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Around SBN: Please, Someone Make Bob Sapp Stop Already

Carolina Hurricanes

Currently: Eighth place, 78 points
Last 10: 6-3-1
Remaining: 12 games -- 8 at home, 7 vs. teams below them in the standings

The Skinny: The savvy re-acquisition of Erik Cole at the deadline lit a spark under Eric Staal and helped power Carolina to a three-game win streak that saw them outscore their opposition 20-6. Rod Brind'Amour, who spent most of the season looking for directions, suddenly has four goals in four games and looks like the force he was the last time the Canes made the playoffs.

Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and they reverted to their kinder, gentler, losing ways against the Hawks and Stars -- two teams struggling through some tough times of their own. The problem: a near total absence of physical play and a forward corps that seems all too happy to dance around the perimeter waiting for scoring chances to magically appear instead of creating them by going hard to the net.

Cam Ward's doing his best to keep them alive down the stretch, continuing what's shaping up to be a career-best season. But without consistent offensive help, and with a schedule that looks like it's going to work against them (with two against the Caps and three against the Devils), he's going to hard-pressed to carry the load.

The Verdict: They're too soft and the schedule's too hard. The streak of postseason disappointment continues.

almost 3 years ago Cc_shieldjpg_tiny Bob Wage 8 comments 0 recs  | 

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It’s hard to argue with, i hope he’s wrong, too. We have a schedule full of teams in the same spot as us, it’s going be who is willing to take it upon themselves and carry the day. I feel the team we have CAN do it, it’s whether or not they will.

A

by Paladin6 on Mar 13, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions  

Meh, whatever. I agree it is going to be hard, but he notes that we have most of our games left against teams behind us in the standings, theoritically easier games, and 5 left against teams ahead, all 5 against the Devils or Capitals. 8 home games remaining too, 8 out of our last 11. I don’t see how that is a super tough schedule, definitely not the toughest stretch of the season at all.

by Iggy Reilly on Mar 13, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Yes, I was at the Chicago game and was disappointed that the Canes did not get to the net often enough, it seems. Cam kept them it that game, until the shoot out when Chicago’s top scorer finally lit him up. But, I’ll question Mo’s decision to put Sammy out there instead of Whitney, as the Wizard has had the hot stick lately.

by ivyleager on Mar 13, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions  

The problem: a near total absence of physical play and a forward corps that seems all too happy to dance around the perimeter waiting for scoring chances to magically appear instead of creating them by going hard to the net.

 He’s got this pegged. We will see if he is right about the outcome or not.

GM of CanesCountry.com

by Bob Wage on Mar 13, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions  

yeah…. I agree…. it’s hard to argue with his statements…. We saw them playing the right way against teams like the Flames, Lightning, and Rangers… but once they go soft they can only stay in it for so long…

I realize it’s a hard game to play…. but remember 2006… Whatever it takes… to win…

They still aren’t doing it every game…. and every game means so much!

by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 13, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions  

I have to agree with you all in that he is pretty accurate in the fact that inconsistency id this team’s problem. They just can’t seem to put together a great stretch of 5 to 6 games. Now I don’t think the hawks and stars games were all that bad, but they really needed at least two points through those two games and only got one.

I hope he is wrong, but he could be right about it all…

by Ivan459 on Mar 13, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions  

I guess the Crapitals game is the deal breaker on this road trip… if they win and get 3 points from 3 games then they can argue that the trip wasn’t a complete failure….

But the bottom line is that they have to play each game as if it’s their last….

by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 14, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sportsclubstats.com still says we have a higher chance of making the playoffs than the Rangers. I think that will be all for not if they lose to Washington, but as of Saturday at 5:00 they’re still ahead of New York.

by C-Leaguer on Mar 14, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions  

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Carolina Hurricanes Roster

# Pos. DOB W H
Bryan Allen 5 D 8/21/1980 226 6-5
Brian Boucher 33 G 1/2/1977 200 6-2
Tim Brent 37 C 3/10/1984 188 6-0
Patrick Dwyer 39 RW 6/22/1983 175 5-11
Justin Faulk 28 D 3/20/1992 205 6-0
Tim Gleason 6 D 1/29/1983 217 6-0
Jay Harrison 44 D 11/3/1982 211 6-4
Jussi Jokinen 36 LW 4/1/1983 198 5-11
Derek Joslin 27 D 3/17/1987 210 6-1
Chad LaRose 59 LW 3/27/1982 181 5-10
Jamie McBain 4 D 2/25/1988 200 6-2
Andreas Nodl 14 RW 2/28/1987 196 6-1
Justin Peters 60 G 8/30/1986 205 6-1
Joni Pitkanen 25 D 9/19/1983 210 6-3
Tuomo Ruutu 15 LW 2/16/1983 200 6-0
Jerome Samson 71 RW 9/4/1987 195 6-0
Jeff Skinner 53 RW 5/16/1992 193 5-11
Jaroslav Spacek 8 D 2/11/1974 210 6-0
Eric Staal 12 C 10/29/1984 205 6-4
Anthony Stewart 13 C 1/5/1985 230 6-3
Brandon Sutter 16 C 2/14/1989 183 6-3
Jiri Tlusty 19 C 3/16/1988 209 6-0
Cam Ward 30 G 2/29/1984 185 6-1

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