Allan Muir of SI Predicts Canes will Fall out of Race
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
Bob Wage
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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.
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.
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
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…
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


















