Cam Ward to Start Again: Canes at Blue Jackets Preview
by Bob Wage on Nov 7, 2009 1:54 PM EST
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PrintCam Ward is slated to start for the 15th time in 16 games as the Carolina Hurricanes, (2-10-3) take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, (8-5-2) tonight at Nationwide Arena. Ward has started both sides of back-to-back tilts before, but the team has yet to win the second game of a back-to-back all year.
Although, it's hard to distinguish between loses because the team has also yet to win a road game all year long. With just 2 wins in 15 tries, the circumstances or details of the games do not seem to matter.
Ward started a personal best 28 consecutive games before being relieved by Michael Leighton in the season finale against New Jersey last April. He then went on to start all 18 playoff games, and now will have 15 of 16 in this season under his belt. That makes 61 starts in the last 63 games, spread out over the end of last season and start of this season. No wonder the goalie has had intermittent back problems.
Ward's stats last year warranted the consecutive game streak, but he has been average in recent games this season. His year to date stats are not at all impressive.
It only stands to reason that he will need a break at some point. Does the coaching staff have any confidence at all in Michael Leighton?
Columbus will be starting.last year's young phenom, Steve Mason, who has a rough start to the season himself.
According to ice chip, Ray Whitney did not make the trip, so expect the same lines as last night.
Raffi Torres has been hot of late for the Jackets, but always be on the look out for Rick Nash who is by far and away their leading scorer.
Today is ex- Cane Mike Commodore's 30th birthday. He will see some action tonight although he has missed previous games due to a leg injury.
Tonight's game starts at 7 and will be on FS Carolinas as well as 99.9 The Fan.
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Oh yea!!!!!!! Tonight, is the one. The BJ’s are pretty good compared to us. Tonight however we will be the better team!!!!
3-2 Canes and Boychuck get’s his first NHL point
Ruutu is back and Gleason is an animal
come on Camasaurus!!!
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
Nope, but I was the lone voice bitching about how stupid JR was and how important the kids were. So I figure roll with it and look omniscient if thing start to go well or do the ol’ porcelin swirl. Hopefully the team finds out they can play. Last nights first period was good hockey. All they gotta do is build on that. Finaly, at long last we got some legs back. This team is what you have been watching without speed. They have to have it.
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
Though there may be a few wimmin out there that may try him on for size…
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
DIV GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away L10 Streak
1 Colorado Avalanche NW 17 12 3 2 26 53 38 6-0-0 6-3-2 7-2-1 Won 2
2 Pittsburgh Penguins ATL 16 12 4 0 24 54 39 5-3-0 7-1-0 7-3-0 Lost 1
3 San Jose Sharks PAC 17 11 4 2 24 56 42 4-0-1 7-4-1 8-1-1 Lost 1
4 Los Angeles Kings PAC 16 10 4 2 22 56 47 5-1-1 5-3-1 6-2-2 Won 2
5 Washington Capitals SE 16 9 3 4 22 58 48 4-1-3 5-2-1 7-1-2 Won 1
6 New York Rangers ATL 17 10 6 1 21 55 45 6-2-0 4-4-1 4-5-1 Won 1
7 New Jersey Devils ATL 14 10 4 0 20 36 31 3-4-0 7-0-0 8-2-0 Won 4
8 Phoenix Coyotes PAC 16 10 6 0 20 42 35 5-3-0 5-3-0 6-4-0 Won 1
9 Dallas Stars PAC 16 7 3 6 20 52 49 3-2-3 4-1-3 5-2-3 Won 1
10 Vancouver Canucks NW 18 10 8 0 20 52 46 7-2-0 3-6-0 7-3-0 Lost 1
11 Buffalo Sabres NE 13 9 3 1 19 38 29 5-2-1 4-1-0 7-3-0 Lost 1
12 Calgary Flames NW 14 9 4 1 19 49 42 5-3-0 4-1-1 5-4-1 Won 2
13 Chicago Blackhawks CEN 15 8 5 2 18 43 38 6-2-1 2-3-1 5-4-1 Lost 1
14 Columbus Blue Jackets CEN 15 8 5 2 18 48 52 3-1-2 5-4-0 4-4-2 Won 1
15 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 13 8 4 1 17 50 36 5-2-1 3-2-0 5-4-1 Won 3
16 Detroit Red Wings CEN 14 7 4 3 17 42 43 5-1-1 2-3-2 5-2-3 Won 3
17 Ottawa Senators NE 13 7 4 2 16 40 39 4-2-2 3-2-0 5-3-2 Won 1
18 Montréal Canadiens NE 16 8 8 0 16 44 51 5-3-0 3-5-0 6-4-0 Won 1
19 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 14 5 4 5 15 36 46 4-0-3 1-4-2 4-3-3 Lost 1
20 Edmonton Oilers NW 16 7 8 1 15 47 50 6-3-1 1-5-0 4-6-0 Lost 3
21 New York Islanders ATL 16 5 6 5 15 38 47 4-2-2 1-4-3 5-3-2 Lost 2
22 Boston Bruins NE 15 6 7 2 14 34 39 4-4-1 2-3-1 4-4-2 Lost 1
23 Atlanta Thrashers SE 12 6 5 1 13 42 37 1-4-0 5-1-1 4-5-1 Lost 1
24 Nashville Predators CEN 14 6 7 1 13 28 42 3-3-0 3-4-1 4-5-1 Lost 1
25 St Louis Blues CEN 13 5 6 2 12 30 35 2-5-1 3-1-1 3-5-2 Lost 1
26 Anaheim Ducks PAC 14 5 7 2 12 41 46 3-6-0 2-1-2 3-6-1 Won 1
27 Florida Panthers SE 14 5 8 1 11 36 48 2-5-0 3-3-1 4-5-1 Lost 1
28 Minnesota Wild NW 15 5 10 0 10 33 47 4-2-0 1-8-0 4-6-0 Lost 1
29 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 14 2 7 5 9 34 54 0-4-2 2-3-3 2-4-4 Won 1
30 Carolina Hurricanes DEAD FUCKING LAST……..
Only one direction we can go, can’t get no lower, tonight we begin the climb!
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
He will out play Mason but the Canes will still lose.
At least if the Canes hold true to their M.O., losing a different way every night.
My gut feeling:
Second night of a back-to-back? I predict 16-20 minutes in Minor Penalties, and maybe TKO picks a fight to get some “energy” going. Even Boychuk and Sutter will get some time in the box.
4-2, we lose with an empty netter. (Basically, the Florida game all over again).
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
HM!!! no predicting losses!!! I predict 3-0 Canes with Boychuk, Sooter (lol), and Brindy scoring. The D will be solid and came will face less than 25 shots. Then, daisies will bloom out my ass and peace will be declared in the Middle East.
as another old guy I refuse to address that question. If you experience a hockey game lasting longer than four hours get immediate medical attention.
Shit, i’m gonna take pictures for my friends and call my Dad to show off!!
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
I just won’t go there.
However the Cam Ward shrimp seems to be back to normal. His new shell has hardened and he is back amongst his tank-mates and no longer hiding behind the filter intake.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
One can hope it means something. Chemistry is okay; still a little milky which I’m told is good bacteria blooming. I think I just have too many fish for the tank. Maybe Babchuk-fish really does need to go someplace else – is he poisoning the locker room tank?
We decided it must have been Eric not Erik whose pectoral fins got chomped. Happened around the same time as the St Louis game, when #12 apparently re-injured his wrist (if that’s really the problem – I still wonder if it was just as much a head thing. just a hunch)
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
If this is for me Jen, yes, the world is upside down. But I’ve gotten to the point that I really don’t care if we win or lose. (GASP!!!) I do care that they try their best and they show development. I enjoy the excitement of these new kids and the drama of the vets working through this funk. Doors slamming and objects thrown, etc. Such is life.
I was also thinking today that it actually is more enjoyable with Staal out of the line-up. He seemed to be suffering at so many levels with his hockey this season. His display at the end of the Colorado game hurt. That whole Colorado game hurt. I just don’t want to see anything like that again. (or like the Boston game a month ago.)
I miss the excitement and potential of last Spring and the playoffs, but I don’t need that to enjoy Hurricanes Hockey.
Sorry – I guess it’s like when my boys play on a losing hockey team. Every little good moment and sign of improvement is enjoyable. The final score doesn’t really matter. It is a little sad that a $55million payroll has been reduced to the equivalent of a bunch of 6th and 7th graders.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
12 in a row....and something the Canes can shoot for.....record for losing.
I don’t see the Canes winning this one tonight….but I do think the next game the Canes have a chance to win is on the 19th against the Leafs. By then they’ll have lost 16 games in a row and will break out a win. After that lose the next six and the last game of this month against the Caps will be VERY UGLY. Looking at how the rest of our division is playing we may have to settle for last this season.
The longest losing streak in NHL history is the property of the 1974-75 Washington Capitals and the 1992-93 San Jose Sharks, each team losing 17 games in a row.
In 1980-81 the Winnipeg Jets were in their second year in the NHL and posted a dismal 9-57-14 record amassing a mere 24 points.
During the course of the season the Winnipeg Jets went 30 games without a win claiming the NHL’s longest winless streak.
We need to lose every game from now to Nov 23 to set the new standard…. It can be done.
But in truth I kind of agree with the Columbus coach’s comments CanesNow had a couple hours ago:
The Columbus Blue Jackets coach said today he had watched tape of some of the Canes’ recent games and has been surprised by what he saw.
“I can’t figure it out,” Hitchcock said after the Jackets’ morning skate at Nationwide Arena. “I just don’t see the poor play that usually comes with losing.”
Hitchcock noted he found himself shaking his head a little when watching video of the Canes’ 5-1 loss Sunday to the San Jose Sharks at the RBC Center.
“I thought they were playing great and dominating against a really good hockey club,” he said. "I couldn’t believe that game turned out the way it did.
“The game just turned. When things aren’t going well for you the little things have such an impact. Then San Jose scored some goals and the game was over. I just think Carolina is playing better than its record.”
It’s not that we suck. It’s just that we just can’t find away to win. (goes back to what Harwood’s recap last night)
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
Yep. I give that 95% chance of happening.
So I'm guessing this would be "bottom"?
by Carolyn Christians on Nov 7, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
LOL!!!!
My words will taste like my feet tonight I’m sure!
But dammit, they gotta win one sooner or later!
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I told you not bringing the kids up was a mistake...
Someday.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. (definitely not tomorrow right.)
But someday.
I think tonight is the night, but I have thought that since Oct. 9.
I think Hitchcock is right, this team’s play has NOT been worthy of an 11 game streak, yet here we are. So it doesn’t really matter if the play has been that bad, because the results have been, and this is a results business.
if we can stay out of the damn penalty box, that might help. I am going with a WIN tonight!!! I don’t care what the score will be as long as it’s in our favor, they cannot possibly be eternally jinxed!!!
our strategy
we seem to do really well in the first 20 minutes which are vital for us to rack up goals. then, we slow down (understatement) in the 2nd period and then collapse in the 3rd period. so if we haven’t put 3 or 4 goals in by the end of the 1st, we’re screwed. at least we have some young speedy gonzaleses now instead of just our usual geriatrics.
Untrue. “Losers” dont have cups. (see NHL 2006)
by PittsburghCaniac on Nov 8, 2009 1:22 AM EST up reply actions
I feel really bad for Karmanos; to spend that much money on a team that can’t do s&t is terrible. This is bad, very bad for our organization. This team is showing the owner that it isnt worth spending the money….&&&((&((#&&#&#&#&#
In conclusion: $%&$(#&&($#(# (##&$&%$(#$(# #&#&#$$%(#())#*$&
by PittsburghCaniac on Nov 8, 2009 1:15 AM EST reply actions
that comment was not displayed as I wrote it, but, it should still get my point across.
by PittsburghCaniac on Nov 8, 2009 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
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