Canes Top Thrashers For First Preseason Win, 4-3
by Bob Wage on Sep 26, 2009 11:35 AM EDT
75 comments
Eric Staal and Ray Whitney each had three points while helping the Carolina Hurricanes jump out to a lead, then hold on to beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Friday night at the RBC. Scott Walker got things started as he put back a Staal rebound late in the opening period while the Canes outshot the Thrashers, 15-1 and dominated play.
Staal then scored himself in the second as he skated the puck in alone and flipped it near the front of the net. Thrashers defenseman Paul Postma inadvertently tipped it in and made the score 2-0.
But Atlanta stormed back to make a game out of it. They scored a goal later in the second and another early in the third to tie the contest.
The Canes then took advantage of a 5 on 3 as Joe Corvo rifled in a shot from the point. Later in the period, Erik Cole used one of his patented moves and took a puck in the Atlanta zone on a rush then fed an open Ray Whitney who made no mistake.
The Canes ended up needing that insurance goal as Michael Vernace scored less than a minute later, which was a goal that Cam Ward probably wished he had back. But Carolina held on for the win and will try to close out the preseason on a positive note tonight in Nashville.
Game Notes:
- Ray Whitney appeared to be hit in the face with a puck near the end of the game and left the ice immediately. Paul Maurice said after the game that it was not serious, he seemed to have gotten hit with the flat end of the puck and Ray was going to be okay.
- Tom Kostopoulos dropped the gloves with Josh Gratton in the first period and both combatants delivered heavy blows until Gratton dropped "Tommy K" with a stinging right hand. The Carolina forward was dazed and confused as he wobbled to the bench with help from Pete Friesen. He was later cleared to go back into the game and apparently argued with the coaching staff about it, (face to face), but Maurice said he stuck to his guns and would not let him back in.
- The fourth line looked good and was close to doing some damage on the scoreboard before the altercation and injury to Kostopoulos. After that, the coaches were challenged into mixing and matching the lines and the previous continuity seemed to suffer a bit.
- Eric Boulton tried to goad Scott Walker and Tim Gleason into dropping the gloves later in the game, but both declined. Walker injured himself in a preseason fight last year and missed about 20 games with a broken hand. I asked him after the game if he felt tempted to go with Boulton anyway, regardless of what happened last year.
Yes, last year I had trouble with that. It's tough sometimes the way the game plays out, but you have to look at the bigger picture. You try to grow with maturity and it's unfortunate sometimes when things like that happen in the game, and guys do come after you. You don't want to not do it, but again you have to look at the grand picture because obviously October 2nd is more important to us right now. But you still want to be ready to play and you want to be on the edge. But I was definitely making a conscious effort not to go with him.
- Walker had a good overall game and finished with his goal, three hits, and a +1.
- The defensive pairings were as follows: Gleason/Corvo, Ward/Alberts, Harrison/Wallin. Ward left the game for a bit with a stinger from blocking a shot and Wallin was knocked down and limped back to the bench at one point. But both returned to play in the game.
- Aaron Ward was a shot blocking machine. He led the team by far with five blocks.
- Jay Harrison looked good out there. He seems to have the quickness to jump into play when needed, but drop back as well and as Cory mentioned last night, is not shy about shooting the puck.
- Chad LaRose had five shots on goal and was buzzing all night. Staal led the team with six.
- Tim Gleason led the team with five hits while Tuomo Ruutu had four. Newcomers Alberts and Ward had three each.
- The Canes obviously took their foot off the gas pedal after gaining a 2-0 lead and at one time had a shots on goal advantage of 19-2. But the Thrashers could have taken a lead at one point themselves as Cam Ward was forced into making a couple of highlight reel, sprawling saves.
- Jussi Jokinen looked fine for his first game back from injury. He was matched with Ruutu and Cullen.
- Maurice said that Walker, LaRose, Ruutu, and Staal looked good to him. He was really pleased with Ruutu's intensity.
- Eric Staal was the game's first star and also shined in the faceoff circle winning 69%, (11/16) of his draws. Matt Cullen had a horrible night with draws as he only won 19%, (3/16).
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Erik Cole not playing tonight because of some kind of injury…..didn’t hear about that last night. It’s sad how fragil the Canes are.
It’s not really meaningless, it’s so they can get there legs going, there timing,etc. Some of our ‘Vets’ will be only playing one or two preseason games. The first game is going to be an eye opener for just how important practice games are. Flyers will be ready Fri. the Canes I’m not sure aren’t going to be ready.
You're kidding, right?
Because we didn’t play two or three more preseason games with the Albany lineup, we won’t be ready? Please.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Quick hits from me since I missed the live game thread:
I was really impressed with the offense last night. Manny Legace made some fine saves early in the game for Atlanta to prevent that game from becoming a blow out.
I really like the way Yelle plays. He was perhaps the person I was most impressed with last night. He really is a great asset to have on the fourth line.
Harrison looked okay. Nothing to make me say he can be a top 4 d-man, but he looks like he can hold his own on the third pairing if the need arises.
Alberts to me looked out of position a lot and tried to make too many tough passes. I’d like to see a bit simpler game from him. I’d also like to see him play hockey a bit more and watch hockey a bit less while out on the ice.
The defense overall, and the break out, all seemed a bit off kilter all night. Forced too many passes, lost the puck, a lot of fighting themselves. It’s pre-season, so it’s not a big concern, but the Canes can’t expect to beat a top team in the league during the regular season playing defense and the break out the way they did last night.
Embrace big ideas!
Good point about Legace. He might have earned himself a job as well as Afinogenov. Forgot to mention that on the writeup.
GM of CanesCountry.com
I think your thoughts about Harrison are exactly correct.
He’ll be the “swing man” they know they can count on for any one-night stint in the lineup they need.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
LaRose played like a bandit last night with some beautiful shots on goal that just couldn't make it in. It's just a matter of time.
I found it interesting that at the start of the 3rd period, A. Ward talked to 3 different officials on the ice about something just before they dropped the puck and he wasn’t even in the lineup on the ice. One of the officials pointed to one of the Refs and Ward skated over to him about what ever he was saying and then again to the other ref.
I wonder what that was about?
The guys played better, but still weren’t quite cohesive with each other. I guess it’s going to take some time to get use to each other’s way of playing the game.
As bad as I hate to admit it, I think we are going to be a much better defensive team when Pitkanen is back. That may be the piece of the glue that was missing for me last night.
C
...because it's his decision and there's no way the training or coaching staff had ANYTHING to do with that decision.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Actuall it wasn't it WAS the coaching staff that said he couldn't PLAY.
by canescup on Sep 26, 2009 6:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
...so why would you deride his "fragility" when they chose to hold him out?
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Now for the glass half empty.
What a poor, flacid performance against a second string line up. Kosto single handidly screwed up chemistry and (I hope) his job security. First off, the fight was stupid and not needed. Second, he got his ass kicked. Third he then get’s in the coaches grill and argues. MORON!!!
While Legacy was doing a great job, the amount of missed shots was insane. Less preseason games my ass, they need 30 more. If that’s what they call the “Starting line up”, hell bring back Lavi and we can look at total failure. Once again the youth outshined the veterans. Only exceptions was Yelle, he put out a faily solid game and Walker.
The D was pretty dismal and against a real squad will get destroyed and Cam let another softy in.
I thought I heard that all this minimal preseason, having the line up set months ago was going to help the begining of the year?
Pathetic showing. Be interesting to see who is able to play tonight and how it pans out.
If you look at the total preseason, LaRose and Sutter are the standout top guys.
God I hope I am wrong, but man that felt like the last couple years start off. Even Cullen sucked. I liked coach Mo’s dance around what went wrong. He’s a pretty classy guy. I hope he can motivate and coach as well as he can interview. This team isn’t even close to being ready for real hockey.
A-fire at will!!!!
Your 100% correct. Canes are all made of glass, and a short preseason is supposed to help with injuries.Again, for the third time today the team is FRAGIL.
Yea, I also agree our top line (starting line up) playing against a college team last night should not have been that close.
are you two brothers or something???? enough with the bad Karma!!!! The season hasn’t even started yet!!!!!!!!!!
Actually it has. It saterted out just like the last few, poorly. That was the line up we brought to the track. They ain’t gonna win many races if that’s all they got in the tank. I’m more of an instigator to make people angry or thoughtful, but man the team was not in any form close to game shape and there is only one more pre season game and we have injuries, missed plays etc. The Flyres don’t care what they face, they will want to crush, kill and destroy us. They will put on a far nastier and skilled game against our team than what they faced last night. Facts is facts, the Canes were unimpressive last night and ill prepared to face the 1st line of most any NHL opponent.
A
So what are you going to say after we win on opening night?
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll ask why you bitched and moaned so much.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Staal had three points and so did Whitney. What are you looking for from the top line exactly? By all accounts staal had a great game last night.
by Iggy Reilly on Sep 26, 2009 12:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think that’s about average so the top line get’s a C. A “Great” game from Staal is a hat trick+. Ray is capable of a 2 bagger maybe even a hatty. So while the top line plugged along the rest was not inspiring. I expedct 4 rolling lines and 2 dozen guys working thier ass’ off. If everyone played with Rosies effort last night, it would be very diff.
A
Great game = hat trick + ??
Dude, that’s a four point night. The best players in the league put up 100 points a season which is 1.22 a game. A hat trick plus is four points. That is an unrealistic expectation.
Embrace big ideas!
What I meant was Staal’s night last was good, he should do that night in and night out. That is his expected level. A “Great” night for Staal would be a hat trick +. He should cough them up once a month. Combine that with the off night here and there and I think Staal should be an 80 point or more guy. I’d like 90. My point on that was his 3 points wasn’t some stellar perf. He and Ray were hitting it.
Though if you know of a pill to get him to 4 points a night lemme know and i’ll slip him a mickey! ;-)
A
He should score three points every night?
Wow. Who was the last hockey player to put up a 240+ point year?
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right, you DIDN'T hint at it.
You stated, quite clearly:
What I meant was Staal’s night last was good, he should do that night in and night out
Now I’m not a doctor, but doing “that” (scoring three points) “night in and night out” (every night) would produce 246 points, and you said he “should” do that.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I was very disappointed in the way we have been playing too. We're suppose to be this talented packed team now.
Even though we did play some what better last night (ugh this was Atlanta’s 2nd string players that we ‘played better" against), we are going to be slaughtered by Philly and the Pens if something doesn’t change drastically in the next couple of weeks.
I hate it that we have to play the Pens so early in the season, because I don’t think it’s going to be pretty. I hope I have to eat my words, but I think they are going to eat us up and spit us out on the ice for the fans to see at the end of the game.
Maybe their holding back and are going to give us their A game Oct 2nd and 14th. We need to win that 1st game and the Pens game for the sake of future ticket sales and redemntion for the team and the fans even if it’s short lived.
It was a big mistake not having more preseason games or scrimage games together with the team. Daily drill practices doesn’t make new teams play together better, playing games and learning each other ‘s way of playing does whether it be scrimages or preseason games. On paper we have the talent, they just can’t seem to mesh together well yet. I’m sure they will eventually, but I want it now!
I read somewhere that it was JR that chose us not to play but 4 games preseason. Was it JR or the NHL that decided that? I see that other teams including Atlanta that have played more than 4 games in the preseason. Some teams played 7 preseason games, those will be the top teams early in the season.
C
That was the canes decision, not the league (don’t know whether it was JR, Mo, or both)
by Andrea's evil twin on Sep 26, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Maurice, however was also in favor of it.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Not exactly.
There will be players in that B group that we’d like to get in a game but just won’t get a game because of the number. At the same time, I would rather sacrifice that than play nine exhibition games and spend the first five games just filling holes with the guys and saying ‘Let’s wait until the last two or three until we get serious.’
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on, man...
If we lose two games, the team won’t sell any tickets?
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh...
And when those teams that played 18 preseason games are down top stars come December, will you still say those were the “top teams?”
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
MP, we dang near went down 3-4 guys in the minimal schedule we played, don’t think it has much to do with it as much as bad luck. It’s a rough game, people get hurt, sometimes the flu hits, just the ol’ shit happens thing.
A
But Paladin: just close your eyes and imagine the excitement while we gather round the TV as Sutter-Boychuk-Bowman fly in to the RBC to rescue our feeble franchise from the depths of despair! (cue Underdog theme music!) Speed of lightning !! Roar of thunder!!!!
A heckuva lot better than planning out the thrilling potential of a pitiful season allowing us the “opportunity” to trade away all our (beloved) UFA’s to the successful teams, to pick up 15-30 draft picks (Gee – who thinks that’s a good idea?) (Apparently I’m still jealous you got two sundaes)
And actually, for those old fogeys like myself, the original was no less than Aykroyd and Curtin :“Jane you ignorant sl%t!”
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Sep 26, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
As usual, your logic astounds.
Playing more games does not at all increase the chance of injury. Brilliant.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I told ya – if they didn’t come out guns blazing it would be a bad sign… but they did come out that way SOG 15-1 in the first. I just hope the failure to sustain that pressure was because TK’s disappearance mucked around with the lines a bit. But even if that’s true, they need to be able to be flexible about lineups come regular season so it’s still a bad sign.
meh, maybe they’ll get it together tonight…
Oh, and I’ve always liked yelle…
by Andrea's evil twin on Sep 26, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup, you did. You know if Mo would of been rotating lines and pairings on purpose and trying things it would of been less disstastful. It appeared they came out with game plan A and followed it through the game like in any regular season game. I think that is a great part of my let down, i was wondering if they would/could come out guns blazing…..Looks like the powder was wet.
A
Ha...
There was this one time we lost 10-1 to the Thrashers. Actually, no, there wasn’t. We won the game.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Fifteen shots in the first while shutting down the Thrasher offense was as good a starting effort as could be expected in a preseason game. Only Legace, a former All-Star auditioning for a job, kept the score where it was.
Sure they let off after Staal’s goal, and Mo was, is, and will be on them for that lapse. Losing the lead was all he needed to work with for the total effort speech. I’m not concerned a bit about their intensity for Opening Night.
The defensive lapses that let Atlanta score are the only thing of any concern, but see effort above, add Pitkanen back into the mix, get Cam tuned up, and we’ll be fine.
Kostapolous got caught by a right while being tugged forward, but those things happen. Good precautionary move to hold him out and someone has to sit anyway to make room for the last look-sees of prospects.
All-in-all it was a good preseason victory with something to play for all the way to the end. Good entertainment for the fans, good warm-up for the vets, and good fodder for the coaches to wrangle better play…that’s a wrap.
by Elsker on Sep 26, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1 for reasonability.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Watch and wait
It’s really hard for me to weigh-in on a game I didn’t see with my own eyes. I can look at the stats and rely on what Chuck and Bob&Cory say, but that doesn’t give me enough to evaluate effort, break-downs, miscommunications, etc. It sounds like the guys played only as well as they needed to play, but didn’t really make a statement.
I also believe that it take a tremendous physical and mental effort (Mo said used the word “courage” following the first game vs Nashville – describing Ruutu’s 3rd period) to play hockey at the top level. Unless there’s something forcing every guy on the ice to “bring it”, (like their lives will change dramatically based on the outcome), it’s hard to judge if what we’re seeing now is what we’ll see when the house is packed and the Flyers are on the ice.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
Like Mo, I’ll give a special shout-out to Scott Walker, Chad LaRose, and Tuomo Ruutu for showing real effort throughout hte game. In fact, upon further thought, I’m adding Sergei Samsonov to that list, who I thought looked very good last night.
Can’t say much for the defense. Adequate, but not outstanding. Aaron Ward looked good.
Could tell they had been talked to about “falling back” quickly once offensive feints are made. But it looked like a forced thing for a couple of them and not yet a natural instinctive move.
A lot of hockey left
Like others, I can’t really go towards either extreme on a game I couldn’t actually see. There is only so much you can get from reading reports and listening to a game. The one thing I think we all should keep in mind is that this is preseason hockey and that they are still working on things. It would be great for them to be in game 7 form right from the start, but that’s a little unrealistic. We have new players learning the system and the injury to TKO really shuffled things up last night. Let’s give them a little time and not jump ship just yet.
Hey, BOB!!! Where’s tonights thread?
I’ve been digging through some stats and Brandon Sutter is the only Cane with his name on a stat over at NHL.com for his shorty.
Also, Mo sounds like he wants to see Sutter again, so being the last presedason shot, it stands to reason we see at least Sutter. So who sits?
What’s the line up tonight???
Who’s got boo boo’s?
A-anxious
Whoa, calm down there… The team’s not even at the arena yet (flight just landed) and here y’er hollerin for a thread…
:)
My impression was that Sutter would play tonight, don’t know who sits
Pits is still out, not sure about anyone else…
by Andrea's evil twin on Sep 26, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s ouring cats, dogs and chickens up here. Need me some news!!
Plane just landed? Well what runway dammit?
;-)
A
As newly appointed link-meister (not sure what the feminine of that is – link-freulein) Canes Now posted the line up before noon.
Leighton in goal
Whitney okay to play
Sutter’s in
TK’s out allowing time to see Conboy.
Coles out
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Sep 26, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Now I know why I got the job.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Sep 26, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno. I’d say Bob’s pretty hot, actually. For his age, and all…
Haven’t met Cory. We’re still just virtual.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Sep 26, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
last game
oh please kids it is what it is a pre-season game. college players or 2nd string or what ever. We will see Friday when the regular season starts, and even at that 1 game doesn’t make the season. So let’s just wait and see how this all works out. OK
robert
Remember - start time is 8pm
Staal, Whitney, Ruuts
Cullen, LaRose, Sergei
Brindy, (or Yelle?), Jussi, Ryan
Sutter, walker, Conboy
(Mix-and-match above)
Gleason- Corvo
Ward – AA
Wallin – Harrison (maybe McBain?)
Leighton in goal
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
BTW – this is my best guess – I haven’t seen anything official.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Sep 26, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
McBain should be up.
They said they wanted to see him in another game.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Kostopolous’ new nickname is “Ouchmyface.” Seriously, good on him for dropping the gloves and trying to establish himself. Listening to Chuck and watching the thread I got the impression that the Canes started like a house afire and faded a bit. Tonight will be a good test — back to back, playing a team that beat us — of where our skivvys are, but not a measurement of where we’ll start the season. Philly and Boston back to back is gonna be a huge challenge but I’m confident we’ll see a strong team effort and a good system. Will that be enough to make the playoffs in 6 months? Those two games (and tonight’s) won’t have an impact on that result. Like the rest of you, I’m looking for a trend, a direction for the Canes that foreshadows the result of a long season. We have the talent, the coaching, and the room to make it far. Only time, lady luck, and St Jimmy will tell.
Jesus, what an awful fight you linked.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Sep 26, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
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