Powerplay Shows Some Life: Hurricanes at Panthers Game Day Preview

by Bob Wage on Dec 18, 2009 2:07 PM EST

The Carolina Hurricanes, (8-19-6) are in Sunrise, Florida to take on the Florida Panthers, (14-14-7) tonight in the first game of a back-to-back, home and home sequence. The Canes just broke up a three game losing streak with a 5-3 win against Dallas on Wednesday night. The Panthers have won three of their last four, with the loss coming in overtime to Pittsburgh.

The teams have split games against each other this year as Carolina blasted Florida 7-2 early in the season but the Panthers evened things up with a 3-0 shutout in November. The Canes bring in a 1-12-4 road record with them.

The Hurricanes have had a dismal season for the most part, but there is some good news. The team's 28th ranked powerplay has shown signs of life recently and the club has been scoring goals with the man advantage at a fairly good clip. In the past six games, the team is 6 of 20 for 30%.

But even with this success, Carolina remains at 28th in the league with a 15.9% ratio for the season.

The Hurricanes still have plenty of health issues to deal with. Tim Gleason and Niclas Wallin both stayed home for this short trip and will not play tonight. The same lineup will be on the ice at Sunrise which played against Dallas at the RBC. Bryan Rodney, Brett Carson, and Jay Harrison will have at least one more game to showcase their skills.

The word is that Wallin and Gleason could both play tomorrow night in Raleigh. Erik Cole, Joe Corvo, and Chad LaRose remain out.

Look for the forward lines to be the same as Wednesday night:

Staal, Whitney, Ruutu
Cullen, Jokinen, Samsonov
Sutter, Kostopoulos, Dwyer
Yelle, Brind`Amour, Walker

Cam Ward will be starting in net and could very well play in both of these back-to-back games. Tomas Vokoun will probably start for Florida tonight. (unconfirmed).

(UPDATE)- It will be Vokoun tonight and probably Scott Clemmensen tomorrow night according to the Sun Sentinel. (glove tap to the Left Wing Lock)

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Cam Ward	18	1009	3	10		51	3.03	503	452	.899	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Tomas Vokoun	27	1583	9	10		69	2.62	895	826	.923	3

The Panthers are led in scoring by Nathan Horton, who finally seems to be coming into his own. The power forward, who was drafted immediately after Eric Staal in the 2003 draft, has never quite lived up to expectations. That has all changed so far this year.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Nathan Horton	35	11	23	34	8	28	5	1	2	0	78	14.1

Ex-Hurricane and fan favorite, Cory Stillman is injured and is not expected back until after Christmas. David Booth reportedly has been skating, but is still out with concussion like symptoms.

For more information about the Panthers, check out our old Whalers buddy at Litter Box Cats.

Ray Whitney still leads the Canes with 23 points while Tuomo Ruutu is right behind with 22. Eric Staal is heating up and has points in three straight games and has scored 13 points in the last 10.

Both of these games this weekend will be televised locally with tonight's game on HD TV. Tonight the puck will drop at 7:30, tomorrow night at 7. Of course, 99.9 The Fan will have the Stormfront and the Aftermath before and after each game.

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Let us hope

the the PP is coming back and the Canes don’t take “time off” to play “Mo Defensive Hockey” when they have the lead.

Happerry Chrisolkwanaka

by lcd2you on Dec 18, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Anytime you can say signs of life and the Hurricanes in the same sentence things are good, especially this season. Hopeing for a good 60 minutes of play, if we only get 40 let it be 1st and 3rd. Winning the 3rd will give us MO-mentum going into Saturday night at home. Plus if we win the 1st most likely we will have a lead and not have to play catch-up. LETS GO CANES’!

by max creek on Dec 18, 2009 2:43 PM EST reply actions

Don’t forget to join us at the Cry-A-Thon tonight at the Cary Ale House. :)

Assuming UPS doesn’t pull their “deliver at 7:00pm” shenanigans, we’ll have “Gleason for Emperor” buttons as well.

My Hockey Photoshop Gallery: http://gallery.raccoonfink.com/v/hockey/

by Raccoon Fink on Dec 18, 2009 2:51 PM EST reply actions

Nice buttons.....

seems they made it.

Happerry Chrisolkwanaka

by lcd2you on Dec 18, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

Be sure to save one for me!!!!

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

Me too! Actually I’ll take more than one if you have a few left over, have several friends interested. I’ll be at games Saturday and Monday if either time is convenient.

SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Dec 18, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Hope to get out there, but my blizzard party has left me in need of a driver! Hopefully I’ll get out there tonight!

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on Dec 18, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

You know that.....

the kids, Bryan Rodney, Brett Carson, and Jay Harrison have a feeling their playing for more NHL games, especially if some of the latest trade and waiver issues hold up.

I actually do feel sorry for Conboy. I wished he would have thought about playing hockey first and dropping the gloves second. He can be that “7th” d-man with the way things have been going for the boys and still play 4th line. Sad, really.

Happerry Chrisolkwanaka

by lcd2you on Dec 18, 2009 3:59 PM EST reply actions

Conboy

He’s not young enough to be the future of this team though. I think the prevailing wisdom is that he’s already achieved all he’s ever going to be. Canes are moving on,and it’s the 25 and under set that are going to see NHL minutes.

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Up in smoke

OT – but has anyone seen these tweets from Bob McKenzie on the truck fire this afternoon that destroyed all of the Minnesota Wild’s equipment.

Minnesota Wild equipment van was in an accident, caught fire and much of the Wild players’ equipment has been burned so badly it’s toast.

No injuries in the accident, apparently, but if u know anything about NHL players and equipment, especially skates, players are apoplectic.

Wearing a brand new pair of skates or new equipment in an NHL regular season game is no player’s idea of fun.

Nik Backstrom’s equipment, all of it apparently, is up in smoke. Wild checking with the league to see what their options are. Unprecedented.

Wow – they’re supposed to play tomorrow night in Ottawa.

Here’s the Wild’s site brief story

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 4:44 PM EST reply actions

I just saw that too. I can’t imagine what it would be like for a player to lose their equipment, especially a goalie.

SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Dec 18, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Can you say, superstition?

I can’t imagine what’s that’s going to do.

Is it good? They’re 10 points behind the leader in their division.

Is that bad? I don’t know their last 10 games?

Is is par for their season?

Can’t wait to find out!

Happerry Chrisolkwanaka

by lcd2you on Dec 18, 2009 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Puck Daddy says:

The Wild are 8-2-0 in the last 10 games; that sound you just heard was every sportscaster in North America scrambling to be the first to say that “the Minnesota Wild are on fire … literally!”

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

That’s some crazy stuff.

A TRUE CANIAC......YES I AM........

by canescup on Dec 18, 2009 5:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Puck Daddy Story with this image:
Go look at it – lots of photos that will really make you reel. A sample:

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

Holy Crap. I’m not sure what I imagined, but that’s worse than what I imagined.

SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Dec 18, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting how the PP has improved after all the hubbub a few games ago when Mo pulled several veterans.

Go Canes!

by ivyleager on Dec 18, 2009 5:14 PM EST reply actions

Am I remembering correctly that Carson and Rodney got time on the power play units? Pitkanen, Jokinen, and Ruutu seem to be determined to bring up the play of the entire team. I’m hoping that Tlusty will get some more time at Carolina. I’d like to see how he does on the power play in particular.

by abramsdoug on Dec 18, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

Did you hear Ruutu talk about how much he loved the playoffs for the first time last year and how badly he wants to get back there? (in the fanpost IheartMASN put up).

As for PP TOI in the Dallas game, you’re right that both Carson (1:46) and Rodney (2:09) got out for some. Not nearly as much as Pits (5:36 !!), but AWard, Alberts and Harrison got 0:00. They’re missing Corvo on that so this may be a great opportunity for Carson and Rodney.

When Wallin and Gleason both come back (Forslund seemed to think these 2 might be out till Monday I just heard), I’d say Rodney is leading candidate to hang around for Christmas in Raleigh. Or Carson, hmmmm.

Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?

by Carolyn Christians on Dec 18, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

no hd for dish,
i just dont understand how techology can be so wide spread yet some people still dont understand.
aparently they think we wont notice the game isnt in HD

by chrisj on Dec 18, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions

Don’t worry, when you get older it won’t matter anyway, you acn’t see the diff. to save your life..

The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......

by Paladin6 on Dec 18, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

Power Forward Prospects for Carolina on the Panthers team

The Panthers have four potential prospects for the Hurricanes power forward position:

1. Kamil Kreps – Florida Panthers Florida Panthers #28 – Center Born: 1984/11/18 Age: 24 Height: 6-2 Weight: 194 Place of birth: Litomerice, Czech. (now Czech Republic) Seasons: 3 Drafted by: the Florida Panthers in 2003 (2nd round)

2. Michael Frolik – Florida Panthers Left Wing Born Feb 17 1988 — Kladno, Czech Rep. Height 6.01 — Weight 194 — Shoots L Selected by Florida Panthers round 1 #10 overall 2006 NHL Entry Draft

3. Shawn Matthias – Florida Panthers Florida Panthers #41 – Center Born: 1988/02/19 Age: 21 Height: 6-3 Weight: 211 Place of birth: Mississauga, Ont., Canada Seasons: 2 Drafted by: the Detroit Red Wings in 2006 (2nd round)

4. Nick Tarnasky – Florida Panthers Florida Panthers #74 – Left Wing Born: 1984/11/25 Age: 24 Height: 6-2 Weight: 224 Place of birth: Rocky Mtn. House, Alta., Canada Seasons: 4 Drafted by: the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003 (9th round)

I believe Tarnasky is out with an injury. It will be interesting to compare these power forwards with Brunnstrom (who as noted in other posts was relatively innocuous for the Stars on Wednesday).

by abramsdoug on Dec 18, 2009 6:52 PM EST reply actions

Tarnasky is and has been out since the preseason (Chris Neil fist to the face…broke the orbital bone). Matthias looked terrific on Wednesday, but has not as of yet panned out as his draft position would indicate. Kreps is out (ribs vs. bench door). Frolik is on a tear with Horton and Weiss.

Litter Box Cats - Your SBNation Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 18, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions