave it up at that point. The person who inspired that FanPost never even showed up and posted in there out of 122 posts. Some people either felt guilty or wanted to defend their “Caniacness.” I’m not picking on caniacgirl with that reference, it’s just a great word. Some great Caniacs came in there and posted great insight. I thought it was a fantastic discussion that I was really proud of. I think I should expect equal treatment.
Now. I don’t really want Max to get a warning. I don’t want this thread locked. I think that is way too sensitive. I really don’t care what Max said. I was just using it as a springboard to make a point that I don’t want to be painted wrongly because of my FanPost. I was still explaining myself when it was locked. I’m just making a point, that it seems y’all are TOO sensitive. I didn’t personally attack anyone in my thread. The one FanPost I ever posted, y’all locked. There’s tons of them with 10 and less replies and y’all lock the one with 122 replies in less than 12 hours. I thought it was a terrible decision. I deleted it in protest of that decision.
If you are not going to allow personal attacks, include the players. Don’t allow personal attacks of a player because that makes it personal for me. “Awe man, Brindy is sucking tonight!” “WTF is Mo thinking???” “Damnit Chad! Hit the net!” That’s fine. Doesn’t bother me. I scream that too. “Brindy is a waste of space. He f’n sucks. He should be stripped of the C! He’s worthless!” That kind of stuff is ridiculous to have to listen to. And there is a big difference between aggravation with the guys play and spouting off making it seem like they have no chance of ever being good again. I mean, Cole has never been the same since his injury. I was still mad as hell when they traded him.
By the way. I am open minded about fans. For the umpteenth time, I think everyone here are great fans. I don’t think just because you are a fan makes you a Caniac. I have a right to think that. I am one of the most open minded people you will meet. It is the closed mind that doesn’t see the difference between a fan and a Caniac. That person may or may not continue to think they are a Caniac while disrespecting other fans and ‘Canes. That’s fine. I know the difference and THAT is what my post was all about.
To answer your question.
I won’t like a trade of any of the veterans but I’d move on and try and get to know the player coming in. I think all of the guys who won The Cup here deserve to retire here if they wish. I was sad to see Justin Williams go regardless of his injuries and lost productivity. I’m happy to have Cole back though. I am not in the front office and wouldn’t know the whole story if something happened so it’s hard to answer how I would feel. Personally, I never want to see any of the veteran Cup winners skate for another team.
Love, love, love the 'Canes!
CJ, I haven’t noticed that anyone on this board gets ostracized for having unpopular opinions. I was a long term and consistent critic of not resigning Babchuk, despite the unpopularity of the stance, I am still here. I do think, however, you may hear “I hate Rod Brind’Amour” when I hear “I hate the way Brind’Amour is playing now.” I hate the way the Canes played that first period last night-it was obvious to me I should have just gone to bed or watched my DVR’ed copies of How I met Your Mother and 2.5 Men from the first five minutes. But I still love the team as well as several of the players who did not play worth a dam last night.
I did not see Joni Pitkanen on the ice during the entire 5 on 3 power play…. I may be wrong… but I wonder why he wasn’t out there for the entire 1:40….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 24, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions
I know they wanted Corvo’s blast from the point and probably Ray’s playmaking ability back there too. Who knows. Mo has made some curious player decisions this season.
by caniacgirl on Nov 24, 2009 9:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think taking our goal away probably deflated our team. For most of the second period it seem like we were playing hot potato with the puck. We kept passing to get it out of our own zone and we seemed afraid of the Stars.. or afraid of seeing stars.
I will say Legace looked pretty good last night.
Legace got third star.
And yep – from listening to Whitney after the game, he was as outspoken in his criticism of the refs as I’ve ever heard. I think that did give the team the victim “learned helplessness” feeling all over again.
Hurricanes Hockey: Never for the faint of heart.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 24, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
If Whitney had handled the pass cleanly in the first place, he would not have needed to depend upon the mercy of the clowns in Toronto.
Harwood’s caption of the photo above speaks volumes on the game last night. Maniscalco said it was the most physical hockey game he’d seen in years. (I take it he watched on TV like the rest of us?) Even allowing for hyperbole, it was as tough as the Boston series and as banged- up as we already are when you have the refs allowing anything to happen, it doesn’t usually bode well for our skill-focused Canes to stay tough mentally. Especially as visitors. (The players talk about how they feed off the cheers from the crowd at the RBC on the big checks by Ruu and Gleason. Last night they didn’t get noticed)
Sutter spent half the game avoiding hard checks – didn’t leave him much time or room to work his magic. Which of course was the whole strategy for the Stars.
Hurricanes Hockey: Never for the faint of heart.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 24, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Watching the Hurricanes is like watching the movie Groundhog Day. The names of the teams change, but the strategy does not. It’s obvious other teams have a template for playing and beating this season’s version of the Carolina Hurricanes. They watched the Boston and Penguins playoffs last year. The strategy is simple:
(1) Hit the Hurricanes hard, early and often;
(2) Crowd the net defensively and turn the game into a man against man game inside;
(3) Offensively crash the net with a vengeance;
(4) Target Brind’Amour, Wallin, and Ward when they are on the ice and take the battle to them behind the net and in front of the net. Once they have to move laterally, they collapse or take a penalty. With Wallin put the puck at his feet and let him waddle around trying to find it;
(5) With Cole, push him to the corners and let him give the puck away with the one-trick pony move he tries unsuccessfully time and after;
(6) Don’t fret about breakways unless Ruutu, Jokinen, and Pitkanen are the ones leading the attack because nobody else is likely to either finish or even crash the net.
And I spent half the game holding my breath while Sutter avoided the hard checks. It makes for a very stressful few hours in my house.
This was definitely the most physical game of the season for the Canes and I think they were largely unprepared for it. There is a large difference between the Dallases of the league and the Tampas of the league. I think we all got a lesson in that last night.
Sadly, this is just the sort of game that the team was retooled to be able to beat. But the only stand up players we had yesterday were not part of that retooling. Cole did a good job of throwing his body around, and was thanked with one or two soft penalties. Alberts did his usual job of throwing people to the ice at will. Sutter was good at hitting, but has been unable to get sots on goal that last two games. Sadly Corvo did not look to have a good game. Brind’Amour was solid defensively, but not on offense. He seems to be a half ice player right now.
Offensively we did not do much well. Pitkanen (sp.) was the only defenseman who helped out in the offensive zone. But often he got caught out of position, with a forward taking his way back spot. On the power play we tried to do everything from outside, and it seemed like it was only after 1 minute of ineffective five on three that the team decided to do what it needed to-get down low, put passes through the crease.
With any offensive spark this was an easily winnable game. The defense was good enough. Legace was good enough. The offensive system was not good enough.
Offensive Systems and Personnel
I agree completely it was a winnable game; except for the lack offensive firepower against a physical team. Dallas is exactly the type of team that the Hurricanes need to be able to beat; but with its present personnel, the Hurricanes really can’t win consistently against the bigger and more physical teams. At this point, I see the Hurricanes as an in between team. They lack a couple of physical forwards, including Staal, to battle inside; but they lack the blazing speed and wide open throttle offense to run and gun. Great offensive teams with reasonable to excellent goalies and even a passable defense (which at minimum the Hurricanes have) do not end up with the worst record in the NHL. In my view, the re-tooling is in a state of flux; and only after it is completed this year and into next year will I feel like I have sufficient information to judge whether or not the Maurice/Francis system is viable. I do have enough information to be very certain the team needs help now.
along with the no call on the ott charging Dwyer, how about the hit about 2 minutes earleir when he dropped Corvo when the puck was 10 feet away from him, apparently that isnt interference. Watching that game last night was odd thats all i can say, The second of the 2 too many men was extremly week too.
You mean where the ref was in front of the Canes bench
and made it real hard for them to get around?
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
Hurricanes are Leading in the Taylor Hall Lottery Contest
Hurricanes are 30th in the NHL with last night’s loss. Taylor Hall is looking more and more like he could be a Hurricane next year.
I know tripp can be quite annoying but the stars play by play announcers were somthing else. Did anyone catch when they were talking about Brindy and Madono? It was somthing along the lines as those are two sausages that are still popping and sizzling in the frying pan? Only enjoyment i got from those two on the game.
well we knew we were not going to win ALL the games on our march to .500
if we are to lose a game it would be this one because this is a reminder of how the western teams play
- physical
- in your face
- make you do stupid penalties
*and then make you pay when your a man down.
hopefully now they know how to play the quacks in LA.
GO CANES!!!
Why is Ott not being suspended?
Briere on the Flyers was suspended for a similar hit:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=299730
Curious why Ott is not getting the same.
Also...on Steve Ott
I’ve been looking through Google tonight after work, and Steve Ott has been suspended a few times, even indefinitely once – why is this guy still in the NHL???
http://thehockeywriters.com/goon-hockey-steve-ott-suspended-indefinitely-for-eye-gouging/
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nhl/news/story?id=4598844
Just goes to show how crappy both the NHL Referees are and the people up in Toronto.
Changes needs to happen to the NHL for next season if nothing good will come of this season. >:(
way over the top post
this analysis is way over the top. it’s from a “fan” who has never really played in the top league of anything. it’s so easy to say “man, they suck”. well, no they don’t. they played a very physical team who got two goals in. we got one in that shouldn’t have been recalled and couldn’t get a second in. we didn’t get blown off the ice. we are weak in spots on D and our power play still needs a lot of work, but we’re not awful. 2-0 isn’t devastating by any means. and there is hope for the playoffs if top teams start to lose (as the devils, penguins…) are doing it will even out by next year in rankings. we need young fast agile guys obviously. we have to work with what we’ve got now. jr made a big mistake overloading the team with old-tired-don’t really care-vets. no doubt. but we know we can win. i don’t think dallas was THAT much better than a lot of other teams they played. they’re just physical and get away with penalties. we’re not done for. don’t be so melodramatic.
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.
