Game Analysis: Bruins At Hurricanes
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 13, 2011 11:33 AM EDT
in Carolina Hurricanes 2011-2012 Game Analysis
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PrintIt was a tall task expecting the Carolina Hurricanes to get their first win of the season against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, but that's exactly what the Canes did in defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 at the RBC Center Wednesday.
Carolina got its goals from the defense, third line and fourth line, and goalie Cam Ward outdueled two-time Vezina winner and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy recipient Tim Thomas to push the Canes to 1-2-1.
Three Observations
1. Sometimes you find chemistry in the strangest places, and it seems Paul Maurice has found some in the pairing of rugged defensemen Tim Gleason and Bryan Allen. Normal logic dictates that you pair up your defensive-minded blueliners with a more offensive partner, which Maurice attempted to do to start the season. But since the teaming-up of Nos. 5 and 6, the Canes' new shutdown duo is yet to allow a goal and has combined for three assists. They led the team in ice time, each playing more than 23 minutes, and Gleason had 6:15 and Allen had 4:39 on the penalty kill, which went a perfect 5 for 5.
2. Maurice can't help but be pleased with the effort put forth by his leadership trio Wednesday. On top of Gleason's stellar performance, captain Eric Staal and Brandon Sutter also played a huge part in the win. Staal was literally big in Joni Pitkanen's game-opening goal, screening Thomas while Pitkanen patiently whistled a puck past the Bruins goalie. Then Sutter's line got the eventual game-winner when Sutter, Patrick Dwyer and Jiri Tlusty outworked the B's and Tlusty eventually beat Thomas for his first goal of the season. All three letter-wearers contributed to Carolina's PK success, plus were solid in all three zones. Effort trickles down, and Carolina's leadership group has been putting in the work.
3. Penalties are still an issue, especially the way in which Carolina is piling up PIMs. The Hurricanes were guilty of two too many men calls Wednesday, plus Tlusty's high-sticking infraction was an absolutely reckless play that has no excuse. The Hurricanes have been shorthanded a 21 times and allowed five power play goals — both league highs — through four games, and the kinds of penalties the team is taking is a concern. Yes, the Canes have the 12th fewest penalty minutes per game (11.5), but all of their infractions have been minor penalties and thus aren't inflated by fighting majors or misconducts.
Number To Know
33 — Combined blocked shots on the season for defensemen Allen, Jay Harrison and Gleason. Allen leads the league with 15, while Harrison has 10 (tied for fifth) and Gleason has eight (tied for 12th). Look no further for the reason Carolina is allowing 31 shots per game through four games — 2.2 fewer than they did last season — despite averaging nearly two more minor penalties per game through four outings. Allen had seven blocks Wednesday, while Harrison added five.
Plus
Jiri Tlusty — This was a toss-up between Tlusty and Anthony Stewart, who both scored third-period goals for the Canes to lead them to victory. But Tlusty gets the nod — despite his aforementioned penalty — because of the every-shift urgency in his game. Tlusty had a team-high five shots, chipped in on the penalty kill, and was buzzing around the ice all night. I have been more patient with Tlusty than most observers, and it looks like the 23-year-old might finally have a chance to convince others that he belongs in Carolina's top nine. The caveat, of course, is Tlusty's ability to stay healthy. But right now he is making the most of his minutes by shooting the puck and finishing his checks.
Minus
Zac Dalpe — It's hard to find a goat in this effort, and Dalpe isn't really deserving of the "honor." So this goes more to the circumstances Dalpe has been put in. Like last season, Maurice has put the rookie forward on the fourth line and hasn't given him the chance to move up. He's averaging a team-low 7:39 per game but it hasn't diminished his hustle as he continues to try and force Maurice's hand. Unfortunately, right now it seems his only chance to move up is if he supplants Chad LaRose on the top line.
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One extra note on Gleason — He’s tied a top of the league with a +5 rating. If we could get Allen and Gleason out with the Staal line more I’d be interested to see the results.
by Patrick Clarke on Oct 13, 2011 11:37 AM EDT reply actions
While I think Gleason’s plus/minus is an indication of how he’s played, I don’t think Staal/Skinner are playing poor in their own end. They’ve been relied on a lot to go out and score … of course that will take away from what you can do defensively. Poni hasn’t exactly been killing it defensively and he’s a plus-2.
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 13, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Staal/Skinner are playing poor in their own end
Fair, but it’s their neutral zone and offensive zone play that’s attributing to their +/-. They need to do a better of getting pucks deep, eliminating turnovers in the neutral zone, 3rd man high, and a little back pressure.
That’s hard to do when no one else is scoring. You can pin goals against on them if you like, but the goals four would be pretty empty without them until last night.
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 13, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
it makes it worse and it compounds the problem – trying too hard. Playing smart and responsible usually doesn’t make us score less goals.
Playing with your entire focus on your own end, though, does.
Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.
Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!
by MichaelProcton on Oct 13, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
“Playing smart and responsible usually doesn’t make us score less goals.”
Really? I’ve found this is the biggest complaint of fans during the Mo era (this time and last).
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 14, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I understand that basketball and hockey are two different animals, but something Michael Jordan said during his tenure in Chicago has always stuck in my mind: when I struggle offensively, I pick up my defense.
I wish those players who are struggling to put the puck in the net would heed this advise.
Harrumph
Agreed
But I do think in 5-on-5 situations, #5 and #6 help clear the zone quicker and don’t turn the puck over in the neutral zone as much — two situations where we allow goals at even strength on a regular basis.
by Patrick Clarke on Oct 13, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
there’s that and there’s been a couple where Skinner cycles high and tries to beat the dman at the ringette line, gets poke checked, they transition, and Staal & Larose are stuck below the hashmarks flat footed.
agree on that.
Staal likes to spend a lot of time below the hashmarks and so does LaRose. Skinner needs someone that will sort of “stay back” so he can be his creative little self.
All I want for Christmas is some cohesive line!
skinner = poke checks
i’ve seen that quite a bit on him so far this season. could impact his “sophomore slump” if he has one i.e. defensemen with long reaches using the poke check on skinner, not getting close enough on him to be juked out of their skates. it kinda goes against what defensemen are taught about playing the body and not the puck, but if word gets out that the poke check works on skins, they’ll adjust. and if he loses possession, staal ain’t the quickest getting back.
Of Maurice, Karmanos said: "I’m happy Paul is back but he’s going to be judged the same way as any other coach. We need to win more consistently."
by Sergeant Stinky on Oct 14, 2011 6:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Good Stuff Cory
and Eddzo pointed out how Tlusty’s penalty could have been advoided IF He used one on the stick instead of 2 which lead him to reach up instead of out..and when i played in the citiy leagues back in the day that single thing was pointed out to us and hammered home all the time…but i feel what redeemed him was that goal…And i agree while poni has improved some but so far he’s a slower startere than other former/current Canes Alum were…and have been…Thanks again Cory…time for lunch!!
9/11/01 - Never Forget !!
Long Live #63 The Condor
Go Canes & Checkers !!!
Thanks for highlighting the defenders
We missed this Tim Gleason last year. Mybe he put on too much wieght trying to be bigger. I know five pounds less isn’t much, but it could be a difference in his game.
Allen is further showing those who claimed we made no moves on defense last summer—because we made some at the trade dealine. Allen is better this year further removed from his knee surgery. But he’s the best shot blocker on the team, and is helping keeping the shot count against Cam lower than last year. Having him a full year will make a difference. The cumulative weight of 5 less shots getting to Cam, or even 2 less per game over a year is 160 less shots faced…. @ 95% save percentage, that’s 8 less goals we give up over the year at a minimum…
The balance between puck movers and stay at homers seemed to be about perfect last night.
And Kudos to the forwards for a better defensive showing, better rotation to cover pinches this last game than we’ve seen previously. The Lewis defensive scheme looked better overall.
Like to see that continue. May rotate Joslin in and give Harrison a break ow and then…
As the Versus guys said, that was a great hockey game. Carolina played hard for 60 minutes, Cam was our best player, we were at home—and we only won by a single goal. In fact, if I were a Boston fan or player I’d feel Boston deserved a regulation draw. The Versus guys also said Carolina would have to rely on Cam to win games for them, and that’s what happened this game.
This grinding “veteran” style is good for the playoffs, but can it be played consistently enough over 82 games to get to the playoffs? When we were in a couple years ago, this style and a little luck got us through two series. In the playoffs the refs partially swallow their whistles, so skill tends to count for less than in the regular season. And the goalie counts for even more than in the regular season. (Which reasons may be why Carolina and so many other teams feel that if they can just get in the playoffs, they can go far. And maybe why Washington fails…))
You need a more skillful power play in the regular season than we show, and more skillful rushing than we show (especially with Dwyer and LaRose in top 9).
I am not optimistic that this style (which is Mo’s “Old-school hockey” style) can get us into the playoffs. It certainly doesn’t develop young players.
Mo countdown: need to be +5 wins after 25 games. Presently -1, 21 games to go.
My added plus:
McBain. In his first regular season game, while he wasn’t perfect (no one is), he had a fantastic game. He jumped in the rush and played solid defensively. My favorite play – He knocked a defender off of him like a gnat while in mid-stride behind the Canes net and continued that momentum carrying the puck up the ice right to the Bruins doorstep.
Should have added that Staal was out to prove why he is the leader last night. He gets slammed quite a bit for “quitting” or “pouting” (sometimes warranted, sometimes not). He drew a penalty with 2 seconds left in the game simply because he didn’t quit the game. He made that play all the way from back in his own zone.
They got the win and looked better (pretty much anything would look better), but I still believe MO must go. Yep, still think a coaching change is needed.
lol, +59
Of Maurice, Karmanos said: "I’m happy Paul is back but he’s going to be judged the same way as any other coach. We need to win more consistently."
by Sergeant Stinky on Oct 13, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Another thing I considered mentioning: it’s clear the Tom Rowe edict of “don’t go down to block a shot” is gone.
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 13, 2011 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
Then, is that Dave Lewis’ influence? Going down to block a shot?
by hockeythoughts on Oct 13, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Good thought… I’d guess so.
Every NY Rangers game I see they are laying down all over the ice blocking shots. Leads to a lot of minor injuries and bruises but it is part of the reason their defense is so great despite having a mediocre D-core.
I wouldn’t say it’s Lewis’ influence alone, if I had to guess. Going down to block shots is more the norm. Rowe’s assertion that it was bad to go down to block a shot is just one you don’t see often.
by Cory Lavalette on Oct 13, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
it’s best to stay on your feet unless you’re 100% sure you’re going to either block it or negatively affect his shooting decision, if you lay out and the guy fakes it you just gave him a pass and now his path to the net doesn’t include you. I don’t it’s a Rowe vs Lewis influence issue. Since the lockout shot blocking technique has come a long ways, guys really sell out and get anything they can on it, you don’t see a lot of Flamingo’s these days.
Great post !
On the minus side. Dalpe is really better served playing big AHL minutes than toiling in Mo’s rookie house of horror – also known as the 4th line. A few others here have mentioned that and I agree 100%
It would be better for Dalpe to be in Charlotte if this is how he is going to be used, but this really goes back to; is this how he should be used? (Fingers pointing at Mo)
All I want for Christmas is some cohesive line!
I am mixed on this.
I feel like there is something to be said for practicing and just getting in shifts in the BIGS that may be of greater benefit than him going down and playing big minutes.
What I am not mixed about, though, is that he should not be on the 4th line.
we all know the answer
I have not seen anything about his game that scream defensive liability.
zomg dejavu
I had nightmares about this over the summer and kept telling myself it was just a dream. Now its happening. Why is Larose on the first line?? I’d rather have Faulk on the first line.
I'd rather
we put a cactus on roller skates on the first line than larose.
Why on God’s green and verdant Earth doesn’t Mo see what the fans, opposing teams players/coaches and Hellen Keller see?
!Faulk
I still think if Faulk stays he will make the Canes better!….Must keep Joslin and if we try to make trade I don’t see us getting equal value…we have yet to see Faulk’s best slap shot…In practice Babchuck’s shot was nearly invisible due to speed..I have seen Faulk do that this year!…Just don’t see HOW to keep him…my guess he goes to Checkers awaiting injury..
After watching the highlights of the Flyers/Canucks game last night; I really have to think that Fleury & Ward are probably Canada’s top 2 choices for goalie right now when the Olympics come around. I really hopes he makes it, it would mean a lot to him.
All I want for Christmas is some cohesive line!
I have to think Carey Price will factor in the conversation as well.
by Patrick Clarke on Oct 13, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
What I am worried about regarding Dalpe is another Peters situation. Peters was inexperienced, but promising. He didn’t get to play enough to develop his skill and he lost confidence and is now back in the AHL again. John Forslund talked about this on 99.9 yesterday. He said that he thought Dalpe was getting confused and may be losing confidence by being stuck on the 4th line. He also said it would be detrimental for his development to keep him there for much longer unless the line is played more. I also believe he mentioned something along the lines of the team needing more goals so it doesn’t make sense for him to not be playing. These are basically the same thoughts that I’m having.
Really glad to see Allen playing so well.
Maybe I was chasing his pre-injury ghost, but I thought he was a great acquisition last year, and he’s even stronger now than he was then.
Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.
Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!
Agree fully. It made a big difference when he started clearing the crease and menacing people who went after Skinner. At a glance, Allen has missed about one year in three with knee injuries over a long career. He missed 2008-2009. Maybe he’ll be good for the rest of this year and all of next.
(Of note: Dave Lewis should know Allen well. Lewis was the Wings head coach 2002-2004. Allen played a lot of games for the Canucks in those seasons. Lewis probably remembers when Allen broke Zetterberg’s leg with a slash.)
by curiouscanesfan on Oct 13, 2011 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Watched the replay yesterday...
I didn’t see the great game from McBain that a lot of people were talking about. I mean, he definitely showed his moments, and he seems to be skating really well right now, but he made some critical mistakes and was a bit tentative in his own end defensively. Overall I’d say he was average.
Allen, however, had a great game, and looks like he could be huge for us this year. I like the idea of pairing him with Gleason, especially on the PK unit. We can match them up against opposing teams’ first lines, which will help us tremendously in cutting down goals, and shots against.
I was in the same boat about Bainer.
-2 in a 3-2 win doesn’t lie. Maybe people were grading on a curve because he had been sitting based on his “bad preseason?”
Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.
Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!
by MichaelProcton on Oct 14, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
One more thing...
Everyone is complaining about the Staal line having a bad game, but people have to keep in mind that they had probably the best defensive player/tandem in the NHL matched against them. That’s not exactly easy duty, and explains why our other lines did most of the scoring and played so well. Honestly though, the Staal line had plenty of chances, and were just a bouncing puck or a goalpost away from netting one. I thought the Canes played really well offensively top to bottom against one of the best defensive/checking teams in the NHL.
by pancanbra on Oct 14, 2011 7:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
If it was 1 game I can understand that logic. The problem has been that it is against every team this season. The Staal/Skinner line has contributed really only 2 even strength goals; the 1st of the season by Skinner (which was a delayed penalty) and the LaRose goal against New Jersey. Other than that, everything has been with a man advantage (the 3rd goal against Washington was considered even strength, but we had 6 attackers & no goalie). If that is expected to be our offensive line, it needs to be better than that. We are putting a lot of eggs in one basket.
Some managers manage using the carrot, Mo manages by using "The Stick."
The problem isn't Staal and Skinner playing together, like some have supposed.
It’s Chad LaRose being on that line. I watched that game and it was clear that he just does not have the offensive skill to properly compliment Staal and Skinner. His passes were off one a couple occasions during offensive rushes and established possessions in the offensive zone, and worse yet, he just could not handle or finish the opportunities that Staal and Skinner were able to create for him.
I have no problem with Staal and Skinner playing on the same line together, and in fact, I think they could be offensive dynamos together, maybe even boosting Staal back to the 100 point plateau. But it just won’t do any good when there is an offensive void that kills chances playing with them. I love LaRose, I’m glad he’s on the team, but his role is not a 1st line scorer. He’s a scrappy energy player that gets dirty goals and gets under the skin of the opposing team. Definitely a useful player, but is playing out of his element.
I’m DEFINITELY not disagreeing with you about LaRose, but Ruutu was on the Staal/Skinner line the first couple of games. They have offensive abilities, but I’m also seeing them as a defensive liability right now. If they are going to get scored on a lot, then they need to put up more goals than what they’ve been producing so far.
Some managers manage using the carrot, Mo manages by using "The Stick."
by PackPride17 on Oct 14, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
Ruutu didn’t make that line look any better than LaRose, and people love the shit out of him.
Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.
Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!
by MichaelProcton on Oct 14, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
They weren't doing much special with Ruutu on the wing instead of LaRose.
Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.
Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!
by MichaelProcton on Oct 14, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
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