Familiar Faces, New Teams: Panthers at Canes, Game Day Preview
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 1:37 PM EST
in Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Previews
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It's a new month and tonight's Southeast Division game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers features several new faces for both clubs, including a trio players who were swapped over the last few days. For the Canes Cory Stillman and Bryan Allen are ready to face a team they have been part of for multiple seasons, while the Panthers flew in last night to meet their new winger, Sergei Samsonov, a Hurricane since 2008.
Poor Peter DeBoer. The Sunrise Deadline Day Inventory Liquidation Sale (plus a couple injuries) must have the Panthers head coach scanning his roster card just to remember who's who. In just the last week, GM Dale Tallon has traded away the Florida Captain (Bryan McCabe) and an Alternate (Stillman), two more of their veteran defensemen (Allen and Dennis Wideman), and two wingers (Chris Higgins and Radek Dvorak). That's six of 18 regulars among his 10-11 skaters. Add to that two more forwards who have been moved to the IR recently (Jack Skille, himself a new acquisition, and Rostislav Olesz). On the Panthers Official website, only five defenseman are listed. Either this team will be a display of hockey chaos tonight, or they'll be so loose knowing they have nothing more to lose that their play will be difficult to defend as they just keep it simple and live in the moment.
But that's not the Hurricanes problem, is it? They've got to focus on their own game plan. With the roster fixed from now through April 9th, barring injuries, tonight the Canes can begin the final nineteen game push to the post season. As stated above, Jim Rutherford added a few parts himself over the last week. The team welcomes back Captain Eric Staal after a one-game rest from the UBI suffered vs Pittsburgh Friday. And we can't forget Jay Harrison, who has only furthered his campaign as "Most Improved Cane of the 10-11 Season" with his never-saw-that-coming offensive prowess of late. Harrison returns to the blueline after being too sick to play in Montreal and will be paired with fellow big man blueliner, Bryan Allen.
Finally, Coach Paul Maurice has made an adjustment to spark Jeff Skinner and his linemates whose production has been anemic of late. Will there be some fresh energy coming from the new faces and new opportunities at hand?
To help you keep track of these moves, we have your Canes Country's Game Guide: Hurricanes vs Panthers ready to print out for reference during the game with updated stats and notes. One more important item: The game will not be televised on local TV, so if you can't get to the game live, look for Center Ice or be content with the always excellent radio call from Chuck Kaiton.
After the jump, the lineups, the expectations and what's at stake.
Hurricanes Lines and Pairings
The biggest adjustment is seeing Skinner moved to center as he was in Montreal, and Tuomo Ruutu moving back to his preferred right wing, with Chad LaRose sliding over to the left side. This was somewhat anticipated by Maurice's comments prior to the game in Montreal where he suggested the second line needing a move to hopefully jumpstart its scoring. According to the morning skate, these will be the lines, (center listed first):
Staal - Stillman - Cole
Skinner - LaRose - Ruutu
Sutter - Jokinen - Tlusty
Dwyer - Samson - Bodie
The Defensive pairings will start:
Gleason - Corvo
Pitkanen - McBain
Harrison - Allen
Cam Ward will get his 23rd consecutive start. He is within five of his career high of 28 consecutive starts, a run he saw in the spring of 2009 en route the Eastern Conference Finals. In his career vs the Panthers, Ward has a record of 11-7-1, with a 3.21 GAA in 22 appearances.
Here's audio from Paul Maurice [link] and Bryan Allen [link] after the skate at the RBC Center this morning.
And a couple related pieces from the N&O and the Canes today
Canes Now - Stillman: Allen adds physical presence "He's going to give us a physical presence, that's for sure," Stillman said. "He's a big man, he plays the body, he plays hard. He also has a heavy shot that if we get the puck to him in the offensive zone, he can score some goals."
Staal healthy; Canes add defenseman - NewsObserver.com When all was done Monday, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford sat back and said, "We're real pleased with the way the day turned out."
Allen, Samsonov Surprised by Circumstances, not Trade - Tracking the Storm Blog Even though Bryan Allen and Sergei Samsonov weren’t surprised to be traded, they couldn’t have imagined it would work out like this.
Panthers Notes
According to The Miami Herald's George Richards (@OnFrozenPond) the Panthers will line up as follows (again, center listed first).
Stephen Weiss - David Booth - Niclas Bergfors*
Mike Santorelli - Samsonov* - Steve Bernier
Marty Reasoner - Kenndal McArdle ^ - Michal Repik^
Scott Timmons ^ - Darcy Hordichuk - Hugh Jessiman^
Struggling to identify the 6 defensemen in the Panthers sweaters tonight, I finally found the beat writer for the AHL Rochester Amerks who had it all figured out. Look for
Dimitry Kulikov, Mike Weaver, Jason Garrison and newcomers, Alexander Sulzer*, Joe Callahan^, and Keaton Ellerby^
(Notes: * recent acquisition for Panthers; ^ recent AHL call up. This includes Hugh Jessiman who got some notice around the league this past weekend as the 30th and final player from the first round of the remarkable 2003 Entry Draft to play in the NHL.) The upshot of all this is that nine out of DeBoer's 18 skaters can be considered "new guys".
Scott Clemmensen will get the start in goal. In seven career games vs the Hurricanes, Clemmensen is 2-3-0, with a GAA of 3.22.
For more from the Panthers side of the ice, be sure to check in with Litter Box Cats, the SBN blog for the Florida team or the hockey blog from the Miami Herald, On Frozen Pond .
UPDATE: On Frozen Pond's "Quick Video" Series from the RBC Center today
- Traded Panther Edition: Cory Stillman Gets A Silver Stick in honor of his 1000th game. (Does this seem awkward or is it just part of the hockey business?)
- OnFrozenFilm, Traded Panther Edition: Bryan Allen Definitely worth seeing (overlaps with audio link provided by Canes above).
- On Frozen Film, Traded Panther Edition: Panther Cory Stillman
- On Frozen Film, New Panther Edition: Sergei Samsonov
The Bold Red Line
Despite their inconsistency, the Canes seem to be holding on to the 8th and final position above the playoff cutline, but earning 2 points in the standings out of tonight's game is critical. The Buffalo Sabres are only 2 points behind with 2 games in hand. The New York Rangers made some solid acquisitions this week and are hanging in at 7th, 3 points ahead of the Canes.
Adding to the uncertainty of all this, these two teams are playing against each other at Madison Square Garden tonight, and according to the "go to" source for calculating chances to make the playoffs, Sports Club Stats, the Canes should hope the Rangers get the win, and do so in regulation.
The Buffalo Sabres' next stop is right here in Raleigh, North Carolina. They will be the Hurricanes' next opponent on Thursday in what is likely to be another play-off caliber game to say the least.
Again, a reminder will not be televised by FoxSportsCarolinas but the Florida feed will be on Center Ice if that is available to you. You can also listen to the familiar voice of the Canes' Chuck Kaiton and Mike Maniscalco with their wall-to-wall coverage on 99.9 the Fan. We will open our game thread at 6:30, as always.
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Nice write up & I appreciate the game guide.
by PittsburghCaniac on Mar 1, 2011 1:49 PM EST reply actions
We aim to please. Thank you kindly.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
Hey Mo, wanna jumps start 2nd line scoring….how about you move Chad “hands of stone” LaRose down to the 4th line where he belongs….or for goodness sake, put him, worst case, on the 3rd line and move Juice up to the 2nd….I would probably give Samson a shot at the 3rd line for a game or two…but for all thing held dear, get LaRose on a line where his skills match. That is all….
That third line is working pretty well. I think MO is trying to get the line going by moving Skinner to center and getting him the puck more. We’ll see if it works.
Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.
Then move Samson up to the 2nd line…the issue isn’t the 3rd line it is the fact that Chad LaRose, an energy play, a pest, a great PKer, has become resident on one of our top two scoring lines….and in no way shape or form is he not bringing down the overall offense of that line. Sure he can and does, from time to time, produce offensively….and can even show the occasional flash of offensive brilliance….he is, however, primarily the guy who on his latest 3 on 1 break shot the puck into the goalie’s chest…
Cam Ward will get his 23rd consecutive start.
Its pretty clear that Peters is not going to start another game, meaning that Cam will have played in 75 games by the time the playoffs, should we get there, rolls around. Mebe we would have been wise to get a Conkilin or some other back up that actually can start 3-5 of the remaining games for us?
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 Mar 1, 2011 2:17 PM EST reply actions
I really thought they may take a chance in starting Peters tonight.
by hotchipsnsalsa on Mar 1, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
This is why I wish that
we had kept Manny………he is a true backup…….Peters isn’t.
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting"..........holy cow.......what a ride!"
We have no idea how good Peters really is
Mo wont play him.
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 Mar 1, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
agreed. and this is an excellent time to play him…he could be started against ottawa as well (i think we play them once more, maybe a couple of other teams that made big moves via fire sale and have given up the season)
this is absurd. cam needs rest, and you cant very well develop a goalie without letting him play
/still believes peters should have been left in the ahl another year
You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning
Same problem as with other prospects. Don’t play much under Mo because they don’t have NHL experience. There is a question about where Canes’ prospects should get NHL experience when this coach denies them the opportunity if at all possible.
Peters hasn’t even had the benefit of minutes in Charlotte.
by curiouscanesfan on Mar 1, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
shhh!!! don't criticize mo on this board!!!
"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer
The ’unofficial" word is Peters is likely to get the start in Chicago Friday. I should have mentioned that. Hanlin and Branecky made that statement in their last podcast. They are the “deciders” but they would have the best sense of anyone.
Difficult travel, back-to-back, West Conf team.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
At some point Peters has to play. The way it has been handled so far I think Peters should be starting against teams we have less odds in beating such as the circumstance against Chicago. I really thought Peters should have started against the Flyers in Philly.
by hotchipsnsalsa on Mar 1, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
If they want him to start in Chi town, they must have that marked down as a loss already. Chi is the defending cup champ, and they have caught fire again as of late. If it were my decision I put in Peters tonight and then again in Chicago so he isn’t going in quite so cold. Let him shake some of the rust off against an opponent we should be able to beat without stellar netminding tonight, leaving him better prepped for a start in the windy city.
by wylde4canes on Mar 1, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
To bad this is not a facebook post, I would " Like " that comment.
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 Mar 1, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Couldn’t agree more. Florida wasn’t doing well to start with, and just moved out a third of their team. The hurricanes would have to pretty much hand them this one tonight in order to lose.
/or so I would hope.
//also thinks peters should get a start later against the leafs, senators and maybe someone else
I am not a heavy drinker. I can sometimes go for hours without touching a drop --Noel Coward
by DaveLovesBier on Mar 1, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
The way this board threads is a HUGE fail in general.
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 Mar 1, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
It’d be nice just to have the power to edit or delete our own posts.
Would solve A LOT of the issues.
by Iggy Reilly on Mar 1, 2011 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
many people have complained about not having an edit button, and the response we get from the powers that be here is that they are afraid some people would go back and change what they said, possibly even after a long string of responses has passed, which would completely change the dynamic and possibly confuse those who missed the original post.
Editing Manager of Canes Country.com
What Bob said. We forgive typos, but as Elsker says that preview button is the first on on the left for a reason.
Also – don’ use + / – , Use plus / minus
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
How can Mo justify not starting Peters today?
the panthers are a lower tier team that is in disarray to put it mildly.
Peters has beaten them once before this year.
if he can’t beat a squad half full of AHL call ups, why the hell is he even on our roster?
I don’t really mean that to sound like a knock against Peters but rather the org for not handling him properly as a player. Let him play in the minors another year or go work on his tan somewhere. What does it do to his development and his confidence if he realizes he can’t even get a start on a night like tonight? If I were peters, i’d be furious and demoralized as far as this team goes.
Perfectly justified, tonights game is a must win, say what you want about their dcore, but their group of forwards are pretty good:
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=16
The Canes need between 10-12 wins to get in and they need a win tonight. Teams like Florida are tough to play against at this time of year, they have nothing to lose, have no pressure, and would love nothing more than to help spoil it for the Canes.
all good points....
but, then what game do we sit Cam? We don’t have any extra games to lose.
This is the one of the best chances we have to win with Peters in goal for the rest of the season. I see another post on this thread where playing Peters against chicago is the plan as the team’s ready to chalk the game up as a loss. I can’t support that type of strategy. We should play every game to win and i see this one as one that can be won with Peters in the net.
If we’re serious about playoffs Peters really needs to play a couple of more games this year, this is one of those games.
I just added some links above from the Florida media with video from the RBC Center today – Bryan Allen, Cory Stillman, and Sergei Samsonov.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 3:37 PM EST reply actions
I’m hoping that Allen gets moved up with Pitkanen at some point during the game. It seems odd to be that they are delegated a $3.1 million, presumably top-4 defenseman to the 3rd pairing, which gets a good 10-15 minutes a night, especially when the real advantage of having him is to balance the defensive and offensive defensemen on each pairing. I assume they just want to get him into the flow of the game and get used to our system to start, especially since he only arrived here at 4:30 am.
It seems odd to be that they are delegated a $3.1 million, presumably top-4 defenseman to the 3rd pairing
It’s particularly odd when one of the reasons JR gave for moving out White was because his salary was high for where he was slotted.
FWIW, I wouldn’t be surprised if Allen starts on the third pair just to get used to what the Canes do and is moved up soon as he’s more comfortable with the team.
Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.
Probably true, also Allen and White have similar salaries but very different dmen. Allen brings little to no offense
Perhaps Allen will be more comfortable being physical and bring the nasty when he’s not banging bodies with the guys he practiced with yesterday (and for the last 5 years) – that comes out in the audio links from Allen and Mo. Apparently there is some internal conflicts with hockey players despite the ideal that they are programmed to play hard no matter who’s on the receiving end..
This does not apply if he’s your annoying brother from the sod farm in Thunder Bay.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Allen can be physical with all the new Panthers who weren’t his teammates before, can’t he?
Allen won’t want to kill his buddies, but he still needs to impress his new team and fans in a playoff run. That’s way better than getting booed off the ice for being a big passive zero in the 3rd pairing who makes $3 M plus.
Will the new Panthers be marked men?
by curiouscanesfan on Mar 1, 2011 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
being a big passive zero in the 3rd pairing who makes $3 M plus.
Hasn’t Nic Wallin made a career of this and remained WILDLY popular here?
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 Mar 1, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
Now that you mention it, there is a strange but impressive achievement wrapped up in that phrase.
by curiouscanesfan on Mar 2, 2011 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
Surely Allen is in the bottom pairing only to learn the Canes’ approach?
It would be totally weird if he’s in the 3rd pairing two games from now. Pairing both Allen and Harrison with mobile partners makes much more sense.
It will be pretty grim if Samsonov dangles and dangles and Allen and Harrison both fall like redwoods, with Samsonov scoring while they’re trying to get up.
by curiouscanesfan on Mar 1, 2011 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
I think that ...
is the plan. I am sure Mo just wants to ease him in a bit. Also since these guys were his teammates a little over 24 hrs ago maybe Mo feels he won’t be able to be as physical tonight. Give him time to adjust to his new team and play against some players he really doesn’t care for.
And I see you said this first. Sorry for the duplicate.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
this is game # 1 of the conference play off run, that is the mentality the entire team needs to adopt and embrace.the Canes as a team have nothing to prove to many of us fans but the themselve,the other teams they will face and to the NHL as if I was on the team,i’d be tired of the leauge and the hockey media treating the Carolina Hurricanes as a deaf & dumb stepchild from the 1860’s…as the team and the Comunity proved we are a healthy and viable market for the NHL…So and now the team can now step it up and prove the are and can be a forcr to be reconed with..Go Canes !!!!
as fans,are we expecting too much ??
If we lose tonight there is no hope, period. The Panthers are in total disarray with nothing to play for. We are supposedly primed to make a run. On paper, we should win 3-1 or 4-1 or better.
"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer
GO CANES!!!
"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer
Location, location, location
One telling piece of evidence from the Miami Herald’s video interview with Allen (great interviews there with Samsonov and Stillman, as well, all linked above by hockeymomof2) is that his locker is located right next door to Pitkanen’s. :-)
Here we are now...entertain us.
time
i am new to this post so not familiar with the working. one of the first instructions i read was to edit settings to get correct time zone. i notice on the comments here that times are all pacific standard. is there a reason
PST is the default setting (darn Silicon techies). When you go to your profile that you set up as guppy man – like where you uploaded yosemite sam (nice!) there should be a place to enter/select the appropriate location. Let me know if you have any trouble.
Welcome!
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 1, 2011 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
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