Calgary Bloodies Carolina: Flames 4, Hurricanes 1
by Bob Wage on Feb 4, 2010 12:51 AM EST
106 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes skated into a nightmare in Calgary last night as Andrew Alberts was injured early in the first period and things went downhill from there. Curtis Glencross scored his first career hat trick for the home team and the Flames beat the Canes, 4-1.
Ales Kotalik checked Alberts awkwardly into the boards behind the Carolina net just eight seconds into the defenseman's first shift of the night and number 41 lay prone on the ice for some time. He was later helped from the rink but did not return. There was no official word about the severity of the injury or when he might be able to skate again.
The Flames played a tough game and handed the Hurricanes a total of nine powerplays, but the visitors could only muster six shots on goal during those advantages and scored a single goal. The aggressive Calgary penalty kill registered seven shots on goal while shorthanded.
Trainer Pete Freisen spent a lot of time stitching up players as Eric Staal was hit in the face with a stick, then was nearly kicked in the face by his own teammate as Joni Pitkanen was checked head over heels into the Hurricanes' bench. Pitkanen's skate grazed Staal's face, cutting him, but it could have been much, much worse.
Then Brind'Amour took another stick to the face and had to leave as blood was dripping on his jersey. Tim Gleason and Aaron Ward both took shots to the leg that probably had to be numbed up as both left action for a bit, but came back.
It was just a miserable night for the team from Tobacco Road.
Carolina started off the game with no jump at all as Paul Maurice called a time out midway through the first period and yelled at his boys in an attempt to wake them up. During the first intermission the coach made a comment that it would be nice if the team moved their legs a bit.
Curtis Glencross scored the first of his three goals less than three minutes into the game, making the score 1-0.
Eric Staal tied the score during a powerplay in the second, as a Jussi Jokinen shot deflected in off of him at 7:19. The goal extended Staal's scoring streak to 10 games. Jokinen also stayed hot with points now in four straight games.
But that would be the end of the scoring for the Hurricanes.
The Flames would score two goals in less than a minute near the end of the period as Jarome Iginla fed Matt Stajan a perfect pass for an easy goal, then Glencross scored his second of the night on a blistering shot from the slot to make the score 3-1.
After a mostly unproductive third period for both teams, Glencross scored an empty netter at 18:58 to put the Canes out of their misery. It was another disappointing effort for the visitors, who now have lost their second game in a row.
Next up will be Buffalo on Friday night.
Game Notes:
- The Canes were out-shot in each and every period and seemed a step behind Calgary all night long. Perhaps they were shook up over who might be traded and when the shoe will drop? They did not seem to have their collective heads in the game.
- Tim Gleason led the team with four blocked shots. Due to injuries to other players, he now seems to be a no-brainer replacement pick for Team USA. The official announcement could come as early as Thursday morning.
- Brett Carson and Patrick Dwyer each had four hits, high on the team.
- Cam Ward made 35 saves on 38 shots and was kept busy most of the night.
- Joe Corvo played 23 plus minutes and had a pretty solid night considering it was his first game in more than two months.
- There is still no official word about Niclas Wallin and a possible trade to San Jose. He was healthy scratched Wednesday night and there has been a ton of speculation, but nothing official at the time of this posting.
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another 3 out game for the canes…Out played,out musculed,and out scored….reminded me of an game between anyone and the old broad street bullies flyers team…and no, i don’t want to see the “highlights” again …once was enough..if i was on the canes bench…I’d be ready for blood when the team goes to buffalo….theirs…as the canes shed enough…
If you think you can't, you won't !
I am really losing faith in Pitkanen. He was badly beaten on the winning goal and has taken too many bad penalties in the last month. Maybe it is too much ice time ?
I would rather they keep Corvo . With the exception of Gleason and Alberts, I just don’t see the effort and attitude we need to be successful at the blue line.
I don’t know, I still think Pitkanen has it, but I feel like all the pressure has been on him lately. With Joe out, then playing almost half a game, and then being paired up with a guy who plays more offense for the other team than D for your own team, he’s got a lot to deal with. Everyone has their rough spots, but I think he’s still a huge asset to the team.
I agree with T-leaf (nice dig at A.Ward by the way).
Joni definitely has his issues and ADD moments but that is true for everyone on the team. I agree with John that the penalties are a probelm and need to be reduced. However, I think the bad penalties from the Edmonton game are a classic example of him trying to do too much to show his critics that they were wrong. I think this is the case for a lot of guys that return to their former team for the first time.
He is never going to be that shut down d-man who is rock solid in his own end. But I’d also argue that that isn’t what he’s paid to be. He’s paid for those random moments of sheer genius that leave jaws on the floor and exclamations of “how did he do that?” hanging in the air. He’s paid for his ability to find other players and set them up with an easy opportunity a la Jussi.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I always agree w/ T-Leaf :-)
Seriously… the last couple of games have been a little rough for Joni. But overall he is still an asset to the team. Everyone on the team has had a bad last couple of games…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Feb 4, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
I completely disagree about getting rid of Pitkanen. He is just entering his prime, not on his way out of it, as is Corvo.
I do agree that Pitkanen has been the pitts the last two games, but two bad games a season does not make. If you want to see the D really struggle, than watch the games from earlier in the season when Joni was out. IMO he may be starting to wear down after playing b/t 27-30 minutes a night since Corvo went down. He is a HIGH risk, HIGH reward type player. When he’s on, there are few better in the league, when he is off, well he looks like A Ward. I think he makes his teammates better, and he is the only one we have on the back end that can consistently skate the puck out of his own zone. To say that you would take Brett Carson or Alberts over Pitkanen is just plain silly.
"He has all the virtues I dislike, and none of the vices I admire." -Sir Winston Churchill
I would ABSOLUTELY take Alberts and Carson over Pitkanen. They are staty at home defensemen who play defense first. Pitkanen is a forward in a defenseman’s body; we can get more for him on the open market than Corvo, and when healthy Corvo does exactly what Joni does.
by Capt. Stinky on Feb 4, 2010 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
Name me a few of these Pitkanen replacements on the open market? And Corvo makes as many defensive gaffes if not more than Pitkanen. PMD’s are crucial to a teams transition game, i.e. that part of the game that gets you out of your own end and into the neutral and offensive zones. Do they have a tendency to be defensive liabilities, yeah. Sorry but there are only 2 or 3 Lidstrom’s or S. Neidemeyers out there that can do both so well.
PItkanen is the latest whipping boy, that is all. At the end of the day this is a team game, and as a team they are not performing. This is not about one or two guys who suck, and are easy to replace, and why is JR such an idiot he can’t see it. The blame goes on Cam Ward for not making the big stops, the blame goes on the defense for letting him get shelled,. the blame goes on the forwards for not providing goal support. The blame also goes behind the bench to the coaches for not implementing a clear system and to the front office for assembling a group that does not gel well.
No need to serve as Joni’s apologist, he’s a big boy and can take care of himself. This thread is about Joni, not Cammie, not anybody else, just Joni. As such, he has sucked lately and looking forward to next season I think we can get more for him on the open market than Corvo, and the style of game Mo coaches (and remember, he’s not going anywhere) favors stay-at-home defense. Get me Corvo, the young pups and Alberts, and build some speed in the center of the ice with the Rats and you have more possession in the offensive zone. You’re right, it’s a team game, and Pits is bringing the whole team down.
by Capt. Stinky on Feb 4, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
cone on…so he has a couple of off games just like the rest of the team. He is by far the best offensive defenseman the Canes have ever had. I agree his mind may be on the olympics at the moment but can you blame him. Plus he has to play with A Ward…..
Plus he has to play with A Ward…..
I love how we all add this to the end of our posts. I wonder if during exit interviews, Mo will sit Joni down and review some things he could improve upon. Joni will nod and “yah” his way through the whole thing. Mo will ask Joni if he has anything to add and Joni will go “But I had to play with A.Ward”. Mo will pause, reflect and go “oh yeah never mind then. Have a good summer!”
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Not being his apologist, just being a realist about what assets are best for the team. And just to be clear, the thread is about last nights butt whoopin at the hands of Calgary, not Joni Pitkanen.
Keep Corvo and he walks this summer. You can bank on that. Someone will throw him more money than this team is willing to spend on him. Why because teams place a premium on PMD’s.
As far as building speed at the center of the ice with the young pups, that’s cute, but how do you intend on getting them to center ice if no one can make a decent outlet pass? Bringing it right up through the middle with the undersized forwards in our farm system and we will be seeing if we can set a benchmark for concussions in a season.
We tried to assemble a team to fit Mo’s system this year and look at how that played out. Do we need another big bodied stay at home guy, yes. Do we need it at the expense of Joni? No. There are more big bodied heavy hitting, meanassed D man in the market than there are offensively gifted puck movers. There fore you stick with the harder to find asset and go mining for the easier one.
Joni
Agree completely Wylde.
I mean, come on. You’re judging a guy’s weaknesses by a few recent games where the ENTIRE team has looked pitiful. What about his almost point-per game stretches it seems like we get from Joni?
What about his crisp passing, his ability to puck posses from zone to zone? He’s a complete player, and creates offense when its not even his role to do so, and when the team usually needs him to. You DO NOT find many players like him.
I agree that Pits has not looked good the past couple of games. I don’t think we should give up on him, but his recent performance has been a concern.
The thing that is really noticable to me is the team’s overall defense. While the offense has struggled the past 2 games, the defense hasn’t looked good in a while. During that 4 game win streak; the D was still allowing good chances, but Cam was great. It’s not just one guy on D either, the whole unit including the forwards are not playing well. Coach Defense needs to step up his game and get this team to play better defense.
Act normal. Don’t look behind you. But here comes Edmonton.
‘Injured from a hit by Ales Kotalik’ is probably the first time ever that association’s been made.
As far as I’m concerned, Goilers.
I’m not going to get upset if the Canes win games and take a step or two out of the basement (I still like watchable hockey), but nor would it hurt my feelings in the least to finish dead last and be guaranteed one of Hall/Seguin.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
No, it guarantees you're one of the top two.
Worst team can’t fall below second pick.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
Though if we were going to go .500 the rest of the season… Wouldn’t we all rather them just lose every single road game and win every single home game? Would be better in my opinion from an entertainment standpoint.
LOL
I like how you think! Very good. (Not sure if you are really cynical or really “happy and childlike” with this, – but makes perfect sense to me)
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by hockeymomof2 on Feb 4, 2010 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
lose away, win at home
Lose away, win at home — Taylor Hall has neen my mantra since around the 30th game.
Amen, doug. WIn at home to keep those marginal fans interested, lose on the road to keep the chance of getting a high pick
"He has all the virtues I dislike, and none of the vices I admire." -Sir Winston Churchill
Live Game Thread
When the BEST part of the game is the CC Live Game Thread we know there is a problem. Let’s all move on to the next game and put this game to rest.
Staal + Jussi = GOAL
by canescup on Feb 4, 2010 9:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions
It was one for the ages. My gracious.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
The way that thread was going, Bob would have deleted it no doubt.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Man, what did I miss last night?? I have got to get my wireless set up at my new place!! I would go back and read it all, but my job may not like that too much :)
Naked hockey players, tighty whities, Tripp and his Bullwinkle, hot tubs, Axe, going commando, etc.
Quite possibly one of the funniest threads I’ve seen.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
It was intentional. Knowing T-Leaf, she will swoop in there and he will be lost to the rest of us forever. ;)
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I am curious to see how many turnovers this team had last night. The only person who I saw play anywhere close to decent was Cam Ward. Yeah he may have allowed 3 goals and a couple that could’ve been stopped, but the guy had zero, ZERO, puck support in hat game. BS turnovers right in front of him (ala Staal) that should have been easy goals, except that Ward was the only one with his damned head in the game.
For those of you want a losing season and futility, I hope you are enjoying this, beacuse this is what we are probably going to see for a long while, 1-2 overall pick or not.
That was the most pathetic effort I have seen so far in the past two months. And that PP, wow, don’t get me started, when the PK unit ON A 5-3 has more SOG than the PP unit. It seemed as if they just didn’t care what they were doing out there. I hope maurice grows a pair and skates them hard this morning, but that is wishful thinking huh…
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
Look at the Defense last night
Corvo, first game since November 30th. He had rust. It was going to happen. You can’t be out that long and come back and not make mistakes. Alberts was gone before the first period ended. Gleason and Ward took monster shots off the legs and while they came back they didn’t look great. Carson and Pitkanen were the only guys “healthy” and the team was only playing with three or four at one point in the first. It’s no wonder Calgary was able to establish the forecheck and control the game. The back end was done about ten minutes in to the game. I can’t put too much stock in to last nights game because of that. If this team had been #1 and Calgary #30 and went through the same problems with defenders the game wouldn’t have turned out much different.
5 seconds left.
Do you believe in miracles?
YES!!
Regardless of the poor effort shown by the offense, I do agree with your observation that our defense was physically shredded early in the game by a bizarre set of injuries and incidents that can only be attributed to some twisted humor on the part of the hockey gods as payback for trading Nic Wallin.
“So you traded your seventh defenseman, eh? Well, how’d you like to have him back and available right about NOW (insert injurious incident here)?”
I had a very few random comments on the game thread last night and that is indicative of the game. I drifted in and out of Civ4 while watching the game. Actually more like the other way around. It was boring… Calgary pushed them around the whole game. They were lucky Calgary stinks a little too otherwise it could have been 10-1.
I’m not sure why Pitkanen and AWard are still paired together – always seems like they have chemistry issues.
Now that is a recycling decision I’d be ok with.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Depends on what he costs.
$2.5M like it was rumored he wanted last summer? No thanks. JR made the right decision there.
$2M? I can see that.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
people whining about Pitkanen are ridiculous
the guy has been playing 31 minutes a night all season. Not a single one of us is likely in shape enough to do ANYTHING but eat fritos for 31 minutes.
He’s flat worn out.
-17
This isn’t the stat of a #1 defensemen.
forest for the trees
S.Gonchar was -20 in 56 games in ’03-04.
Rob Blake was -26 in 72 games ’06-07. He was -28 in 62 games in ’96-97.
Chris Pronger was -18 in 78 games in ’95-96.
Chris Pronger was +52 in 79 games ’99-00.
So.
Twitter is quiet
I hope JR isn’t putting off the Wallin trade due to Alberts injury, that would be pointless.
It’s almost freakishly quiet.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
are they still on the west coast or did they fly back to east coast yet?
by Capt. Stinky on Feb 4, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Oh wait we have a tweet:
kausatoday USA Hockey will have a 3 p.m. press conference to announce Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason as the replacements for Paul Martin and Komisarek.
less than 20 seconds ago from web
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I think it’s more of an unofficial official.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I think it’s 99.999999% certain. I just emailed Jen since I don’t have her cell. ;)
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by hockeymomof2 on Feb 4, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
I texted her. She’s good. :)
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Well done.
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by hockeymomof2 on Feb 4, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
LoL
kausatoday
Los Angeles Kings D Jack Johnson is flying to Vancouver to march in opening Olympic ceremony and then flying back. This is why we admire JJ.
Did you all listen to Forslund on the Buzz this morning? He said Wallin deal to SJ will be announced today. Nikki waived his NTC to get a contract extension, otherwise he knew the Canes would not renew and he’d likely be playing in the Swedish league next year.
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
Wow. Well there it is then. Sad moment from my point of view.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Agreed. He is a very classy guy that was a great team guy. He will be missed! Just hope if they extend Wallin’s contract that he actually gets to play in the NHL next year, and not just stuffed away in the AHL.
I, for one, didn’t think it would be this hard, but this one of those moves that gets me.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Yes, and I just posted this link to that interview over on the Wallin to SJ side thread.
That is quite a bit of insight as to why the NTC was waived.
Wallin
Any word on who San Jose is trading? I hope draft pick or an AHL power forward.
Take your pick. Kaiton says a draft pick (2nd rounder?). JR refers to a “nice asset” for the team. A pick is certainly an asset, but that term is more commonly tossed around when speaking of a prospect.
I’m grasping at straws so much I lunged for the remote when “watching” NHL Live from yesterday during dinner this evening and the banner scroll across the bottom of the screen mentioned SJ calling up a player from the minors.
“Showcasing!” was my optimistic knee-jerk reaction.
Doubt that’s the case, but just for the record in case this was a star-crossed find, the player was Jamie McGinn who has a gap in his NHL season from early January until now.
Hmmmmm. Nah.
Tim Gleason on Team USA! :)
Yay!
USA Hockey will have a 3 p.m. press conference to announce Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason as the replacements for Paul Martin and Komisarek.
30 minutes ago from web
Retweeted by nhl_canes and 17 others
If Ray Whitney does not retire a Carolina Hurricane, I'll go egg Jim Rutherfords car and TP his house.
2 things
1 great news for Tim Gleason. The guy actually fits the mold that Brian Burke claimed to be using for Team USA better than his original selections.. Glad to see teh fates cut past politics and worked in Timmy’s favor.
2 Had anyone heard when they are going to do a release on the Wallin trade? I don’t expect a huge return, but it would be nice to know what our compensation is ( future considerations would make me sad……). Whatever the case, thanks Secret Weapon for being a long time staple of our blue line and locker room. I will miss your clutchtime antics. The “own goal”, not so much.
I wonder if they're not waiting until the Canes are back through U.S. Customs.
Apparently the Sharks are still having trouble getting Toskala in, and we all know about our own issues with Tlusty. If Nic hasn’t gotten US citizenship during his time here, they may have asked the Canes to get him back into the country as a Carolina Hurricanes employee before the trade gets processed.
The Canes’ flight is scheduled to arrive in Buffalo at 3:45 PM. If the trade gets announced around 4:30 or 5, I’ll bet that’s what happened.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
But that means Timmy will be in the air when the announcement is made on the Olympics at 3pm EST. I guess Forslund, whoever for the Canes (Branecky?), and Chip are on the plane with him. Chip or Paul should have a post up ready to go when they land….?
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
I’d expect there to be a post in the hopper. My money says Burke confirmed with the Canes staff last night or this morning that last night’s first-period injury wasn’t going to be an issue, then told Gleason. That would have given Hanlin or Sundheim plenty of time to get the release to somebody in Raleigh, embargoed until 3.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
@nhl_canes: They're back through Customs in Buffalo.
Let’s see what happens now.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
Dr. Canes' Traveling Medicine Show
Home record: 13-12-3
Away record: 6-18-4
Team on a losing streak? Can’t win a home game? Got a star player in a slump? Call-up need his first NHL goal?
Call Dr. Canes today for a home visit. Good for what ails you.
Hey, at least they’re running 50-50 at home.
That is funny. Someone needs to make a YouTube video right now with this as the script.
it always burns within
the downward spiral never ends
when driven into sin
your salvation's found in a sinner's deed
by Douchebag St John on Feb 4, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
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