Backs Against The Wall: Trailing The Series 3-0, Hurricanes Will Look To Take Game 4 From Pens
by Cory Lavalette on May 26, 2009 2:35 PM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
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PrintThe Carolina Hurricanes get their fourth — and perhaps final — chance to make a dent in the Penguins armor, hosting Pittsburgh in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals series they trail 3-0.
Through three games, everything that could go wrong for the Canes has. From series-opening injuries to Tuomo Ruutu and Erik Cole, to defensive lapses and breakdowns, to confidence and style-of-play issues, Carolina has yet to get their skates under them. But that doesn't take away from what the Penguins have been able to do, specifically superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
Don't believe what Luke DeCock tells you: that the Canes have been beaten by Pittsburgh's supporting cast rather than their two dynamos. It's been Carolina's inability to stop Malkin and Crosby that has put the Hurricanes in a 3-0 hole. But the blame falls to all corners: the defense that has, at times, allowed the duo to walk in on Cam Ward; the forwards that haven't given the help needed; and Ward's own play.
While many have pointed to lack of goals from Eric Staal, Ray Whitney, Cole and others, the problem hasn't been scoring but defending. If Crosby and Malkin can at least be held in check (one goal, maybe two), Carolina will get the chance to test Marc-Andre Fleury — who hasn't had to do much after Game 1 — and have a shot at winning to force a trip back the Steel City. If they can't contain "SidGeni," expect Carolina's inspiring run to come to an end.
Carolina should have their full team available for tonight, and I wouldn't expect any changes from the Pens.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. and can will be broadcast by Versus (in HD) and 99.9 The Fan.
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Trailing the series 3-1?
Cory,
Title reads – trailing 3-1 – Is that an omen or something? =)
Should his "error"
become reality, perhaps you should say something about the series being tied 3-3
;-D
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
If the error becomes a reality, forget the 3-3 tie – move on to even higher heights! Go big, or go home…?
OK, one step at a time, please just let’s win tonight!
by Andrea's evil twin on May 26, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Bubba or Cory, do you know the ins and outs of Forslunds contract with Versus. I like hearing him so much more than the previous annoucers. Seems like they would’ve let him do at least one in this series.
I don’t … but even if Carolina loses tonight there will be the silver lining of no more of the current duo.
by Cory Lavalette on May 26, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
RE: Forslund
any chance he’ll move to Versus full-time (do they have “full-time” folks)? Tell me we won’t lose the dulcet tones of Forslund’s play-by-play next season?
Heck – after hearing/reading all day the national media celebrate the foregone conclusion of a Pens sweep, I savored several minutes of our own Tripp Tracy on 99.9 at lunchtime as he confidently reminisced about “what this team is capable of”. Strange, but true. (proving that indeed anything can happen)
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Everyone on Versus has other gigs as well. Doc does play by play for the Devils, and Benanati does play by play for the Caps as well as a variety of other random sports.
Good news
That makes sense. With all the discussion of the UFA’s and RFA’s that may leave, I’d hate to lose that constant. We don’t have a lot of tradition here in Raleigh, and after struggling with the VS crew, I wondered what other surprises might be in store.
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
It probably has something to do with trying to appear unbiased.
Hard to do with Benanati clogging up the airwaves with his inane ramblings on how the Penguins are the greatest team EVAR
At least you didn’t have to listen to Pierre…but Doc Emrick is by far the best, he makes anything in the game exciting even icing.
Jason…. You are my favorite pens fan…..
I would rather listen to Bevis and Butthead call a game than to have to stomach through Pierre McGuire…..
I’m not a huge Doc Emrick fan…. but at least he tries to make sense of it all…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 26, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Pierre McGuire + Joe Benanati = me finally losing interest in playoff hockey.
god if they ever called a game together, i don’t think the mute button would even help. I would KNOW they were saying something stupid.
Pierre McGuire…… the guy who said that the Canes had no chance at all of making the playoffs back in march. He is an idiot, along with most of these other so called “analysts”.
I’m sure that he would even classify our trip to the playoffs a failure. The guy is nothing but a jackass.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
hey, there's precious little air
to where he shoves his head to look for his precious “nuggets”
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
even as a crosby apologist...
…mcguire goes waaaay over the top in his praise of crosby.
it’s nauseating and embarassing. he was the same way with THE LEADER, mike richards…
Doesn’t have anything to do with bias, just that Forslund is 3rd in the pecking order behind Doc and Benanati.
Is he the one who was actually wearing black and gold (black suit gold tie) for game 2???
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 26, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
He's apparently not only not working this series...
But he was done for the year after the 2nd round.
by MichaelProcton on May 26, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
As far as the Forslund issue goes...
I remember someone talking, maybe Adam Gold, about how Benanati’s employer and Versus are owned by the same media conglomerate. Seems that Forlund is loosing out on the gig due to a contract issue, not a merit issue. That being said the announcer’s duo this series is PAINFULLY AWFULL. One of them said something about the skaters coming up the ice “Four Wide” and about dislocated his shoulder congratulating himself on his witty comment. I think I threw up in my mouth.
What we need tonight:
Take the body(early)
and
Shoot the friggin puck! I mean make some Pens block some of those Corvo blasts!
Hear to talking about game 5 tomorrow.
by SouthernHockeyFan on May 26, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
From a Pens fan to Canes Country:
Good luck tonight. 2 of the 3 games played were closer than the score indicated. We know it’s not done yet. Glad to see your roster has been rejuvenated. One of us is going for the jugular in Detroit. . .
Go Pens!
Versus and Forslund Interview
I asked John about this when I interviewed him back in September. He had just signed a three year contract with Versus, so he has two more to go.
Q. According to Multichannel.com, you have signed on to work for Versus again next year. I was wondering how that agreement with Versus coincides with your commitment to the Hurricanes and FSN?
A. Well, I have signed with the Hurricanes. Some people ask, are you employed by FSN or the Hurricanes, and I do work for the Canes first and foremost. I can’t back out of that, I am required to broadcast any game that is televised. What happens with the Versus deal is that they usually use people already affiliated with teams now. They don’t hire special announcers, like say an ESPN would. So as of right now, I am one of the few guys who are under contract with Versus. For the last two years I was a freelancer, more or less a plugin wherever they needed me, and that was fine. But this year, they offered me a three year commitment with a guaranteed number of games per season, plus playoffs. I signed that deal, so I am one of them now as well.
GM of CanesCountry.com
Aha
Okay – I would have (naively) thought Forslund was under contract to Fox Sports. Does that mean Tripp is under contract w/the Canes too? I wonder how that arrangement came about? (I’m smiling as I imagine his interview and wonder who he beat out.)
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahh. With that, the scales fall from my eyes!
(I’ve heard him drop a lot of names in a familiar way, but I must have missed him talking about his father-in-law)
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
That is what happens when the father-in-law signs the paychecks I guess.
(is that true? I hadn’t heard that. you would think tripp would’ve brought that up EVERY GAME)
Must’ve been one of those games that my eyes glazed over and I quit hearing Tripp.
I love that guy though, he always cracks us up. Not necessarily laughing WITH him all the time, but I definitely would be sad to hear someone else working with Johnny F.
After what we’ve all been through this post-season, I’ve come to call Tripp the uber-Goober. I will defend him in to critics, but he does make me cringe (as do many, no doubt)
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
So Chad LaRose isn’t the only Michigan boy with a lifetime contract w/Karmanos?.At least Rosey really has come to be a benefit to the team.
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it raining at the RBC?
maybe that will change out luck. “Drench me like a Hurricane!”
by Carolyn Christians on May 26, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions
Lace em up!!
It’s time to wake the F$%K UP Caniacs!!
One game at a time, tighten things up , play better for 60 minutes, etc.. You choose the cliche’ but tonight is it!! The opportunity for this Canes team to become one of three in the history of this game begins tonight. It’s hockey folks anything can and will happen. Our Canes can come back from this 3-0 deficit and take their place in the history of this game!! The NHL, Versus, ESPN, TSN, and The Hockey News all say the writing’s on the wall and the Penguins in the final is a given. Hey folks! Just because these folks can broadcast and cover the sports beat doesn’t mean they can read that writing!!
If these asses want to count our boys out let em’. It’s not like the Hurricanes ever needed respect from anyone in the hockey circles anyway! They’ll get their props on their own terms…overcoming a 3-0 challenge sounds like a great start to me!!
I’ve been listening to all the sports shatter on the radio today regarding greatest comebacks of all time. For me I give it up to Lance Armstrong-testicular cancer and then wins the Tour de France……again. Simply awesome folks.
NOTE TO THE NHL-Prepare to edit the record books….The Carolina Hurricanes will need some space next to the 42 Maple Leafs and the 76 Islanders. I BELIEVE!!! GO CANES!!!
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