Carolina Crumbles Against Atlanta, 5-3
by Bob Wage on Mar 1, 2009 12:00 AM EST
in Hurricanes Game Related
21 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period, but coasted the rest of the way as they allowed one of the worst teams in the league to dominate them during the final 10 minutes of the game, and Atlanta would score four times during that time span to defeat Carolina, 5-3.
A win would have pushed the Canes up into seventh place, but instead they remain in ninth, with Pittsburgh knocking at the door. If the Hurricanes fail to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season, they need look no further than at this performance for the reason why.
The game started out well as Eric Staal made a perfect pass to Tuomo Ruutu for the contest's first goal. Sergei Samsonov would score the next one as he skated in from the side and somehow squeezed the puck past Kari Lehtonen.
The second period was pretty uneventful until Ilya Kovalchuk scored on a fluky attempt which ricocheted off of Dennis Seidenberg with just 36 seconds left on the clock.
The Hurricanes would give themselves back a two goal cushion early in the third though when Anton Babchuk scored on another scorching shot while on the powerplay, making the score 3-1. It was the fourth marker in six games for the tall defenseman.
The team apparently felt that Babchuk's goal would be the game winner because they pretty much took the rest of the night off after that.
At about the 10 minute mark, Rich Peverley would score on a puck which Cam Ward probably felt that he had frozen under his arm. Peverley was allowed to continually poke at the puck, and no one laid a glove on him. Next, a wide open Todd White would score on a loose rebound right in front of the net. Then Peverley would score yet again on a powerplay goal with just a minute and a half left, for the game winner.
Tim Gleason had been called for slashing in the offensive zone with about three minutes left in the game, to set up that opportunity.
The Hurricanes pulled Cam Ward and put on some nice pressure in the final minute almost scoring on a Sergei Samsonov attempt, but it would be too little too late and Kovalchuk would eventually bury an empty netter to ice the game.
Next up will be a game in Washington on Tuesday night.
Game Notes:
There was very little physicality in this game as the team combined for a total of (9) hits. Tuomo Ruutu had four of them himself.
It seemed like the Thrashers were skating at will in the Hurricanes zone all night. Ward made several splendid saves, but could not hold the fort when it mattered most.
It's inexcusable to allow a player to continually slap at the puck when your goalie is down and trying to keep possession, yet no one touched Peverley as he whacked away at it until it went in the net for the Thrashers second goal.
Eric Staal did not register a single shot on goal, but he did have two assists. He also finished with a -2 which means his defense was suspect at best.
Tim Gleason's needless slashing penalty, the timing of it, and where he was on the ice when he took it, is all mind-boggling. Unfortunately for the Canes, it is not the first time this season something like that has happened with Gleason.
We have said this before on the blog but we will repeat again, there seems to be no leadership on this team. At times they seem like 20 individuals, all on different tangents. And when the going gets tough, no one attempts to grab the bull by the horns and tries to right the ship.
In case you were wondering who this new superstar Rich Peverley is, the Thrashers claimed him off waivers in January from the Nashville Predators.
On the Mike Maniscalco show after the game, one caller said that the team played a "feminine" game. If I was coach I would put that up on the bulletin board.
Speaking of coach, is it still Maurice's philosophy to play a defensive first game?
Cam Ward probably said it best in his post game presser:
In the third period, it looked like they were the team fighting for a playoff spot, not us.
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Terrible Defense
That was miserable team defense. Also I dont know if he bothers anyone else sometimes but Tripp Tracy bugs me from time to time. I have a friend who watched the game in ATL from their house and they said that Tracy just crucified Ward on the first goal. Said he was out of position and was moving backwards, etc. It was a deflection off of Seidenbergs stick not out of position by Ward. He just gets under my skin from time to time.
As far as the team goes, that game could end up costing us the post season. I dont know what Gleason was thinking on that penalty. As you said bubba, that isnt the first time that he has done that this season at the end of the game. If he is the future of this team on D then he needs to start playing like it!
Thats enough for now!
ATL blogger here. I think Ward has to take some of the blame for the goals allowed. He wasn’t square to some of the shooters nor was his rebound control what it needed to be.
I do agree that Carolina seemed to hit the off switch once they got up 3-1. I guess they assumed that the Thrashers have nothing to play for and that was that. But the Thrashers have been working fairly hard over the last 6 weeks getting points when they were not supposed to—on paper at least.
Note to Cam.
Cam,
I noticed you were shaking your head last night and you threw a puck. Frustration is normal. Everyone has moments when they are feeling like you did last night. The reality is if you take a deep breath and restart, bad things are less likely to creep in. Watch Brodeur, he doesn’t appear to get frustrated at all. He is confident in his abilities and his focus is just beating the other team not wondering if he is good enough. You are capable of the best you just need to not focus on your play and do what it takes to beat the other team. Your positioning and when to move will be automatic if you just insist on winning. Demand it of yourself then your team will follow.
Note to Cam bashers
I would have been frustrated too. to sit back and watch your team BLOW a 2 goal lead in the third! It is not very often (if ever) you can SEE frustration from him, but last night it was warranted. You can say he was out of position, let in a softie, WHATEVER, but he can’t win ‘em all for us. It was a total team suck effort! Our defense was terrible (STUPID! STUPID! PENALTY TIMMY), the physicality wasn’t there, lack of leadership, I could go on…THEY DIDN’T WANT IT BAD ENOUGH!!!! They knew what was at stake coming into this game, we could be sitting a few notches higher today. They quit after the first 30 minutes, had a two goal lead, thought they had it in the bag, SO WRONG…..they certainly needed this win going into the CRAPITALS game Tuesday, I am not sure what they need to light a fire under their a*** but I hope MO finds it before then. We have a tough March schedule and if we have another effort like that we can KISS THE POST-SEASON GOODBYE!!!!
Agreed
Jenni,
I totally agree. Ward can not do it all by himself EVERY GAME! He needs some kind of sound defense from someone. I wonder if that loss last night will make JR reconsider a trade in the near future! Maybe we need it!
Note to everybody
That was a team failure of monumental and possibly season shortening consequense. This is exactly the type of game you have to be able to say “Oh shit, this getting out of hand” and then turn it around. Kovalachuck was the only real threat, you can’t shut down one guy? Pathetic, embarassing, disgusting, shameful, gross negligent and carless play. Like the Florida game last year, this set of losers may have just taken us out, again. Not ‘cause they were better, but ’cause we lost. That was so bad, I’d almost ask for a boycot of the next home just to send a message that that type of play will not ber tolerated. I was so pissed I missed the post game, I imagine/hope Mo was furious. I can’t believe we rolled over for these guys. We are capable and should of sodomized those pukes with no reach around for 2 points in regulation. Instead we got raped.
My motto today is screw you Canes for all the money I’ve spent.
I’ll be back on the band wagon in a day or two. That just was a degrading loss.
A
Everyone
I want to say something but words cannot capture the feelings right now. I will try anyway.
uninspired
gutless
panzies
rollover and play dead
Kovalchuk’s bitches
whimpy
idiotic Gleason
Panic stricken
Fundamentally sound…….not
Out coached
Gutless again
frustrated
pathetic
multiple schlerosis ridden
weak
exposed
Gutless again
disorganized
illprepared
one dimensional
disinterested
That still doesn’t capture all of the feelings. Weird thing, I still believe in this group of guys. I think they just lack character. Missing: Cole, Wesley, Stillman. The calming influence of those guys. Crap……………
Saturday Night Meltdown
Cam Ward played well enough to win ……. sure he was frustrated and who would not be?
I think you have to look at some of the decisions made by the coaching staff.
For example:
Bayda and Conboy both got one (1) shift.in period 3. Both play physical (especially Tim) and had gas left in the tank. Why not use fresh legs and amp up the forecheck? Atlanta had a free pass to the red line the last 10 minutes of the game.
Corvo had 11 shifts ,played almost 1/2 the third period . The group of five (Seids, Corvo, Babchuk, Gleason, Pitkanen) played almost the entire third period. Kaberle played
maybe 5 shifts. Part of the problem is the D is wearing down . This is not a big physical group (except for Gleason). Fatigue leads to both physical and mental errors. They need a l stay at home guy who can put some fear into the opposition. A veteran
like Hedican or Wesley would help a lot. Maybe JR can find one before the deadline ….
Hmmm
While I don’t disagree…
I think Pit’s, Corvo are easy 28 minute guys, the other 3 over 20 a night. I think they should, “should” be fine on those minutes if spread out. All 20 in the third and you have an issue. Like I said earlier, team meltdown, from top to bottom. Reminded me of a Detroit Lions footbal game. You can spot them whatever you want and they can piss it away.
Gleason and Brindy I thought had meltdown horrible games..
Here’s one for you. Mo’s a pretty smart guy, whether you like him or not. I think we have given up an empty net goal every time he get’s pulled. So does the smart guy not do it, or play the odds and figure it’s gotta work eventually??
A
Man you had me up to the Hedican comment.
JohnSS,
Your observations about the defense wearing down is right on. I thought the bench was bad too. When your team is getting tired, move some other guys in there.
Are you really saying that Hedican is about the same as Wesley? I would take Wesley in a second. Hedican, you couldn’t pay me to take that guy. I suggest that you go back and look at the 2006 cup run. They won despite Hedican’s horrible play. I bet he turned the puck over 20 times in the playoffs alone. They need someone who is not afraid to hit. Ruutu is the only guy who hits consistently. You do that against Atlanta and Kovlachuk will skate all over your ass. That is what happened. A little hitting goes a long way.
Gleason may be the new Hedican. Everyone saying how great he is…then he loses a game for you….the most crucial game of the season. Last year they were all about how great he is….not hearing too much lately. Overrated. Stupid stupid stupid stupid penalty.
Accountability
I would be for penalties that amount to more than the “timeout” that children receive when they do something like Gleason did in a crucial situation. How about a money penalty payable by the guilty? These guys are grown ups, not kids. Gleason could have known that taking a penalty in the situation would jeopardize the team. How about $10,000 during the last five minutes of a game when the game is either tied or +/- one goal? Set up a review appeal process. Proceeds to charity. That should get their attention. Although it certainly will not make the owners/team whole if it ends up costing the team a spot in the playoffs. I don’t think guys like Gleason will really get it until they are forced to start taking some real ownership, which means sharing the real cost of such behavior.
To the fan who remembers Hedican for stuff like that, so do I. I was glad to see him go.
by WGM on Mar 3, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
Hedican
Wesley is (was?) better than Hedican; having said that Hedican went to the cup finals
once with Vancouver and twice with the ’Canes. He has played in over 1000 NHL games, and 51 games for Anaheim this season. He was +11 in the cup year, +17 last year – probably in the top 3 for the team +/-. You may not be a fan, but the stats show a very successful career.
More importantly and more to the point, it would help this group a lot to have a veteran
to fall back on, especially when trying to protect a lead. I am sure Gleason did not intend
to take a foolish penalty, not did Corvo intend to fall down when they were shorthanded .
But they both did ………. just as the whole team stood there and watched a frozen puck get whacked at until it came loose. They need a leader on the D side and they just don’t have one.
In a nut shell
Our go to guys in Eric for goals, Gleason for the grit, Corvo for D Zone protection and The blue line blast. Plus The man named Cam, who we lean on for everything…..THEY are tired. Maybe because of the wieght of tring to carry the team but mainly. I feel, The are tiered of going it alone.
Sammy is streaky but we need to keep him. But where is Ray Whitney? He is getting more ice time but does anyone notice? Pik FInallly shot a puck from the point but D side, still no , toughness. NONE.
And then there is MO. The job of the HC is to motivate and Canes dont seem to want it. ANd the way they are now they dont deserve it..
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