Zach is Back: Devils at Hurricanes, Game Day Preview
by Bob Wage on Feb 13, 2010 12:55 PM EST
19 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes, (23-30-7) recalled Zach Boychuk for their game against the New Jersey Devils, (37-20-3) tonight at the RBC. This is the fifth recall this season for Boychuk, who has three assists in 11 games this year. The winger will join the Brandon Sutter -- Tuomo Ruutu line.
Patrick Dwyer will be trying to fill some big skates as he takes Matt Cullen's old spot and will be centering Tom Kostopoulos and Sergei Samsonov. The other lines will remain the same.
Newly acquired Alex Picard will not play tonight and is not in town yet, (immigration issues?)
Winner of his first ever NHL start, Justin "Pete Dawg" Peters will get another shot tonight. The youngster had a great game against the Islanders last week, can he have a repeat performance at home against the Devils? Will there be howls from the "Dawg Pound" whenever he makes a big save?
For those of you who wanted the Hurricanes to start getting younger, the plan seems to be taking shape.
The lines should look like the following: (but obviously could be changed during the game)
- Staal, Whitney, Jokinen
- Sutter, Ruutu, Boychuk
- Dwyer, Kostopoulos, Samsonov
- Yelle, Brind'Amour, Goertzen
- Gleason, Corvo
- Pitkanen, Ward
- Alberts, Carson
Check out "Pete Dawg's" statline so far in his young career.
But he's facing the new look Devils tonight, who just acquired Ilya Kovalchuk. They are one of the best teams in the NHL, although they have lost three of their last four games and five of their last seven.
One might think that Martin Brodeur would get a break tonight since he just played last night and will certainly do some heavy lifting in the upcoming Olympics, but according to "Fire & Ice", he will get the nod again tonight.
In Lou We Trust has more Jersey information.
This is the last game for these clubs before a two week break for the Olympic games. All trades are frozen during this two week time period, but things will certainly heat up again very soon afterward.
With the final trade deadline ending before the next home game on March 4th, will this be the last game as a Hurricane on RBC ice for Ray Whitney, Aaron Ward, Joe Corvo, and/or someone else? It very well could be.
The times, they are a changin'.
Tonight's game will be televised locally by FS Carolinas at 7. Mike Maniscalco will have his Stormfront show starting at 6:30 on 99.9 The Fan. We will have the Open Game Thread starting here at 6:30 and I will be chiming in "live" from the RBC.
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Newly acquired Alex Picard will not play tonight and is not in town yet, (immigration issues).
Same problem that Tlusty had. What if we played Ottawa tonight he would’ve of been here. If they have a passport why can’t they just come down a play? What are the details in the relocation of a player? Fly down, play the game go back and finish paper work, they can’t stop him from crossing the border.
Staal + Jussi = GOAL
I don’t know the exact legal requirements, but I am fairly confident the summary would be that Picard is a citizen of Canada and cannot come to the United States to work without appropriate immigration status — such as a work visa. To violate the rule would get him and the Hurricanes in trouble potentially.
Correct. he could come down here using his passport no problem. But perhaps now that his employment has changed, he probably has to apply for a green card or whatever is used these days. Since it’s just one game to be played before taking a two week break, they probably told him to start the process now.
GM of CanesCountry.com
Um, yeah, they CAN stop him from crossing the border.
That’s their job.
Had we played Ottawa a week ago, he would have been here as a Canadian employee of a Canadian company, receiving pay in Canada for work he performed here — sort of like if your company told you to go to a training class in Toronto. From what I can tell, as a Canadian he doesn’t need a visa at all for that.
To work for the Carolina Hurricanes, an American company, though, he needs a visa. Making that happen in time for tonight’s game would have required the U.S. government to operate (a) efficiently (b) on a weekend. Good luck with that.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
Third Line Center for 2010-2011 Season & Boychuk
I am particularly excited about tonight’s game because it begins with a Boychuk/Sutter/Ruutu line as the second line. As I look toward 2010-2011, I have wondered who will be the third line center. With the trade of Cullen, the third line center spot seems to be an issue. I tend to doubt that Dwyer will be the third line center next season; but on the other hand, he has played exceedingly well. If Dwyer can provide some additional scoring touch, and it is clear he has excellent hands and is fearless trucking toward the net, he might be the sleeper of the Rats/Checkers.
Similarly, as I look toward and forward to 2010-2011, I have thought that a Boychuk/Sutter/Ruutu or Boychuk/Sutter/Tlusty line would be a talented, well-balanced line. I tend to think that next season we may see a Ruutu/Staal/Jokinen first line and therefore the Boychuk/Sutter/Tlusty line would be the second line. Tonight, Boychuk gets a tremendous opportunity to play on what could easily become a fixture second line next season.
Earlier this season I tagged Dwyer as “unimpressive”. I’ve been more impressed lately with his quiet hockey smarts.
He’d be a decent low-budget guy for next year. As to a 3rd line center: let’s roll the dice. What do we have to lose by giving him a look ? He’s earned it.
I’ve also said that Boychuk’s not ready yet, and the reply has been that he didn’t get to play with good enough linemates. This is only one game but I hope he makes the most of it.
by drifterscape on Feb 13, 2010 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
2nd/3rd line center
Now with Cullen gone wouldn’t one think Rutherford would trade one of the UFA’s for a 3rd/2nd (depending on where Sutter fits). Theirs now way Dwyer will stay as 3rd line center. THOUGHTS??
by RU4RU on Feb 13, 2010 5:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Third Line Center
I would use the draft choices for drafting the best forwards I could find; and other than Tyler Sequin and Taylor Hall I’d be looking for 6’3" forwards with speed. I’d use the off-season to sign a free agent center if I couldn’t get a center who should be able to play third line center. Jokinen can play center, but I would not move him off the line with Staal. Of course, it could also argue for re-signing Cullen and having three lines that play virtually equal minutes. If I were GM, I would work toward having a somewhat non-traditional third and fourth line; and would have a third line that featured skill and speed as well as size. I would have enough size on the third line that the players could check; but I’d have speed and skill. On the fourth line, I’d work toward a line such as Samson/Dwyer/Kostopoulos that was skilled, fast, and gritty; and I’d roll four lines.
I remember drifterscape’s comments about Boychuk not being ready and my response that Boychuk needed time on the top six lines. Tonight is a great chance for Boychuk to demonstrate he not only has talent and grit, but that he has his game ready when facing one of the NHL’s excellent teams. I predict he will rise to the occasion. Boychuk has been a winner at every level of hockey he has played; and has a tremendous will to win and to be a difference maker.
With regard to Dwyer as the third line center, Dwyer has been the kind of player who prevails when competing against more heralded players. I think he will be a fourth line center next season; but he does have that intangible quality and may well show us all he is our third line center.
So are we to assume Boychuk will be a winger for the Canes, because he’s a natural center (or thats what he’s been).
Staal + Jussi = GOAL
Rutuu and Jokinen were both "natural" centers entering the league, often times the best players are played at center during development.
"He has all the virtues I dislike, and none of the vices I admire." -Sir Winston Churchill
Fantasy 2011 lineup- somewhat realistic ha
Gagne-Staal-Jokinen
Cole-Segin(if we could get him)-Ruutu
Van Reimsdyek-Sutter-Tlusty
Dwyer-Steckel-Boychuk
Pitkanen-Bieksa
Gleason-Picard
Babchuk-Carson
Coach- Stevens
by RU4RU on Feb 13, 2010 6:04 PM EST via mobile reply actions
whatever it is you should stop smokin it.
by silent_shadow36 on Feb 13, 2010 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
or share.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
puff puff give…lets not screw up the rotation!
by PittsburghCaniac on Feb 14, 2010 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
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