Rest Of February Offers True Opportunity
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 16, 2009 2:01 AM EST
12 comments
There are less than two weeks left in the calendar's shortest month, but chances are that stretch will seal the Carolina Hurricanes' fate — one way or the other.
While the Hurricanes will host the Eastern Conference's top team, the Bruins, Tuesday for Glen Wesley's jersey retirement, the remainder of February offers the Canes a chance to grab a hold of a playoff spot and justify adding — rather than auctioning — talent at the March 4 trade deadline. Let's have a look at the rest of February.
Feb. 17: Boston Bruins
The aforementioned Glen Wesley Night. The Canes host one of the league's top teams on a night when they honor one of the franchise's most reliable players. But the B's have been reliable against Carolina this year, winning the first three games of the season series heading into the finale. The good news? The Canes will likely get a lift from a big event and big crowd. Plus, Boston is in their biggest slump of the season, dropping four straight and managing just seven goals in that span.
Feb. 19: at New York Islanders
Not much to be said here. The Islanders are the league's worst team and have recently lost their No. 2 scorer, ex-Cane Doug Weight, to injury and have an average AHL tandem guarding the nets. The Hurricanes absolutely need to leave Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with two points. No excuses. This is the second of four meetings. Carolina won the first, 4-3.
Feb. 20: Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts are 2-4 this month and both victories are against poor teams: the Isles and the Maple Leafs. Tampa Bay's front office is looking ahead to the trade deadline and the draft — expect a fire sale followed by another high first-round pick. Standout goalie Mike Smith has been great this year, but he's battling post-concussion syndrome and his day-to-day status could stretch past this game. Without Smith — or even a rusty Smith — the Canes, who have been good all year on the back end of back-to-back games and are 4-0 against the Lightning, need two more here.
Feb. 22: Colorado Avalanche
Despite their seesaw win over Detroit Sunday, the Avs are still the Western Conference's bottom feeders. There's plenty of firepower in their lineup — despite their pedestrian 2.6 goal per game — but the goaltending has been erratic at best. Colorado's 10 road wins are the sixth-fewest in the NHL and only one team (the Islanders) have more than the Avalanche's 16 road losses. The Hurricanes will be expected to win this lone meeting with the Avs.
Feb. 24: at Ottawa Senators
The Senators have responded to their coaching change, but that doesn't mean they're the team that sat at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings since the lockout. Ottawa's 2.46 goals per game is the fourth worst in the league (though only .07 worse than Carolina's 2.53, who are 24th in the NHL). Brian Elliott has grabbed the reins in net, going 7-3-2 with a .915 save percentage. This is the third of four meetings between the two teams, with them having split the first two. You know Joe Corvo and Patrick Eaves will be up for this one.
Feb. 26: Buffalo Sabres
This won't be easy, but given Sunday's dominant effort the Canes have proven they can take it to the Sabres. Buffalo is sorely missing sniper Thomas Vanek, who has a fractured jaw. He likely won't be back in time for this game. This will be the third of four meetings this year, with the teams each winning one so far.
Feb. 28: at Atlanta Thrashers
Another cellar dweller, the Thrashers find themselves in the John Tavares/Victor Hedman sweepstakes instead of the playoff hunt. They are the only team in the NHL yet to hit double digits in home wins, and no one is close to their 17 losses at Philips Arena (the Avs are next with 14, though they have 16 wins at the Pepsi Center). Still, the Canes have won just three of the five meetings so far this year.
So there it is. Seven games, five of which are against teams beneath Carolina in the standings, plus one against slumping Boston, and another against rival Buffalo. I won't say that the Canes should win all seven, but opportunities like this need to be capitalized on and if Carolina wants to make a legitimate run at the playoffs, I'd say they need at least five wins (or some combination of 10 points) before the schedule turns significantly harder.
Without that, it might be time to think about restructuring the roster instead of taking playoff reservations.
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FloriDUH
As always, nice post Cory. This should be more than doable, if you look at Fla’s remaining games in Febuary.
First three at home against
New Jersey
Chicago
Boston
and then away against
Boston
NY Rangers
Devils
and then they play in Washington on March 1.
To say the least, this is quite a tough stretch and might “make or break” the Panthers as much as the Canes. (depending on what the other does of coarse)
We also need to keep an EYE on the Pens. Lets see if this coaching change is a good thing or bad thing for the teams fighting for those last two or three spots.
They are too good to be so bad, I only hope it stays that way for a bit.
I’m actually starting to wonder if Florida is the most stable of the Nos. 5-10 teams.
Montreal is totally lost (especially in net), the Rangers can’t score, Buffalo is struggling without Vanek, and Pittsburgh has ground to make up with a coach with no NHL experience and just 54 games of head coaching experience in the pros (all this year with W-B).
That’s all good news for Carolina, but they need to take care of their own business, especially the rest of this month.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
I agree that Florida might be teh most stable. Everyone has problems right now and Florida is getting the type of wins that play-off bound teams get (read Toronto). If the canes make in I do think it will be at the expense of Buffalo. There schedule is not as tough though, so I didnt highlight it.
If the Canes and Panthers make it into the playoffs does anyone think it would help dispell the belife that the SE is weak? Two of five SCs, three teams in the playoffs this year one of which has been solidly (until recent) #2.
I dont think so.
I know a lot of analysts felt like the SE could get three teams in a few weeks back … I think if Carolina makes it, that might be the case. The Rangers could go either way (esp. if they add Avery to the mix) and I think Ray Shero will be very careful about trying to patch the Pens up give that it doesn’t look like it’s there year. How well Gonchar plays in his return will go a long way toward showing them the way they should go. Same thing with Montreal … Gainey won’t mortgage his future just b/c it’s the Habs’ centennial.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 16, 2009 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
Im starting to doubt that the habs will make a major move now aswell. Prospect wise, they are exreamly deep at the forward position and have a few nice blueliners (two of which were on canadas U20 team. With there FA problems at the end of the year it would be hard to justify trading much of that away for players that also have to be resigned at the end of the year.
If you move these players and win a cup, it might justify it. But even wining a cup and being bad for a few years afterwards makes you wonder which is worse.
Could anyone here understand how that would feel?
by CarolinaCanes on Feb 16, 2009 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
It’s gonna take a lot more years of missing the playoffs for me to even consider that question. If I had to choose between 1 Cup and 19 years of no playoffs or 20 years of failed playoff runs, quite frankly I might choose the Cup.
I still agree with that. No doubt about it. I just watched a 10 minute Youtube video of our run to the cup and damn near teared up.
That championship was the first in my life time for any of my teams; (I am also a life long Cubs fan)
In a way I would rather have a team the competes year in and year out though. More chances to win the Cup.
by CarolinaCanes on Feb 16, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
off topic but.......
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4537397/
I had to post this, its old news (3 days old) but I hadnt read it…….it says that Williams and Cullen went home with the kid to play video games. Thats huge in my eyes. Being allowed into practice and into the locker room is nice and all, but its the extra mile these guys go that really makes the difference…….great story
There was an article on the front of the N&O sports section, too …
Just a pointer … if you find a new topic or item to post, you can always make a new FanPost on the right that way a discussion can be held about that specific topic. Definitely a great feature here on SBNation.
CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 16, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Great synopsis Cory
Looks like it is going to come down to having to win 2 out of every 3 games on average left on the schedule. It would be better like Cory points out, that we get the wins this month that are there on the table so we don’t have to win 10 in a row down the home stretch.
We definitely were skating like the season was on the line against Buffalo but I don’t think we can expect that every night for the remainder of the season. We must play disciplined hockey meaning keep the penalties to a minimum and play top notch defense so we are not fighting to come from behind which has to be tiring for the team. One game at a time and lets all keep the hope alive.
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