Thrashers at Canes: Game Day Preview
by Bob Wage on Nov 27, 2009 2:31 PM EST
20 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes begin a challenging stretch of hockey as they play three games in the next four days, starting with the Atlanta Thrashers tonight at the RBC.
After turning a corner at home last week with three wins in their previous four games, finishing with an impressive win over Tampa Bay last week Saturday, the Canes went on the road and lost two games in a row this week.
Brandon Sutter still believes the team is on the right track though. "I still feel we played pretty well. We have just got to keep on track and keep shooting for a .500 record by Christmas."
With a 5-14-5 record, how the team performs during these next three games will indicate if .500 hockey by Christmas is even possible. I asked Sutter about the line changing during the last game, and if that presented a special challenge to him, to continually be acclimated to different linemates.
"With Staal coming back of course some changing of lines is to be expected. I think the coaching staff is still searching for the right combinations, still searching for some chemistry." In other words, look for more line shuffling tonight.
In a brief chat with Tuomo Ruutu, he said that he would be a game time decision tonight, although he was on the ice and looked good during the morning skate. I asked him if he could elaborate a bit about his injury, but he just smiled and said "It's nothing serious, just a nagging injury that needs treatment".
Coach Maurice said that Scott Walker and Patrick Dwyer would be scratches tonight, obviously planning for Ruutu to be in the lineup. When asked about the goalie situation for the next series of games, he said a decision would be made after the game tonight.
"We aren't sure how Manny will do in a back-to-back sequence yet. If he gets a lot of work tonight, which is certainly a possibility with the talent on that team, we might go with Leighton tomorrow night. It also depends upon how Leighton feels. If he tells us that he is fine and ready to go, then we might go with him tomorrow night. We will make that decision after tonight's game."
Carolina's opponent tonight, the Atlanta Thrashers, have been a bit of a surprise themselves this season. With an 11-7-3 record, they are currently a bubble playoff team and are coming off an impressive 2-0 win against Detroit on Wednesday night.
The Thrashers are led in scoring by Rich Peverly, a forward who is coming into his own the past couple of years. Of course Ilya Kovalchuk is always a threat and he is joined by Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov.
The Thrashers have a hot new goalie in net by the name of Ondrej Pavelec, although Johan Hedberg has great numbers as well.
For those who might not remember, Manny Legace had a tryout with Atlanta but was cut before the season started. Will he use this as extra motivation tonight?
The Canes are still led by Ray Whitney, Jussi Jokinen, and Tuomo Ruutu with 15 points each.
The game is not on local television tonight. If you can not make it to the RBC, watch on Center Ice, or listen on 99.9 The Fan. I will be reporting from the game in the Open Game Thrad starting at 6:30.
Bird Watcher's Anonymous, will have the lowdown on the Thrashers.
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First!
And let me also be the first to say that you really need a photographer with you when you do these post-skate interviews.
JUST SAYIN
SISU
Here, here. Excellent idea. Wonder who would he would ask? I can hold the mic.
Actually, when I was reading this, with all the obvious name-dropping, chatting with Brandon and Tuomo (he just smiled?!! – details please), I thought that the maybe he’d hired Tripp to ghost write for him today.
BTW – have you had a chance to speak with Legace? He seems pretty open.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 27, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
Have you heard anything about who’s in net for the Thrashers tonight? Saw Moose poking his head out of the tunnel to watch our practice this morning.
SISU
Pavelec has been outstanding for them. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either one though especially since we don’t really warrant number one goalies.
by caniacgirl on Nov 27, 2009 3:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Eww, ouch, but true.
Mo is gonna switch lines again? Oh joy! Wonder if Rod can hit -20. Hey, Sutter is one of the leading goal scorers on the team, maybe we can stick him down on the 4th line and let Staal try out his figure skating and throw a bitch a bitch fit in the 4th>>>
Will they suck, or will they show up………if the recortd tells us anything..
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Interesting story about the Anaheim game from Chip with insight from Jussi here.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
If Mo thought they were just right there, things are worse than I thought. I was away for three weeks in hell (york Pa), and therefore couldn’t watch any of our games. What I have seen since has not made me happy. What I am seeing is a group of players that only seem to do well when they stop playing the coaches system and just start playing backyard hockey. Sutter’s sudden demise? I think he is starting to do what the coach wants him to. It seems like the main thing the offense does is get itself stuck past the red line and when all three forwards are down there, they center the puck. To the defense that is waiting on the blueline. Or the other team.
Individual plays the coach seems good. But to go turtle after a single goal in the first period? It is just asking for a problem. It took almost two periods, but the inevitable happened, and at that point we were playing such lazy hockey that we couldn’t turn it around.
On the plus side, Rod looked halfway decent last night.
eric staal
we had a nice little chemistry going on this team when we had to figure things out without “stars” staal and ward..etc..now that staal is back in the lineup, he still isn’t doing jack SH*T. do not put him back in the lineup to ruin that chemistry we had with our 3-1 win if he is not scoring. this is really pissing me off. staal seems like a bum to me. why can’t he score????????
KEEP STAAL BENCHED!!!
dont’ put him back in if he’s going to ruin the chemistry we figured out already. just keep him on the bench. even stars can hurt a team when they’re NOT SCORING!!!!!!!
Y'all see this?
I know I’m jumping ahead a couple of games, but looks like we’ll indeed see #8 in the lineup Monday night. Per twitter:
TarikElBashir: The NHL won’t suspend or fine Alex Ovechkin for his hit on Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta on Wednesday, I have been told.
SISU
Positive notations
Manny has been looking good, especially on the road trip out West. My theory was that he was channeling his Red Wings experience, back in those familiar arenas with all of that red & white (and, yes, black) in front of him. Whatever it was, he looked confident and smooth. Having said that, I also have confidence in Leighton, so await his next chance to strut his stuff.
Increased ice time and better linemates sure made Tom Kostopolous look better than earlier games. Looks like he’s banished back to the fourth line, but maybe that whiff of success will ignite that line, too.
Sutter survived death by banging bodies and seemed to hold up well. By the way, in my opinion, that last second goal was all Sutter and very little Staal, with Sutter swooping in to calmly backhand the puck back into positon from past the post and forehand it in the net. Beauty. There will be many more.
Ruutu continues to be Ruutu. No diminishment of his powers from the suspension.
Pitkanen continues to be the incredible force up the ice that he is and a joy to watch skate. Somehow or another, when he goes in 1-on-3 across the blue line, he not only hangs onto the puck, but manages to pick out someone to calmly pass it to (please feel free to review the video for pointers E. Staal). His passes are what we need a lot more of on this team.
Anything else?
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