Rutherford says Ruutu and Cole "Questionable"

by Bob Harwood Waeghe on May 19, 2009 6:03 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

Canes Now is reporting that Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said this afternoon that both Tuomo Ruutu and Erik Cole are questionable for game 2 on Thursday night.

Rutherford said Cole and Ruutu, who have lower-body injuries, underwent MRI's today and that he then talked to head trainer Pete Friesen about their condition.

"I do not think it looks good for either player," Rutherford said. "Pete Friesen was not overly optimistic about either.

"But we have two days between games and extra time. Certainly if we played tomorrow night, they would not be playing."

Nothing really new or earthshaking here, but at least the injuries do not seem to be serious enough to knock either of the players out of the series alltogether. The bad news- How effective can they be even if they can play? The wingers were rated number one and two in hits for the team. The Carolina forecheck just took a big hit.

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Well, it really is a shame. Cole was playing his best game of the post season in my eyes. Great move to the center of the ice on the assist he picked up.

by Iggy Reilly on May 19, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That would really suck if they can’t make it. I hope they heal quickly and make it back. The Cole loss in particular, since you could argue that his presence saved the season.

The hitting aspect is huge, though this might simply be more related to the Canes defensemen. One thing I noticed last night was how much the Pens got away with staying around the net and whacking at Wardo with no retribution. There was one play in particular where Crosby got three whacks at the puck (and Ward’s pad) on the side of the net, and he didn’t end up on his arse. That’s downright inexcuseable from my perspective. There were also numerous other occassions, but the Crosby one stands out in my mind. They have to hit and make sure the Penguins camp out in front and take liberties, or the Canes will be at a serious disadvantage.

by The Merovingian on May 19, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any time there is an MRI done, it is definitely not good…

by The Merovingian on May 19, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Good.....

We’re going to have a bear of a time if we have to rely solely on the d-men. They’re great when they have support from the more physical forwards, but without them chipping away, the D won’t be able to keep up with the speedy forwards………….Now I know how Buffalo felt back in 06.

Go Canes.

Satan is just a coping mechanism for monotheists.

by wilmnoca on May 19, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know JR is worth listening to but...

until the guys take the ice Thursday night, I won’t take anything said by any of the Canes and the managment too seriously. Line personnel surprises have been the hallmark of the Canes in these playoffs. The press found out how much exceitement came when the B’s claimed A-Ward’s broken orbital bone, so let’s just all come down until we have facts. Think good thoughts for Ruutu and Cole and get some sleep. It’s gonna be a long couple weeks with many more ups and downs ahead.

Love those Canes!

by hockeymomof2 on May 19, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

typo

should have read “let’s all calm down”

by hockeymomof2 on May 19, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is what I was thinking too. Hopefully it’s just a little bit of strategy, a la Ward’s ‘broken’ orbital bone.

by hip_check on May 20, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it. Gleason mentioned something about hearing Cole screaming in a post game interview. Knees are fickle when it comes to injuries. As for Ruutu…if it were minor enough to the point that he can play in Game 2, he probably would have been able to tough it out and come back during Game 1. The fact that he missed the entire rest of the game is not a good sign. I’d expect to see both of them out come Thursday.

by pancanbra on May 20, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

If the test was bad, then he would have said they are out. Since he said they may play, the tests must be negative. Wait and see.

by KenRab on May 19, 2009 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Possible replacements???

So does that mean we bring in Conboy and Helminen if Ruutu and Cole can’t go? I’m all for bringing Conboy in anyway. I think Pittsburgh needs a good dose of retribution.

by pancanbra on May 20, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bring him up, your team will only look like crybabys and thugs if the series gets ugly. besides you bring them in you will loose.

" I AM CAPATIN CHAOS, and this is my trusty Sidekick cato. Say hello Cato"
Dom Deluise 1933-2009, Cannonball run

by oldtimehockey09 on May 20, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you meant lose, not loose

I can’t quite see how being more physical makes a team look like crybabys. I also don’t think being more physical is what makes a series ugly. I’m calling for physicality, not cheapshots, like the ones delivered by Eaton and (Cheapy McCheaperston) Cooke…now that’s ugly. When our two leading hit makers are coincidentally injured on two plays that at least deserved penalties it reasons to guess that Pittsburgh was trying to take away our physical edge to allow Malkin and Crosby more leeway. Not to mention to make thug extroadinare Orpik feel better about himself after the wicked hit he sustained from Cole. Enforcers like Conboy are what make this game great not ugly. They are in fact needed to police a game when the refs obviously can’t so this series does not in fact get ugly…like the injuries we saw on Monday.

by pancanbra on May 20, 2009 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

during teh regular season you are correct. thats why the pens have goddard on thier roster. however the post season is a whole different story. when an instagator penalty or a suspension due to the whole “sending a message” clause the league talked about prior to the start of the playoffs can cost a team a pp in a close game, it really isnt worth it. does it make fans on both sides feel better? u betcha. but whats better, physical retribution or the scoreboard?

" I AM CAPATIN CHAOS, and this is my trusty Sidekick cato. Say hello Cato"
Dom Deluise 1933-2009, Cannonball run

by oldtimehockey09 on May 20, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d rather see Helminen and Babchuck as a 7th defensemen.

Other than a willingness to fight I don’t think Conboy brings much to the table, and he’s not even that great of a fighter. Helminen is fast, he’ll fit into our overall game which is quick skating.

Babchuck could be used in power play situations and be an extra defensemen just in case.

by CanesFanFromLI on May 20, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is that you are losing your 2 top hitters and replacing them with 2 guys who either dont hit or are not known for it. A large part of our post-season wins deals with our ability to forecheck and win battles along the boards. For example, when jussi scored with .2 sec – Ruutu made two HUGE hits to seperate the puck and keep it in the zone – without that we never win in regulation. I just dont see heliminen or Babs making those type of plays. Conboy on the other hand…..he will. And Conboy not a good fighter???

by briney on May 20, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For whatever reason, the team has a tremendous record when Conboy is on the ice. I’ll try to find that number. They seem to be more comfortable with him out there, good fighter or not, perhaps because he has their backs and he’s not afraid to “play on the edge”.

GM of CanesCountry.com

by Bob Harwood Waeghe on May 20, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pittsburgh Sports Talk radio even said today that they think Cooke should have gotten a 5 minute major. I guess fans (and experts) everywhere just want to see some hockey.

by hombre lobo on May 20, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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Carolina Hurricanes Roster

	#	Pos.	DOB	W	H
Zach Boychuk	11	C	10/4/1989	185	5-10
Rod Brind`Amour	17	C	8/9/1970	205	6-1
Brett Carson	27	D	11/29/1985	210	6-4
Erik Cole	26	LW	11/6/1978	205	6-2
Patrick Dwyer	39	RW	6/22/1983	175	5-11
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
Tom Kostopoulos	29	RW	1/24/1979	200	6-0
Chad LaRose	59	LW	3/27/1982	181	5-10
Manny Legace	34	G	2/4/1973	200	5-10
Oskar Osala	32	LW	12/27/1987	219	6-4
Justin Peters	60	G	8/30/1986	205	6-1
Alexandre Picard	45	D	7/5/1985	215	6-3
Joni Pitkanen	25	D	9/19/1983	210	6-3
Brian Pothier	5	D	4/15/1977	204	6-0
Tuomo Ruutu	15	LW	2/16/1983	200	6-0
Sergei Samsonov	14	LW	10/27/1978	188	5-8
Eric Staal	12	C	10/29/1984	205	6-4
Brandon Sutter	16	C	2/14/1989	183	6-3
Ray Whitney	13	LW	5/8/1972	180	5-10

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