Unseemly End for Carolina - Pens 4, Canes 1
by Bob Wage on May 27, 2009 3:00 AM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
58 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes seemed to be a team of destiny. They survived two game 7's on the road, repeatedly overcame deficits in each previous series, and went on to defeat heavily favored opponents in rounds one and two. But the storybook postseason came to an end against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night as last year's Eastern Conference Champions captured the Prince of Wales Trophy once again by sweeping the Hurricanes at the RBC, 4-1.
Game 4 seemed eerily similar to a couple of the previous games as the Canes showed good life at the beginning of the contest, only to end up succumbing to the ever-pressing Penguins who came hard at the home team all night long.
Eric Staal started the scoring for Carolina just a minute and change into the contest as he somehow squeezed in a wrap-around chance past Marc-Andre Fleury. Staal performed like a superstar in this game as he looked like the most dynamic player on the ice at times. But unfortunately for the Hurricanes, he had little help from teammates when he was able to break free.
During the offseason, management should be looking for another skilled forward to compliment the center. Will they settle on Erik Cole? Stay tuned.
The Pens would tie the score just seven minutes later on a boom-boom play as Ruslan Fedotenko got behind the defense and tipped in a pass by Philippe Boucher. But the back-breaking goal came just a minute and change before the end of the period. As Max Talbot broke into the Hurricanes zone, defenseman Anton Babchuk slid over and seemingly played him perfectly. Babchuk fronted the forward and put a stick on Talbot's shot. But the puck took a fluky bounce and went straight in the air in slow motion over a surprised Carolina goalie's glove hand. After the game, Cam Ward said that he lost track of the puck for a moment until it got by him.
It was another gut-wrenching, end of period goal which has haunted the Hurricanes all series long.
The Canes battled hard, but could not get another puck past Fleury and the under-rated Penguins defense. About midway through the second period, Babchuk was involved in another scoring play for the opposition. The young defenseman attempted to keep the puck in the zone, but it bounced by him, (with the help of Sidney Crosby). Crosby took the puck in the Hurricanes zone and found a streaking Bill Guerin with a perfect pass at Cam Ward's doorstep. The vet, who was acquired in a trade deadline deal, chipped the puck in the net for a 3-1 lead.
Ex Hurricane, Craig Adams fittingly got the empty netter to finish up the scoring.
What can you say Caniacs? The bounces all seemed to go the other way and perhaps the Canes would have liked to get a few more calls. But it's hard to take anything away from the Penguins. They were like a runaway train that could not be stopped.
Game Notes:
The Canes made a conscious effort to stop Evgeni Malkin in this game and succeeded in keeping him off the scoreboard. But that noteworthy accomplishment was not enough to earn the victory.
Eric Staal spoke after the game and complimented the competition, but team captain Rod Brind'Amour was not available. I get asked quite often if I think the captain will retire soon and my answer is no. But there are some whispers that Staal might be given the "C" next season. That's another subject for another day.
The Canes will be having team meetings for the next couple of days and will be undergoing the exit interview process. (Remember how upset Rutherford was that Laviolette skipped this process last season?)
As disappointing as this series turned out, there are a lot of positives to take from this season. The tailgating, the trips to the airport, the last second, heart-stopping wins, the record 12 game winning streak at home, and of course the extra hockey to watch. Perhaps more important than anything else, the team made money this year because of all the extra revenue.
_____
If you are a fan of the Hurricanes, don't go anywhere. Unlike most of the mainstream media in the area, we will still be active every single day and will continue talking about the team and the NHL, all summer long. There is a lot to discuss-
- Which RFA's and UFA's will the Hurricanes attempt to sign?
- Will anyone be traded?
- Which youngsters can help the Canes next season?
- How can the team improve?
We will start out by grading each player, (with your help), we will continue getting interviews, and we will be providing other extra features. (A few readers have asked me to do a "day in the life of a blogger" article, so I am working on that.)
Is there something that you would like to see us do? Send a note to the suggestion box- canescountry@gmail.com
Thanks for a great season Caniacs!
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I miss 'em already...
Actually, I started missing them about the first game of this series. I’m excited for the future with Boychuk and Sutter coming on board.
Love, love, love the Canes!
Great article Bubba. Speaking of grading (yes I have posted this website numerous times, because I am a huge fan of it) here is how the salary cap looks for next year, unless the website is wrong.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=CAR
Curious, but what do you all think about Stallsy now making 8.25 mil a year? I am hoping to re-sign Ruu and Jokinen- I think that they have been fantastic players for our team.
by PittsburghCaniac on May 27, 2009 3:55 AM EDT reply actions
Cole's a big question mark
true he helped Staal get his game back getting here.
True he was one of the guys who tried his best, seemingly alone at times, trying to get into the Pen’s defensive zone.
True he was non-existent on the score sheet.
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
definitely and Rosie. I wonder if we can keep him. Betcha he is going to demand quite a bit more money- and he sure deserves it.
by PittsburghCaniac on May 27, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
How come Ward is so cheap?
He’s making $2..5 mil this year, compared to Fleury’s $5.0 Mil. Then again, Tim Thomas was only at $1.1mil.
Ward’s longterm contract when they renew a year from now is something they need to anticipate this year I think. This will be a challenging summer for JR.
Maybe all those airport welcoming crowds in the wee hours will help Jussi, Ruutu and a few others willing to concede a little bit just to be a part of the Caniac nation. After all, there’s only so much money to go around.
And who do we get to help out Staal so he’s not flying solo? Cole was such a disappointment in that regard in the post-season. Was there an injury we didn’t know about?
by hockeymomof2 on May 27, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
is babchuk gone?
after his self combustion down the stretch he shouoldnt be too expensive.
i thnk jr should look into keeping him especially if he can buy out kaberle
Kaberle impressed me during the playoffs.
And he was really good during the regular season when he was healthy.
Tough call on that one.
Cause Chucky can score some nice ones.
exactly….. he actually played really good early in the season when the rest of the team around him was throwing out klunkers…….
Also…. it’s not as easy as people think to just buy out a player….. The Carolina Hurricanes can’t afford to buy out a guy without getting anything in return the same way the Detroit Red Wings can…. we’re on a budget…
But I still take Kaberle over Babchuck…. he played really well during the part of the season when he was healthy….. I also like his experience….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
There would be no issues in buying out Kaberle (or Wallin). At $2.2M next year, Frank would cost the team $1.1M. Wallin is set to make $1.75M, so the buyout would $875K. So that’s $1.975M on to two buyouts. If you were to replace them with two of the young guys (Rodney, Borer, Carson), you’d like only spend around $600K each (all three are RFAs who earned in the $500s … they won’t get much of a raise). So say $1.2M at the NHL level for two of them … that’s a total of $3.175 (when you include the two buyouts. Frank and Nic would make $3.3M next year if they stayed. That’s a difference of $125K (not counting the savings you’d have on Rodney and Borer/Carson at their AHL salaries of probably around $80K each). So, while minimal, there would be savings. And any saving are good when you consider there are some other RFAs (Babchuk, Ruutu, ect.) who need to be paid.
by Cory Lavalette on May 27, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess the issue I was thinking about was the budget… not the salary cap….. I just don’t see a team on a budget paying perfectly good players to walk away without anything in return…. especially a guy like Wallin who has meant so much to the team over the years…….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s my entire point … it has nothing to do with the cap. They save actual dollars by doing this. Those aren’t just cap considerations (think of the money saved not paying Borer/Carson and Rodney on AHL deals), they’re actual money saved. No one is going to want Wallin or Kaberle at those prices (at least no sane team .. so maybe TB), and it would probably mean taking back salary from the other team. Why do that when you can cut ties and replace with cheaper guys already in your organization.
by Cory Lavalette on May 27, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
So trade them to Tampa Bay for a fishing trip and season tickets to the Hamilton Coyotes (j/k)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I was being funny….
The guy who wants to bring the Coyotes to Hamilton was quoted in the toronto paper saying “look at the Carolina Panthers…. they are named after their state….”
He was griping because some hockey folks don’t want him to name the team after Hamilton…..
And I assume he meant the Carolina Hurricanes…..
it should be a requirement for a potential owner to at least know the other teams in the league…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
He could have meant the florida panthers.
Maybe he was being a smartass… the florida hurricanes anyone?
by Andrea's evil twin on May 27, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Congrats on a good season!
Tough break, but a well-fought postseason to follow a very promising resurgence. Here’s to bringing the Cup back to the east! See you all next year.
-Pens Fan
The only good thing about losing at home
is that we were able to give them a proper applause for all the amazing work they’ve done. I’m so proud of them and it was great to see so many Caniacs stay around after the game and cheer them on despite the outcome. And thanks to the Pens fans for not being as stupid as they were on Saturday. But GO DETROIT nonetheless :)
Oh and at least I got to leave with a giggle after watching them all handle the trophy. Everyone in our section gasped at the same time.
It’s been great. Can’t wait till next year :)
Congrats on being a classy bunch, Canes fans.
Seriously. I was in Raleigh for Game 3, and I was amazed at how well you guys dealt with us Pens fans. One guy accidentally knocked over my beer after I stupidly left it on the floor while talking to some cute girl, and he immediately bought me a new one. That’s class.
I have a good barometer for opposing fans as well—I attended games in both DC and Philly in the prior series. Not even comparable. First, they don’t tailgate like Carolina. Second, they’re dumb enough to chant “Crosby Sucks”—those of us who know Sid know that this motivates him to do what he did to those pathetic souls. Third, those people booed their team in their elimination games. Canes fans cheered throughout the third, and during the final 2 mins. almost non-stop.
Keep it up guys, I’ll be back in Raleigh next year for another game and post-game fun on Glenwood Street.
Thanks!!!
We may be (what is considered to be) a new hockey market…. but we take it seriously…. and we have a lot of pride….
and in taking pride we know how to deal w/ defeat…..
I had a problem w/ a handful of Penguins fans on Saturday…… That’s water under the bridge… I don’t hold on to things very long…. overall (last night) everyone was well behaved and allowed us to send our team into the summer on a proper note….. And that was a good thing….
Can’t really say anything bad about the Penguins team…. they out played our guys big time…. and with a purpose. They came so close last year only to lose to the Red Wings (sound familiar Carolina fan?)
So good series guys…. Hopefully this will be the start of a new rivalry….
Go ’Canes!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
So good series guys…. Hopefully this will be the start of a new rivalry….
We’re going to have so many rivalries before this year is over.
We’ve always had the Flyers, and that’ll be number one probably forever. Sorry, but there’s a turnpike connecting our cities.
We’ve got the Caps due to the Ovechkin/Crosby thing, the epic 7-game series, and the fact that their fans acted as though they had won the Cup after Games 1 and 2 of that one. Not to mention the history of the old Patrick Division battles—they forgot that you can’t exorcise demons in 2 games (Lemieux’s still around, he’s just in the owner’s box now).
The Red Wings, well, that goes without saying right now. We’ve got some impish spectres to exorcise ourselves, but that rivalry may no longer exist in two weeks.
The Canes/Pens should remain what it is—two teams with a heck of a lot of talent who could wind up meeting in the post-season for a number of years to come. No need to take it to any other level. In fact, I know all of Pittsburgh will be pulling for Carolina to get that 3-seed by beating the Caps in the standings next year.
by docciavelli on May 27, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
we’ll be shooting for the #2 or #1…. :-)
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
LaRose and Ruutu is a must. I’d prefer if they let Babchuck and Seidenberg walk. With Corvo and Joni we already have two offensive-minded blueliners who are prove to defensive breakdowns, we don’t need a 3rd. Seidenberg had a really good season, but with the defensive talent we have in albany I think we can find a cheaper alternative.
I don’t think Brindy will retire. I think he still believes he can be productive with a nice offseason rest under his belt.
Still not a crook!
I agree with you except I would like to see Seids stay. He blocked about 1 billion shots this year, especially at times when it seems noone else wanted to.
I haven’t looked, but how many shots did our blueline absorb this series? It couldn’t have been very many.
by Iggy Reilly on May 27, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
We should keep both Seidenberg and Babchuck. I thought Seidenberg has been pretty solid, not great, he’s still relatively young and should get better.
Babchuck is even less experienced and younger than Seidenberg. This was Babchuck’s first season as a regular starter and that didn’t happen till half way through the season. I’d expect that with a full season under his belt next year he’ll be a better player next year. He scored 16 goals this year, too much potential.
Though I like both Wallin and Kaberle, both are getting older, we should see who’s available to replace them for next season.
by CanesFanFromLI on May 27, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Brind’Amour can get at least some of his previous form back….. he still has the determination to do it…. he is still only a little more than a year removed from major knee surgery…. w/ a minor knee surgery on top of that to start the season…. I think he has a little more left in him…..
we’ll see….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
seidenberg was invaluable this year,
he is due for a raise, idotn know if we can keep him.
but he is really becoming a top blueliner for our team
I’ve become a Seidenberg fan too. He was very active and consistent in the post-season. Seems like a good character guy too.
by hockeymomof2 on May 27, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
rutherford said:
“we will have to set a budget for the 09-01 season”
this leads me to believe it wont just be the same 49 mil.
this oculd bode well for jokinen babchuk and even cole (whom i thnk are on the outside of the priority list)
I love Cole, but we need a winger who is a step above him in scoring touch.
I’m gonna go browse the FA list later this afternoon and make some suggestions.
by Iggy Reilly on May 27, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s hard to say how much money Cole can demand, he realy hasn’t been the same player since ‘06’.
I’d like to think he still may have one more season like the 06 season left in him. I believe he had some injury at the end of the season that carried into the playoffs, he got progresively better as the playoffs went on, though the knee to knee hit slowed him down the last 3 games.
by CanesFanFromLI on May 27, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Cole will most likely take a pay cut wherever he ends up….. here or elsewhere…..
Thanks to Brooks Orpik…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
First JR needs to make the Coaching decision
Budget wise – when they decided last summer to fork out the big bucks for Staal starting 09-10, I would like to think they anticipated upping the budget to absorb his $4mil/yr raise without having to lose one or two players to make that up.
But what do I know?
here here to that! They better resign Mo if they can. The man deserves a contract after turning our debacle around.
by PittsburghCaniac on May 27, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
The scoring reinforcements will likely come in the form of Zach Boychuk. Now we just need to find out if he’s up to the task.
by Cory Lavalette on May 27, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions
Maybe Patrick Eaves will become our next surprising scoring forward. If you think about where LaRose was a couple of years ago, that’s where Eaves is now. He’s not afraid to hit. He’s got a good shot.
by CanesFanFromLI on May 27, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think everyone here is sick of me praising Eaves … but I would agree he could step into the mix among the top 6 guys.
by Cory Lavalette on May 27, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Eaves has shown flashes of really good skills throughout the season….
The main problem w/ him is… Carolina is usually a place where players like Eaves go to find their game and reconnect w/ their talents…. but Patty hasn’t had the most luck….. I’m not sure if he has been injured…. or if he feels some sort of strange pressure…. or if it’s confidence…..
When he is on he is really really good…. I’d love to see him come around…. maybe he could pretend it’s his rookie season….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
The main problem with Eaves is he just had bad luck with injuries. He stays hurt, not saying its always his fault but he does. Can’t afford to keep someone that has this kind of luck.
I’d also argue that it takes time to recover from shoulder injuries, and Eaves might come into camp next year finally feeling himself. IMO, I’d rather see a guy tear up a knee than need shoulder surgery.
by Cory Lavalette on May 27, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah….. (from a guy who has tendinitis in both shoulders)….. shoulder pain can take a toll on how you do EVERYTHING from driving your car to sleeping to writing your name on your next big contract……
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Eaves
Thanks for the poster who forwarded the salary link on HockeyBuzz. Good site. I think it lists Eaves at around 1.2 million / year. That’s too much for a 4th liner like Eaves. Let him go and bring up someone at 500K per year to take his place.
I think the team (and Eaves) expect him to be more than a fourth liner.
by Cory Lavalette on May 28, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Great run
It was really interesting watching the Eastern Conference playoff race shape up over the last three months of the regular season, what with both your team and the Pens turning around foundering ships to meet up in the ECF.
I’m really curious as to how the Canes react to the result of the series, whether the management puts more stock in the incredible run to the ECF, or looks at the result and takes drastic measures.
It doesn’t sound like that’s really in the works, but I’m also a Detroit Pistons fan who was breathing a sigh of relief after the last offseason ended with Chauncy Billups still in a Pistons uniform, only to see him traded 3 games into the season…and now playing in the NBA WCF. I only bring that up to illustrate the vagaries of the sports world where “Enough is never enough”.
The Canes were an interesting team to watch this postseason, you never knew when they’d strike, and until this last game you could definitely never count them out. Big plus in my book, even if I wasn’t cheering for them after the Devils series…
Hope you guys enjoyed the ride….looking forward to seeing what the next turn of the wheel brings….
While we are at it.......
Does anyone think that Conboy comes back next season? I know he has a one-way contract…. (I think he has a one-way)…. and with some improvement to his skating…. he could be a good two-way player for the 4th line (or on defense if needed)….. But not an every day player…..
How does everyone think he fits in? Or does he get traded or waived?
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions
I’d love to see him improve his game a little….. but I think he knows and understands his place…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 27, 2009 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
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