Game Analysis: Back-To-Back Vs. Sharks, At Islanders

by Cory Lavalette on Feb 20, 2012 10:42 AM EST

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off an impressive home win Friday against the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, but saw the New York Islanders complete a season series sweep the next night, beating the Canes 4-3 on Long Island. Jussi Jokinen scored the game-winner vs. San Jose, while Eric Staal and Jiri Tlusty kept their respective point streaks alive by getting on the score sheet each night.

The split puts Carolina at 55 points with a 22-26-11 record, last in the Eastern Conference.

Three Observations

1. Any glimmer of hope the Hurricanes had at making a postseason run likely ended with the loss on Long Island. A win would've put Carolina seven points out of eighth place, but instead the team is nine points out and again at the bottom of the conference with too many teams to climb over. Further complicating matters is the injury to Cam Ward, who left the Islanders game after two periods with a lower body injury. Even the most cheery of optimists likely have a hard time envisioning the Canes overcoming those odds.

2. Staal and Tlusty continue to put up points as a tandem on the top line. Staal had assists in each game, while Tlusty registered an assist against San Jose and scored at New York. Tlusty now has a point in seven straight while Staal has a five-game point streak. Even without Tuomo Ruutu, who is injured and had manned the other wing on the top line, the first line has been Carolina's most dangerous.

3. John Tavares absolutely destroyed the Hurricanes this season, scoring 12 points in the Isles' four-game season series sweep of Carolina. That's twice the amount he has against any other team this season, as he has six points in three games vs. Tampa Bay. Tavares is still not on the Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin level some expected of him when he was chosen first overall in 2009, but as far as the Canes are concerned he's the NHL's deadliest weapon.

Number To Know

404 — Days the Hurricanes went without a win from someone other than Ward, a run that was broken when Justin Peters earned the 'W' Friday against San Jose. Peters was the last Canes backup to get a victory, beating the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 9, 2011.

Plus

Brandon Sutter — The shutdown line, anchored by Sutter, erased the trio of Joe Thornton-Patrick Marleau-Joe Pavelski Friday, keeping them off the scoreboard and limiting them to a combined five shots. Sutter then followed up that performance by scoring against the Isles. Tavares lit up the Canes again Saturday, but it wasn't on Sutter's watch — the only time Tavares and Sutter were on the ice together when a goal was scored, it was when Sutter tied the game at 1 in the second period.

Minus

Jaroslav Spacek — Spacek did score against the Isles, but for the most part the weekend was a struggle for the veteran blueliner. He and partner Jamie McBain were on the ice for four of the six goals scored on the Canes in the back-to-back, and Spacek looked particularly slow on Tavares' second-period goal Saturday that tied the game at 2. If scouts were watching Spacek closely this weekend, chances are his trade value went down.

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Comments

Per Chip Alexander on twitter, Tlusty not practicing. Murphy’s been recalled and will back up Pete Dawg.

Horror of horrors, LaRose on first line with Staal and Samson. Dwyer skating on 2nd line, Bowman on 3rd. Joslin practicing with the 4th line.

Hadn’t heard anything about Tlusty’s health. Trade coming?

by Gillimus on Feb 20, 2012 10:49 AM EST reply actions

Unless they’re getting some kind of king’s ransom for Tlusty, I highly doubt it.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Feb 20, 2012 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Just about threw up breakfast after looking at those lines.

by sittler27 on Feb 20, 2012 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

I haven’t had breakfast so dry heaves for me! I’d rather see Joslin throwing his body around on a top line LOL !!

by Hockeydog on Feb 20, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

The good news: if they go .500 the rest of the season they’ll be overachieving.

by Caniac1026 on Feb 20, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

I can’t tell whether to be horrified, or relieved that we will end up with a lottery pick after all.

by Iggy Reilly on Feb 20, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly what I was thinking.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Feb 20, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

The Canes have been long past the time where there was a chance they could make the playoffs. While maintaining our last place position in the East isn’t assured the injuries and the intensity of the March schedule are conspiring to keep us last. While we are finally playing .500 hockey so are all of the teams ahead of us. Last place East puts us in 3rd to last in the League. Assuming the lottery leaves us third that is a good place to sit in the upcoming draft.

by surgalt on Feb 20, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll be happy anywhere in the top 7. I’d take any of the top 4 forwards (Yakupov, Grigorenko, Forsberg or Galchenyuk) or the top 2 defencemen (Murray, Dumba or Trouba). After that, I’d be disappointed.

Also, I remember Bob McKenzie mentioned that this is being looked at as a weak draft and that teams are more likely to deal their picks over prospects.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Feb 20, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

Top 3 defencemen, I meant…

I’d like any of those forwards though since that’s where it seems we need the most help.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Feb 20, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Yakupov, Grigorenko, or Galchenyuk are the ticket. Grab one of these and the Canes are in good shape 2 seasons from now.

We won’t be getting Parise, the only Star UFA forward come this Summer, it is necessary to find this player somewhere. Canes lack the top-6 talent as is to even sniff the Playoffs.

by JussiJuice on Feb 20, 2012 1:41 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

According to Chip Tlusty is playing; LaRose is out; and Cam is day to day

by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 20, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

I think Cam being out may be a good thing..

Here is why, if he is out a while, I think the false hopes of the playoffs will drift away, this will make JR’s trade deadline decisions a little easier. Let’s get what we can for any UFA. That includes Ruutu, I think if they were close a deal would have been done like with Gleason. If Cam is out for a while It gives them a chance to really look at Peters, Murphy and maybe they even bring up Muse and see what that kid can do. Gives them a chance to really evaluate the depth of their goaltending.

by Matt Katlen on Feb 20, 2012 11:02 AM EST reply actions

moving Ruu will be difficult with his injury.

by Caniac1026 on Feb 20, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Doubtful. Injury isn’t that serious and he is still the best rental on the market (if JR finds that he can’t be kept at a reasonable salary).

by JussiJuice on Feb 20, 2012 11:53 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think he’d still be desirable, possibly with less of a return than pre- injury.

by Hockeydog on Feb 20, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

I think its probably a safe bet that Ruutu would still bring in at least a 1st Round Pick or a high-end prospect.

by JussiJuice on Feb 20, 2012 12:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Very safe bet.

He will recover fully from the injury in time for the playoff push.

by hurricane9 on Feb 20, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

My money has Ruutu playing us in a Predator’s uniform on February 28th. One of their defensive prospects (Josi, Blum, or Ellis) and a 2nd coming back this way.

by JussiJuice on Feb 20, 2012 1:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It has been too quiet with JR and Ruutu. I guess we will know soon one way or the other……..

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
Sun Tzu circa 4th Century BC

by hurricanefever on Feb 20, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

If Ruutu isn’t resigned then that deal looks pretty good to me, especially if we got Blum.

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Feb 20, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

JR said the deal with Ruutu would be finished by today. And there has been nothing.

by hurricane9 on Feb 20, 2012 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

I too think the Cam break is a good one. This team is not going anywhere and the sooner the organization faces up to that and starts to build for the future the better. Start evaluating the talent you have, make a list of what you need, and do the best you can to shore up those needs now via trades for players or picks via the UFA’s. Rosie on line 1 should be the kind of announcement that makes a true fan cower. Rosie on line 4, you pick up that call.

by playwithpride on Feb 20, 2012 11:17 AM EST reply actions

So my take on the weekend set is that the Canes held off a very good team that had to overcome a bad travel day on a back to back set, then could not stop or match the speed and skill level of another team when faced with their own back to back game on the road. The second game against the Isle is the game that should really be used as a measuring stick, as the faster club exposed a shortage of fleet footed D men and a shortage of elite level skill up front. ( we have some but need more)

by Hockeydog on Feb 20, 2012 12:08 PM EST reply actions

Much to much can be read into the results of the second game of a B2B. As stated above San Jose played the night before and had travel issues while the Canes had extended rest. The Islanders are playing their best hockey of the season and rested for a Canes team that worked very hard the night before. You cannot fairly discount a win because the other team played the night before and not factor in the B2B reality for the Canes against the Islanders the following night. The injury that Ward played with and that took him out of the game was likely the difference between loss and victory for the Canes. No one should argue that we dont need more talent up front, especially with Ruutu out, and more talent on defense, especially with Pitkanen out, but the Islander loss was just one game of 82.

by surgalt on Feb 20, 2012 1:16 PM EST reply actions

Even so, it’s hard to explain how the Isles 3rd string goalie, with only one other career win (against guess who, January 31 at RBC), makes 33 saves Saturday night. It seems like there are an exceptional number of shots right at the opposing goalie and very few upper 90s and/or near sides by comparison to other teams. Which is worse, 153 goals for, or 181 goals allowed?

by 80 onI40 on Feb 20, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

The Canes played their third-string goalie heading into the third of a tie game — so it sounds even to me. And Poulin was 4-2-1 last year, he just has both his wins this year vs. Carolina. The guy’s a pretty good goalie. Don’t knock him just because you don’t know much about him.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Feb 20, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

I know he was yanked two minutes into today’s game after giving up two, en route to a 6-0 thumping by Ottawa. Everyone can and does have a bad outing, but as far as THIS year goes, he’s only been good against one team.

by 80 onI40 on Feb 20, 2012 4:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions