The Time is Now for Eric Staal - Game 2 Preview
by Bob Wage on Apr 17, 2009 2:15 AM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
15 comments
Tonight the Carolina Hurricanes face the New Jersey Devils in a game that is vitally important to the Canes if they want to continue on in this postseason. According to "WhoWins(tm).com", NHL teams who fall behind 2-0 while on the road in a seven game series, end up losing the series over 90% of the time. Those are tough odds to overcome.
After a disappointing performance on Wednesday night, fans will be looking for a more competitive effort by the Canes for this contest. They will also be looking for the club's number one star to step up his game.
Eric Staal led Carolina and the entire NHL in scoring during the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs while averaging over a point a game. As the young center goes, so do the Hurricanes. This season, the team had a record of 22-3-2 when the All Star scored a goal. Needless to say, they need him to score again soon.
It would also help tremendously if the Hurricanes could score the first goal of the game. This season they have a record of 25-10-4 when scoring first as opposed to having a 20-20-3 record when they don't. If they have the lead after the first two periods, they are usually money and have a 31-3-2 record in that scenario.
So the secret to their success is not so much a secret. Eric Staal needs to score and they need to get the lead.
Of course the Devils will be doing everything in their power to make sure this does not happen, like having cagey veteran John Madden draped all over Staal at every opportunity. One would think that the younger player would have the advantage in that matchup, but so far that has not been the case.
I am not the only pundit thinking that this game is crucial. John Forslund has gone so far as saying that the first 20 minutes of the game could be the whole series.
The Hurricanes have opportunity early in Friday's game to reverse the fortune. That's why I truly believe the first period could be the whole series. It's hard to toss out a generality like this but quite possibly this is what it could boil down to.
It's hard to disagree with him.
The Hurricanes are a little banged up as captain Rod Brind'Amour did not take the ice for the team practice yesterday. He was seen walking around gingerly, but head coach Paul Maurice said that he will be fine and will be in the lineup. It would probably require an amputation to keep Brind'Amour out of a playoff game, but perhaps he will play fewer minutes?
At least the first two lines seem set with Staal, Ruutu, Cole, and Cullen, Whitney, and LaRose.
If Brind'Amour isn't up to playing big minutes, he could move to the fourth line which would allow Jussi Jokinen to slide in with the Sergei Samsonov and Scott Walker line. They might also consider moving Walker to the fourth line. Patrick Eaves has had some zip in his step and is much faster than the veteran.
There is talk of scratching Tim Conboy and playing Ryan Bayda, which would give the Canes a bit more skill on their energy line. As we mentioned earlier on the blog, New Jersey utilizes all four lines and coach Maurice usually does not. That gives them a bit of an advantage, but the Canes are looking at changing it up a bit.
There is also talk of scratching Nic Wallin and allowing Frank Kaberle to take a spot alongside Dennis Seidenberg. The problem is that Wallin usually gives a valuable physical presence, but he is slow of foot and is not the greatest of puck movers. There is no easy choice here.
Once again, game time is at 7:30.
I will be posting the Hurricanes Newsstand after lunch with the latest developments and links to more articles.
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Tough Odds
That statistic may be true, but in 06 weren’t the canes down 0-2 against Montreal then won the next 4? I expect a much different game tonight, the jitters should be gone and team ready to take it to the the Devils.
The statistic Bubba referenced is when teams go down 2-0 on the road; in 06 we went down 2-0 at home. I would imagine the odds for coming back from that are pretty slim too, though.
Correct, the odds of losing the series after falling behind 2-0 while at home are at 77%. The Canes beat those odds in 2006.
GM of CanesCountry.com
I find it amazingly interesting that a team has an easier time going on the road to get it together after two losses than coming home and getting it together after 2 on the road.
by Iggy Reilly on Apr 17, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah…. to judge by game one it resembles the ’01 series between the Devils and the “Candy Canes” (as the folks for the dump called them)….
I expect game two to be much different. John Forslund made a great point when he stated in his blog that the ’Canes need to play with a genuine dislike for the Devils…. we see this already in most of the other series this year… the Hurricanes need to get mad!!!
I also don’t think that sitting Tim Conboy and playing Ryan Bayda is going to help them any with the getting mad part… But whoever plays on the 4th line needs to lead the way in the “going out for blood” portion of the game….
I’m serious…. it needs to get ugly before it can get better!
PS: And MOVE YOUR FLIPPING FEET!!!!!!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Apr 17, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know about “going for blood” but even that would be nice. Just some intensity in the puck battles along the boards would be nice. The Devils won EVERY SINGLE PUCK BATTLE. It was miserable. It led directly to goals, and completely stalled our offense all night. Not forcing turnovers? No easy chances! No easy chances against Brodeur? Long night ahead for the offense.
It always helps if Staal doesn’t get knocked off the puck by a 90-pound-wuss!!!!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Apr 17, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Also, I will try to contain my BURNING RAGE OF A MILLION SUNS towards fox sports, but this game seems to NOT be in HD either.
WTF! Seriously, get it together FSN, it is the playoffs. Can we please get a damn HD broadcast for ONE playoff game before they make an exit?
PLEASE
I don’t think any of the FSC broadcasts are scheduled to be in HD…
by Andrea's evil twin on Apr 17, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
You just crushed my hopes and dreams.
Also, I hate you so much FSN.
by Iggy Reilly on Apr 17, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
There has been some discussion on Canes Now of them possibly adding a game. People have been complaining about it because the Canes seem to be the only team not offering their playoff games in HD.
If they officially decide to add a game to HD, I will make an announcement in some future article.
GM of CanesCountry.com
Great, now im even angrier. They cant broadcast the Canes playoffs in HD cause the Braves are playing the Pirates in Mid April.
Thanks for the info though.
by Iggy Reilly on Apr 17, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I spoke too soon… the hurricanes website is now reporting that FSC will carry games 3 and 6 on HD (which doesn’t help for those who have tickets to all the darned home games and want to watch the AWAY games in HD)
by Andrea's evil twin on Apr 17, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m sure if you want to stay home and watch in HD then there are plenty of folks who would take your tickets off of your hands for you :-)
j/k… Go ’Canes!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Apr 17, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
HD
I must be ole fashioned but as long as the cane’s win what difference does it make how it is televised. So quit your bitching.
robert warren
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