A Point The Hard Way: Canadiens Rally For 4-3 Shootout Win Over Hurricanes
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 23, 2011 11:04 PM EST
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PrintErik Cole's return to the RBC Center was the story heading in to the night, but sloppy play and a blown lead wound up being the main theme as Carolina fell in the shootout to Montreal, 4-3. Harrison-11.23.11 Brent-11.23.11
Brian Gionta was the only player to convert his attempt to give the Canadiens an extra point.
Linemates Brandon Sutter and Jiri Tlusty each had a goal and an assist, but they were matched by the Habs' Lars Eller and Travis Moen, who each scored, as the Canes blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads before eventually earning one in the standings, the team's third straight game with a point.
The Hurricanes opened strong, scoring just 34 seconds into the game when Jiri Tlusty flipped a wrister at Habs goalie Carey Price, who was fooled by the shot and eventually had it trickle past him for a 1-0 Canes lead. Then at the six-minute mark, Carolina got another good break when fourth line dominated a shift in the Montreal end and Tim Brent controlled the puck behind the Canadiens net before it popped in the air and landed on top of the goal. Brett Sutter smartly knocked the puck back to the ice, and Brent gathered it and centered it to a wide open Anthony Stewart to give the Hurricanes an early 2-0 lead.
The Canes seemed in control and appeared to be getting the bounces. Moen hit the post with about four minutes left in the first, then late in the period, Tuomo Ruutu took a four-minute high sticking penalty that carried over into the second. Carolina easily killed it off and seemed on their way. But with 10:54 left in the second, Eller struck on a curious play on the Carolina power play.
Hurricanes defenseman Jamie McBain turned the puck over in his own end, and Eller fired it to the point. Raphael Diaz's point shot was stopped by Ward, but Eller had slipped behind both McBain and Tomas Kaberle and was left alone to beat Ward with the rebound.
"I think that was the changer of the game," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "I think that we were where we wanted to be, then on the ice too long and too soft when it happened. And I think the way it happened because that happened, had a big impact on the game. Because after that it was as sloppy as a game you will see from both teams."
The Canadiens tied the score just 27 seconds into the third when Mike Cammalleri scored in front of Ward. Carolina then reclaimed the lead when Tlusty fed the puck to Patrick Dwyer, who then centered to Brandon Sutter for the 3-2 lead.
But the Canes again struggled to keep Montreal from in front of Ward's net, and the Canadiens struck again when Yannick Weber’s point shot was redirected by Moen in front of Ward and found the corner over the Carolina goalie’s right shoulder, tying the game at 3-3 with 15:23 remaining in regulation.
Carolina had chances to score more, but were unable to convert any of their four power play chances as Montreal extended its streak to 10 games without allowing a power play goal. At both even strength and on special teams, neither team gained any momentum.
"We thought it was a chance it was going to look like that," Maurice said. "It was choppy and no flow and lots of whistle and flurries of great chances for one team, then flurries of great chances for the other team. It was kind of an ugly game."
Both teams nearly scored in overtime — Staal hit the post while Montreal had two good chances to finish it — and it came down to a shootout. Ward stopped Cammalleri and Max Pacioretty, while Chad LaRose was stymied by Price and Jeff Skinner's attempt beat Price but rang off the post. Gionta converted on a nifty move, and then Jussi Jokinen was unable to beat Price give Montreal the win.
Game Notes
• Maurice broke up the Staal-Skinner-Ruutu line for "just 10 minutes," but later reunited them. "I didn’t like the way we were playing defensively, so I split them up just to kind of see if I could get them going," Maurice said. "Then in the third period, they have to figure out a way to do it when it’s not easy for them."
• Also split up was the pairing of McBain and Kaberle, as Tim Gleason joined McBain on one pairing and Allen was tabbed to play with Kaberle. Maurice was clearly disappointed in his D play, saying after the game, "I thought moving the puck was a challenge for us, and it caused us quite a few problems. There’s lots of areas to get better."
• Brandon Sutter was again overlooked come shootout time, with stalwarts Skinner and Jokinen preceded by LaRose.
Game Audio
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Brandon wears an “A” and that situation just screamed for Sutter. It’s almost as if Mo is fighting everyone to prove he’s right about LaRose’s skill.
by drifterscape on Nov 24, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
It’s time to make that trade. McBain and Kaberle and taking up precious roster spots and both are terrible. McBain was completely to blame for that shorty and Kaberle could have prevented the Moen tip goal if his back hadn’t been to the play and he had be tying up the man. Neither of the players are showing their highly touted offensive skill and both are defensive liabilities. Faulk is outplaying both by far. Gleason is also terrible, but at least he isn’t getting goals scored in bunches. I’d also like to see Joslin in the line-up permanently, but that isn’t going to happen unless both McBain and Kaberle are gone.
flawed:
- decisions
- lines
- coaching approach (head coach)
- captain (temporary I hope)
- attitude about winning (organization okay with cap floor and living on the hump…don’t give me the small market guffaw…marketing can sell a better winning product….we have a huge sports market across the triangle with rabid fans)
- GM who will not POP SMOKE soon enough to allow the team to change direction…the Canadian Thanksgiving was weeks back.
- approach to player development and infusion into the NHL
- Defense
- Solyndra Power Play
"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr
The Maurice II Experiment
In thinking about the decision to re-hire Maurice, I am struck by the fact that in a small hockey market, the risk of alienating a significant number of fans was a major risk in bringing Maurice back to coach. It is inarguable that some people felt Maurice was not a great hockey coach. It was not likely those fans would easily change their minds.
Judged at this stage of things, the Maurice II experiment has been a failure. He has not been able to get his team over the course of a full season to the playoffs. He has not won over many “Mo Must Go” fans. He does not have a vocal, supportive following who are singing his praises in the public domain. The fan base is split over Maurice II which hurts the ability of the franchise to build the season ticket holder numbers.
I still believe Jim Rutherford will keep Maurice the entire season; and I hope he does. As maddening as it is to watch Maurice send LaRose out on a shootout, or to watch a power play sputter along incompetently game after game, season after season, Maurice has not been the sole reason the Hurricanes are floundering. The team is now playing hard for him. I would not have hired Maurice II if I were Jim Rutherford; but that decision is already made. The choices are limited.
is the team playing hard for maurice? or are they playing hard not to be traded to the hinterlands of calgary or edmonton?
larose in the shootout epitomizes how absolutely awful a coach mo has been this season. that was plain embarrassing.
JR should be embarrassed and frustrated and pissed and cut this dude loose asap.
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 Nov 24, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
The problem is, the team can’t go on the emotion and motivation of Maurice’s potential firing for long. I think it ended last night. The energy drained from the beginning of the game to the end. The team came of its discipline and stopped playing the system.
We’ll have to see what happens in the next few games. If Maurice can regain control, then good. If not, we will see if the team really was playing off his job situation and he will be gone soon.
Doug, your reasoning is usually right on. On one point I think you are missing. Mo must go NOW before he kills fan interest in this team any further. Why hold on to him? This team has no direction in any aspect of its play. For example, We are 20+ games into the season and still don’t have even one established line. How is he trying to solve this problem? He puts lines together and plays them 10 minutes or so and then dissolves them when they haven’t scored goals. Forgetting all of the on-ice and off-ice mismanagement, the one thing that seems to becoming clear is EVERYONE LIKES TO COME HERE TO PLAY. Why? Number one reason is they are not pushed to perform. Other coaches bench players who do not perform or otherwise restrict their ice time. For example I ask you, how does MO handle these situations? Is McBain performing or is he a total liability on the ice? I know the answer, and if I know it the coach of the team sure should know. Does Stewart produce more goals in his 4 minutes a game of ice time (if not scratched) and play a reasonably good defense? If so, why is he not playing a bigger role on the team? I could point out many more deficiencies. My point is, you know more about them than I do. That being the case, why do you want to hold onto this guy for the rest of the year?
by FoxtrotSierra on Nov 25, 2011 8:25 AM EST up reply actions
Why to Keep Maurice
I think Maurice gets blamed both for the things he does which are dubious and for things that are well thought out and logical; but didn’t work. I get the feeling for some people if Maurice found the cure for Pancreatic Cancer some people would say he was useless because lung cancer is far more dangerous and common. Part of the risk is re-hiring Maurice was that he had already alienated some of the Hurricanes hockey fans.
I was telling my brother, a baseball fanatic, about the Maurice situation and he cited a Casey Stengel quote: “The secret to being a successful coach is is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided.” I can’t defend Maurice’s mismanagement of the forward lines. I can’t find any justification for taking Stewart, who is scoring at a pretty amazing clip for the number of shifts, minutes, and shots he gets, off the ice.
I am convinced, however, that in the end, the entire team has to take ownership of how the team plays. Each player is the master of his own destiny as well. These guys seem to want to prove they can succeed as a team under Maurice. Maurice isn’t lacing up his skates. He isn’t the one causing Eric Staal to be underwhelming when on the ice. It’s too easy an excuse for the players to put the weight of performance on the coach. Similarly, the fact the team wants to prove Maurice is a coach for whom they can play and succeed carries the day with me. I want to give the team and Maurice a chance to prove themselves. I think Maurice does things that further alienate some of the fan base; and only winning consistently will get those fans on his side. I am firmly in the middle. I am prepared to see him succeed or fail on his own terms.
I can’t disagree with anything that’s been said so far from a fan base that is justifiably frustrated. And putting LaRose first in the shoot out?!….. well Paul you might have just as well have mooned the fans because the reaction from all of is about the same.
Some additional comments:
That may not have been the worst officiating effort I’ve seen in 5 years, but it ranks right up there. Walsh and St.Laurent were awful both ways. I think they had a lot to do with the poor flow out there since they let clutching and grabbing go on all night from both teams. That tripping call on Ruutu was laughable. And the number of missed hooks and holds on Skinner!
Everyone is very down on Kabs and McBain. And they sure weren’t stellar. But Gleason fought the puck all night. There was a collection outside section 119 to buy Timmay a pair of hands. I would have significantly reduced his ice time in the 3rd, but you can’t just rotate Allen, Harrison and Faulk, who were clearly our best D.
Not sure what was up with Cam but he started to fight the puck late in the 2nd and it carried forward into the 3rd.
I was as disappointed in Skinner as I was with Staal. Lots of selfish plays on Skinners part where he stickhandled into traffic or held the puck when he had open linemates. Its a team game Jeff, and even you are very talented you are aren’t going to win games by yourself.
By far the best line we had was Sutter’s. The 4th line had plenty of hussle. Poni continues to play well. As for the first line…… one of the worst games I’ve seen that unit play. There just isn’t any chemistry. And PP unit 1 was just as awful. Rather see the 2nd unit get the majority of PP minutes. At least they move the puck and don’t continually turn it over.
Do you think Skinner is aware that Mo’s formula requires his offensive difference-makers (Staal and now (with Staal having trouble) Skinner) to make a difference through exceptional plays every night? (As he did with the spin-a-rama.) If so, he may be trying too hard to make those plays, and in the process become selfish.
Staal can handle that pressure when he’s going good (as in the run to conference playoff finals), but perhaps not when things aren’t going so well for him, that is, the pressure helps keep him in a slump.
I’m laughing at your analogy with Maurice because I just used that exact phrase this morning talking with my sons about Maurice’s decision to put LaRose out on the shootout. He might as well have turned his backside to the 300 rows at the RBC when he did it.
Stewart had another goal. 28% on his shots. What about the Canes picking Up Comeau off waivers?
can comeau coach?
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 Nov 24, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
"Hurrianes ?" who are the "Hurrianes" ?? check out the Title ~ Happy Thanksgiving from Philly !!
Eat the Bird, watch Football and undo your pants and nap on the sofa !!! woohooo !!!
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! ~ ~ ~ Lori Wilson Gray ~ ~ April 07th 1967 - May 27th 2011 ~ May you rest in Peace ~ I love you and miss you big Sis ! Bob Wilson JR. ~ ~ ~ July 03rd 1944 - November 06th 2011 ~ ~ I love you Dad ! GOD PLEASE GIVE ME THE STRENGTH ! Two Close Family Members passing in 6 months ~ Give me strength !
Aaaggghhh .. I got it after I typed it in as well. Pretty sneaky sis. (Connect 4 commercial)
FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! ~ ~ ~ Lori Wilson Gray ~ ~ April 07th 1967 - May 27th 2011 ~ May you rest in Peace ~ I love you and miss you big Sis ! Bob Wilson JR. ~ ~ ~ July 03rd 1944 - November 06th 2011 ~ ~ I love you Dad ! GOD PLEASE GIVE ME THE STRENGTH ! Two Close Family Members passing in 6 months ~ Give me strength !
Putting LaRose in the first slot of the shootout was absolute absurdity, I understand the guy can surprise people ever once in awhile but he’s not what I would consider “clutch” when the time calls for it.
Disappointed – totally. I think the team really deflated after all those penalties they took – that was awful. Pretty upset with how they let this one slip away.
Megaweapon… Megaweapon… Megaweapon…
Logic tells me otherwise.
There would be one and I argue only one logical reason to put Chad in the shootout. You don’t want an early shootout goal. Period.
Chad is loved by the fan base, will hustle in every way possible to win. Since the lockout he is a joy to watch on the ice. We and the coaches know that he is not a “out finesse the goalie to score player”. Chad on the breakaway is not a high percentage scoring chance. Not even a high shot on goal chance.
Likewise, there would be one and only one reason not to put Sutter in the shootout rotation. You don’t want a shootout goal. Period.
Sutter is loved by the fan base, will hustle in every possible to win. He is also a joy to watch and compete. This season Sutter is red hot on his breakaway attempts. Always a threat with the puck on his stick.
But why would a coach reduce his teams chances of getting 2 points versus the sure 1 point?
Power Play? What @!!!&$#&!!Power Play
Thus far this season, the Hurricanes are 27th in the NHL with a 12.6% scoring rate.
Last season (2010-2011) the Hurricanes were 24th with a 15.9% scoring rate.
In 2009-2010, the Hurricanes were 24th with a 16.9% scoring rate.
One of the most cogent reasons for firing Maurice comes down to the inability of the Hurricanes to have even a mediocre power play. I don’t favor doing so; but I can see zero salient argument to say that Maurice has been able to able to oversee a team that knows how to be successful on the power play. For a team that needs to add elite talent, the power play is a challenge. There is no reason to suggest Maurice has mastered coaching the power play and that the Hurricanes will suddenly have a dominating power play. Unless and until the Hurricanes team and coaches find a way to make the power play credible, this season is not going to be a happy one for the Hurricanes players, the coaches, the owners, the front office, or the fans.
No surprise
Maurice’s formula emphasizes/rewards “battling” and “being a man” more than skill. Power plays require skill first, battling second (someone in front of the net). No wonder we don’t have a decent power play. Nor will this change, because Mo doesn’t change.
Blake Comeau on waivers. 6’1" right winger who scored 24 goals last year.
by JussiJuice on Nov 24, 2011 9:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Habs Fans Crying...
Even though they won, they still have to cry about something:
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=381185
Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)
How ironic… We have one of the whiniest fanbases in the league and 3/4 of the Caniac crybabies don’t know what they’re talking about.
If they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it
by Killswitch on Nov 25, 2011 1:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Drink the Koolaid fro the N&O
Wow….this sums up a lot. Chip’s spin headline: Canes Seem to Be Back on Track"……………….back on track for what?
- a 9th or 10th place finish at best?
- a league cellar dweller Power Play?
- to frustrate fans with sawtoothed results and efforts?
- keeping the 4th line sitting and young prospect scared to play?
"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr
Defense First?
Maybe defense first will work with this team. I had an initial reaction of skepticism. I assume Dave Lewis knows how to build a Detroit-like system. I don’t think defense first will be very successful in conjunction with one of the NHL’s worst power plays. Maurice II has to fix the power play now.
What defense? If you call McBain and Kaberle good defensively, then you must be watching a different game to me.
We had a good chuckle when we read the N&O article. Chip either has nothing else to write or else he has become memorized by the latest rubbish that Maurice is spouting. When will the N&O write something objective?
Dave Lewis Assumptions
After 17 years as an NHL defenseman. Lewis began his NHL coaching experience in Detroit in the Red Wings juggernaut days under Scotty Bowman. After Bowman retired Lewis was head coach for 2 years there. The RedWings made the playoffs both years, but with early exits. In 2003 Mike Babcock took over. Since then Lewis has been a scout, a one year stint as head coach in Boston that went poorly, a 2 year asst in LA, and the head coach in the Ukraine. Nothing jumps out of his resume other than his inabilty to keep a job. Assuming Lewis can build a defense is like assuming Mo can build an offense. Experience tells us otherwise.
Defense works only when you have good defensemen and good defensive forwards, like Nashville. We have neither.
That article proves that Maurice is just too stubborn to continue coaching:
At practice the next day, Maurice told the Canes they would seek to create more offense through better overall team defense. The forecheck would not be as aggressive, but that would leave forwards in better position to get back defensively, reducing the odd-man rushes that were hurting the Hurricanes.
Did Maurice not watch any of our previous games? We were at our best when the forecheck was buzzing and the offense were aggressive.
Absolutely agree, we are at our best when we are aggresive on the forecheck.
by CanesFanFromLI on Nov 25, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
The Canes are at their best
When they’re at full speed and using the adage, “The best Defense is a good Offense”
Its beginning to smell a lot like christmas...
…which means a coaching change may be in the offing.
Forget the 2 winners and just look at the last game – we are back to the problems from earlier. I’m going to be watching the ‘Peg game for signs the new defensive style has taken root or if it was just more shine put on this turd of a team. I don’t think Maurice really knows what to do at this point – which means someone else needs to be given a chance to truly get these guys to play up to their abilities.
Either way, I’m still going to all the games.
Good Morning Folks
was too busy to pop in here yesterday..but and while i feel sending Rosie out first on a shootout was a idea to shake up the habs goalie as he never sees a rosie ,and it was all 50 50 at best…and yes Christmas is all but here and many want a new coach a winger to help and compliment staal and aside the Finns & Skins line and a 4th line that is if they get enough TOI. But we here al;l know that 1.5 lines for a whole team can’t and will never get us into any playoff spot…but it seems only we fans who put our butts in the seats seem to know or understand that small but significant point/detail…The canes as a team could have won the game,but as we all saw..all of our key players were gassed and tired ..Mo hockey is not the answer…is JR that dence to not realize that too ?
I hope and pray all of you had a great time with family and friends and that you won’t go off and pepper spray anyone when you are out trying to shop today…because if you just have to do that…then maybe like the Canes front office it maybe time to reconsider why you went out in the first place !! have a good day and blessed week end…as we have the Jets tonight and hopefully the canes will be hotter than they will be…ands as always…But i am just a fan…what do i know ? :-)
9/11/01 - Never Forget !!
Long Live #63 The Condor
Go Canes & Checkers !!!
Looking back at the game we were lucky to be tied at the end of regulation. Our first goal was a gift from Price. Our second goal came from a brilliant play by Sutter of a puck sitting atop the goal netting. Had a whistle come calling play dead before that play no one would have been surprised. Montreal hit pipes at least 4 times in regulation.. At times our PP looked like a PK. The overtime was great action and great to watch. The shootout was the crapshoot it always is. LaRose in and Sutter out is a strategy that did not tilt the odds in our favor. Questionable decision at best.
But all in all it was a fun game to watch. Our entertainment dollar was well spent. We can be thankful, at least, for that.
I have an extra ticket
Section 326 Row A (Mezzanine) Seat 2
$60 face value, yours for $30
Biggest drawback, have to sit by me ;)
If u still have that ticket
I’ll take it
by KenRab on Nov 25, 2011 2:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes inside near the Eye.
My cell is 919-518-5763
by KenRab on Nov 25, 2011 2:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I will be by the Ticket Windows,
in front of the Eye
I’ll be in a #12 Staal sweater sans the “A” or “C”
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