Carolina Crush: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 0
by Bob Wage on Feb 20, 2012 11:30 PM EST
in Carolina Hurricanes Game Recaps
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PrintThe Carolina Hurricanes came out on home ice in front of 16,837 on Monday night and totally dominated the Washington Capitals, 5-0, in what was probably their best game of the season.
The Hurricanes out-hit, out-shot, and just about "out-everythinged" the opposition on this night in a game that had fights, a shorthanded goal, and the first career NHL shutout for young goalie, Justin Peters.
The Canes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, 3:41 into the game when Justin Faulk got behind the defense for another powerplay goal, his 6th overall goal of the season. Just 1:18 later, Anthony Stewart took a tipped Eric Staal pass and ripped in past Tomas Vokoun to make it 2-0 and send Vokoun to an early exit.
The score stayed at 2-0 until late in the period when Andreas Nodl scored on an odd man rush with just 30 seconds left to make it 3-0. Brandon Sutter set up the goal with a perfect pass.
The Hurricanes outshot the Caps 16-5 in that period and would continue the onslaught the rest of the way.
Staal would score a shorthanded goal 5:56 into the second. The goal made the Carolina Captain the franchise leader with 12 career shorties.
Staal scored again in the third after the Hurricanes kept the puck in the Washington zone for a prolonged period as time after time someone would pick up a clearing attempt at the blueline. Finally, Jaroslav Spacek kept the puck in, found Staal alone in the slot, and the captain buried his shot.
The home crowd was loud and proud throughout and gave the team a long standing ovation near the end of regulation. This was the first contest of the current six game home stand. Next up is Anaheim on Thursday night.
Game Notes:
- The Canes outshot the Caps 40-17. Staal had six shots while Skinner and Tlusty had 5 each.
- Carolina outhit the Caps 24-16. Nodl had a team high four.
- The team had 20 takeaways compared to four for the Caps. Sutter, Tlusty, and Skinner each had four.
- Derek Joslin did well in his new role on the fourth line and dropped the gloves twice with Matt Hendricks. He was called for roughing the first time, but the second time five minute majors were handed out.
- Justin Faulk also dropped the gloves with Troy Brouwer and held his own well in his first career NHL fight. Faulk drew high praise from his coach, but Jamie McBain had a team high 22:36 of ice time in this affair.
- The team had 19 blocked shots led by Bryan Allen with four.
- Staal won 61% of his faceoffs and the team won 57%.
Post game interviews:
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Who were those guys?
I had just one question running through my mind by the end of the first period, and then through the rest of the game. Who were those guys in the black jerseys, and what did they do with our Carolina Hurricanes??
Nice to see the standing ovation through the last 45 seconds of the game!
by canadianexpatriate on Feb 20, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions
I think the Caps were probably asking themselves the same question.
The only easy day was yesterday.
by CoastalCane on Feb 21, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
That looked like a division champ playing a last-place team
utter dominance from start to finish.
If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk
by Incipient_Senescence on Feb 21, 2012 12:04 AM EST reply actions
Great game to watch
Credit goes to the defense for completely shutting the Caps down, that said, Ovechkin had an embarrassing performance, he isn’t scaring anybody out there. I liked that hit into the boards by Allen though.
fun to watch
i said at the beginning of the season that i don’t expect to see the canes win every game but i do, at least, what to see an entertaining game. there was NOTHING entertaining about MO hockey.
coach kirk has these guys playing fun, tough, entertaining hockey. last night was a thing of beauty to watch. even when the canes lose, the games are usually fun to watch.
it’s just a shame that MO and JR dug such a deep hole at the beginning of the year, but at least this organization is climbing out of the abyss and headed in the right direction.
keep up the great work coach!
In December the question was...
Who could we put on Staal’s line to get him going? Now the answer is: It doesn’t matter. Everyone playing with him looks like a first liner.
Credit to both Staal and Muller to get out of that early season funk. Muller laid the foundation and said the right things, but Staal was the man who fixed things, and the progression was good. I’ll also say that Muller being an “accountability guy” told Staal as Capt he was going to face the most accountability—now we don’t see the lazy shifts, the skating off at bad times, or not nearly as much whining about how things played out. Lastly, Staal has to be much happier with the offensive system in place—he has re-found his creativity and offensive flair he lost under Mo. I’ll go back to what Staal said after Lavi came in—Mo stifles offensive creativity. Staal’s having more fun and feeling it all right now, while also being the poster child for the kind of play Muller expects.
It really does appear that Staal is having more fun and his game has improved immensely.
For as bad of a year that Staal has had, as of today he finds himself tied for 31st in the league in points, tied for 52nd in goals, and tied for 30th in assists. He’s still way below his normal season, but everything is improving since Muller arrived.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
As good as Skinner is, Staal is showing why he is the more elite forward at the moment. Hopefully he can keep playing like this.
Skinner is struggling as of late and I honestly believe that has a lot to do with his linemates. Jussi has really had a poor season from beginning to now. I’m not sure if he is injured or what, but he is not the same player we seen the past 2 seasons. And then Skinner’s other linemate has been a mixture of Bowman, LaRose, Dwyer; none have really helped him enough. He is trying to do everything himself and its just not happening. This is probably another reason why the Canes need to find another top 6 forward before the offseason. Let our current players develop chemistry with any new acquistions, so we can properly adjust the lineup for next season. How horrible would it be for us to get a true top 6 player this offseason and then take 25 games next season to figure out where he fits best in our lineup? We could again face the same problem of trying to catch up from way behind.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
by PackPride17 on Feb 21, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
You hit the proverbial nail....
….on the proverbial head. Young Jeff needs to realize that he has linemates for a reason. He constantly tries to stickhandle his way through 2 or 3 defenders who converge on him, often leaving his fellow trailing Cane open for a shot or another pass. Anybody who calls out Bowman for not contributing isn’t watching the same game as I am. Drayson Bowman has serious skills, as a skater and as a shooter. Give this line a bit of time and it will come back. Regardless, I noted several times Bowman keeping the puck in the zone, getting it deep, taking it deep only to have Skins floating around a bit. The boy needs a talking to….he needs to learn, again, that this is a team game and his points will come when he works with his group instead of trying to unnecessarily attempt to carry his teammates.
So now the question is...
Who do we put on Skinner’s line to get him going? In the past that was a really easy answer. Finns and Skins. Has Skinner changed his game since the injury?
I tend to think so. He is being feistier, more combative, more interested in retaliation than moving to empty spaces to recieve passes or rebounds. Other teams are taking away his time and space and he is helping them by staying engaged with the defender harassing him. Perhaps Ruutu kept Skinner from feeling he had someone on his line watching his back.
He’s still a young man playing in a grown mans game. While I agree he doesn’t have the optimum line mates right now, most of his current issues can be attributed to growing pains. He had a level of success last year with certain linemates. This year he has different linemates and he is drawing much more attention. He’ll need to learn to adjust his game and his mindset, which I’m sure he will. He is still growing as a player, and the team is in transition.
Was Ovi benched in the 3rd? or maybe injured? Also, I know it is poor taste but it’d be poetic justice if someone could post a clip of the Allen-on-Ovi hit at Washington’s SBNation page. One of their neanderthals did it to us last game.
What is the only letter in the Canadian alphabet, eh? Need a hint, eh?
All the reason why we don’t need to be doing that.
And no, he wasn’t benched in the 3rd, he was out there, just not relevant to the outcome.
by Jamie Kellner on Feb 21, 2012 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Great team game
That was great and to see the guys after the game on twitter for Peters was pretty cool, they also commented on the Caniacs so we have to bring it on this homestand! How disappointing are the Caps though, so much talent on that team over the years and they have nothing to show for it! We still have a large hill to climb and really need to win out on this homestand, they do that then I might start thinking it is possible!
Free at last !!
my wife locked me the basement after the game last night as there was NO Living/sleeping with me as i was like a 5 year old on a massive sugar rush that hit me harder than puberty !! Man what a “win”!!!!!! now not to complain and be a humbug…but the same team members wo played last nigfht were the “exact” same team ( man for man) and they allowed,permited.and let the Islanders run over them like a mack truck..hitting a squirrl on the road….again..NOT being “ugly”…but what a difference a day and a half makes!! And I loved how and even when Peters had pressure he played like Ward..he controlled the tempo of the game in the canes end…very very good…was pleased and happy the Canes won..but how about a wee bit more of that on as regular basis…or is that asking too much?? and how about Spacek & the Juice…didn’t see or hear of them much from Mr.Strater & Mullet king…but still both did contribute to what turned out to be a rout of the Caps…Thanks everybody who was on the game thread…we all had a great time…and loved how Coastal cane asked for a shortie and BAM the good captain 5 seconds later filled that request !! I have to go now..my wife is rattling my chains..so i have to behave !! HeHeHe..lets pluck some ducks…wooo hooo Go Canes !1
9/11/01 - Never Forget !!
Long Live #63 The Condor
Go Canes & Checkers !!!
Thoughts on the Canes Game
From the drop of the puck, there was tremendous energy in the RBC. The team was ready to go from the start. The fans were rocking as well. Staal is the team’s engine and when he’s in that zone, the Hurricanes are a hard team to play. I love the Joslin/Brent/Stewart line. It’s the kind of line that makes other teams not want to come out on the ice to play against them. To me it’s interesting to see how much energy that line provides for the rest of the team. I also can’t say enough good things about Joslin’s physical play. The Capitals tried to play goon hockey and Joslin, and Faulk, showed they weren’t going to take it.
I had noticed Nodl when he was with Philadelphia; and I’ve been impressed with Nodl since he game to Raleigh. I think he is just realizing how good he really is. I also like having the Nodl/Sutter/Bowman line (and unless I saw things wrong it seemed at times Bowman was at left wing and Nodl was at right wing) because Bowman adds offensive ability as well as size with physicality. It’s not a slam on Dwyer. Dwyer plays every shift and almost never makes a mistake. Still, I think the Hurricanes need to add some size and physicality.
Both Faulk and McBain are playing very well. McBain’s slow start had some fans criticizing him long after he had gotten back to playing well, I think. Allen’s a beast; and I wonder if at some level Jim Rutherford wonders if he should trade Allen or merely offer Allen an extension. I realize the defensive corp is crowded and will get even more so with Ryan Murphy, Dumoulin, and Sanguinetti, among others, coming up.
Tlusty has gotten to his game; and much credit goes to Muller, MacLean, and Brind’Amour for working with him. I remain hopeful that Muller, MacLean, and Brind’Amour can bring Dalpe, Boychuk, Rask, Nash, and Shugg along as well. Shugg is developing quickly under Daniels. Dalpe is breaking out from whatever was ailing him. Boychuk, too, is picking it up; but he needs to make some more strides this season to remain in the conversation.
It was the best team effort I’ve seen this season. No matter where the Hurricanes wind up in the standings, this kind of hockey is engaging to watch. I am continuing to get the feeling that Ruutu will be signed to an extension (and I really hope I am right about that). I also get the feeling that the Hurricanes organization is committed to signing a top UFA forward in the offseason. I hear and read hints of that plan; and although it would crowd things at forward, an established star to go with Staal and Tlusty would be a positive thing for the organization.
McBain really did play one of his best overall games last night. I have been one to criticize him alot. While under Muller; he has really been an offensive force from the backend. The part of his game that I am still critical of is the defensive side. He just doesn’t have the strength to move people and he still sometimes gets very flustered with the puck. McBain is a good, young, offensive defenseman; but this still goes back to how many offensive defensemen do we need? Faulk & a healthy Pitkanen are probably our best two-way defensemen. Harrison can definitely contribute offensively. Murphy, Sanguinetti, even Dumoulin are considered more offensive than defensive. That’s 6 players/prospects that can & do contribute offensively without even including McBain. I think this is the reason so many fans are critical of Jamie, because we need some more of a defensive presence and he is not going to provide that on a consistent basis.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
I hate to bring up what is now in the past ( although the team is paying the price for it with their overall record), but what Staal in particular needed was someone who had basically been there and done that to have as a mentor. That mentor is Muller. Obviously everyone is benefiting from the change in coaching, but Staal was going thru a rough patch that someone like Mo, who had never played pro hockey , could really not relate to on a players level. Muller has done it all as a pro. High draft pick, skill player, declining skill player who reinvented his game, team Captian, Cup winner, and player under some very well regarded coaches.
In the same vain that Faulk deserves a look as Rookie of the Year but likely won’t get it because of flashy stats, Muller deserves a look at Coach of the Year, even if/when the Canes miss the playoffs. Just a tremendous turnaround in culture. Drink the Kool Aide people. When he plays Joslin instead of bringing up a AHL’r there is a reason, and a good one!
They call themselves the oreo line
On twitter last night Stewart had nicknamed that line the oreo line, which is pretty darn funny!
by Matt Katlen on Feb 21, 2012 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
I would have loved to have been at the RBC Center, but I also enjoyed watching NBC national coverage of the game. Listening to the commentators actually forced to compliment and talk about the Hurricanes and have absolutely nothing positive to say about the Crapitals. LOVED IT.
really?
i thought they made tripp sound like keith jackson. doesnt forslund also work for vs.? wonder why he didnt get the call.
" was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor?"
by brass bonanza on Feb 21, 2012 8:46 AM EST up reply actions
I actually liked them.
They started off with the typical Capitals gushing but then they started to give Canes credit and were complimenting a lot of the players and the fans while criticizing the Capitals. I also don’t think that Engblom and Strader are bad announcers compared to Emrick, McGuire and company.
It’s also nice to see the general perspective of the team from an unbiased standpoint.
Good Crowd
Really big crowd for a Monday night….With apologies to abramsdoug, this “engaging” hockey is fun to watch which I believe is leading to bigger, louder, and more enthusiastic crowds.
The coaching change in Washington hasn’t exactly turned their season around. It says a lot for the leadership in our locker room as compared to the Capitals.
In Kirk we Trust
Unfortunately for Washington
It appears to be a team leadership issue. For whatever reason the coach isn’t changing Ovechkin—Boudraue had him for a bit but lost him—yet he seems to be getting on with the Ducks… Muller worked with Staal and got our Capt turned around which showed we had bigger coaching issues than we had team issues. Caps seem to be learning the opposite. Ovechkin and Semin aren’t looking like great team guys at the moment. Too bad for them Backstrom’s out.
thanks montreal
how did they let this guy get away? after the initial break in period, staal has caught fire and played likie the dominant player he can be. whatever muller has said to him has worked wonders. just out of curiosity, does any one know what his +/- is since the change.
" was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor?"
by brass bonanza on Feb 21, 2012 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
I believe it is now a +2 since Muller took over, about 35 games.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
Remember, the first 4 games after taking over were losses. I attribute them to Mo as it tokk a week or so for Muller just to get the team able to play 60 minutes of hockey. If yoy will remember, that was the first thing Muller said was the team was not in shape enough to play 60 minutes of hockey.
by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 21, 2012 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
Muller went 4 games with no changes and then made slow incremental changes over the next 4 weeks. He tested one change at a time, made sure that change was effective and then moved on to the next. We did not see the full “Muller effect” until 7-8 weeks after he came on board.
I agree with your assessment. That’s why I don’t think you can judge Muller’s performance just based upon his won/lost record.
by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 21, 2012 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
He’s done as good a coaching job as anyone in the NHL,but it won’t be recognized because of the dismal record he inherited.
More Pressure in Montreal than Carolina...
Sometimes, it’s better to go away from Montreal. I live in Montreal and Randy C. had a bad time with the Press. Always having a second guessing about his decision. Most of the Coaches don’t last very long in Montreal… life time is about 2 – 3 years max even if they have 4 years contracts like Jacques Martin. The GM and the coach don’t talk much each other. Pierre Gauthier is like a Ghost, compare to JR. It looks like JR and Kirk have a good chemistry.
Muller might not have greater tools to work with like Carolina have right now. They don’t have overrated players like Camallarri, Gomez, Gionta, Kostyshin, Gill.
IMHO it was the best for Kirk to turn the page and go see else where for stability and his career.
Long life for Kirk in Carolina. Looking foward for the best and exciting game in Carolina.
Dale Hunter looks like useless pylon on the bench. I obviously don’t know what goes on in the locker room, but he doesn’t seem too effective to me. Ovechkin is lost and, Semin is his usual self (I still can’t believe people actually us to sign him).
I wonder if Semin would be happier if he were out of Ovi’s shadow.
The only easy day was yesterday.
by CoastalCane on Feb 21, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Semin and Mulller/MacLean
I have a feeling the Hurricanes are preparing over the off-season to sign a big name forward UFA to work on Staal’s line. I have wondered in fact if the circus in Washington is at least part of Semin’s no show and poor work ethic. Semin has the physical skills to rival anybody. I see FoxtrotSierra had the same thought as me. A motivated Semin on Staal’s line would be beastly.
Sleepy time !!
Well we are dreaming for sure but Semin with Staal and Tlusty as the glue guy would be nasty to the point of almost un-containable. Add to that a 1 year older/wiser Skinner with some complimentary linemates, and a 3rd line of Sutter- Nodl and someone deserving and this club would be a very unwelcome site on any teams schedule. With Samson looking like he’s not going back and hopefully one of the other Checkers finally taking a roster spot permanently, JR would only need to acquire one top line forward to really turn things around.
Semin, Staal, and Tlusty would be a 2 man unit 95% of the time. I wouldn’t say they would be uncontainable.
Too many Red Flags
Semin has shown flashes of brilliance…however they are too few and too far in between for the amount of money he is making and will likely command. Also you wonder if he is part of the problem with the Caps and why would the Caps only give him a one year deal if he was so valuable to their franchise long term.
In Kirk we Trust
No thanks.
If you can’t get motivated playing with OV and Backstrom then you have no business in this league. I remember stories early in his career about how Semin had no plans to learn English or embrace life in America. he certainly has all the skill, but you have to have the desire and dedication to take advantage of that skill. I really don’t think Semin cares about winning. I think all he cares about is Alexander Semin. He is not Muller or canes material. you have to want it. he doesn’t.
Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand.
by HockeyHick74 on Feb 21, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Do you think Muller could bring out the best in Semin? If he could, then signing him at the right price to a one year deal might be a thought. But only if Muller can get him to play his style of hockey…60 minutes full tilt.
by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 21, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
Just my opinion but I don’t want any part of Semin. I’d be pretty disappointed if JR somehow acquired him. People complain about Staal being somewhat lazy time to time, wait til you watch Semin. 2 or 3 good shifts a night and the rest is just floating around.
"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward
Semin
Agreed. Too many negatives. We don’t need another project as a first line winger.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
Sun Tzu circa 4th Century BC
by hurricanefever on Feb 21, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Very electric last night at RBC
Rutherford and Karmanos take note: with all that has happened this season (and last), with the stinker that was Saturday night, the fan support remains outstanding. You outdrew the Islanders yesterday even though they played on a day that was a New York State holiday, even though over 2 million live in Nassau County, even though they were on an upswing and talking about nabbing the last playoff spot. How about returning us the favor…put an end to the Ruutu and Spacek trade rumors and instead nab us some more talent so that the team can keep this going?
btw, real nice to see the defense moving aggressively into the offensive zone to either assist or score…
addemdum to note
JR and PK. You have assembled a fantastic coaching staff. Please now work with that staff and get them what they are telling you they need. I understand and fully respect the small market finances involved. You can make better decisions then you had last summer and still not break the bank. Yield to the wealth of knowledge you have put behind the bench and in the box. Play the cards right from here until camp opens next fall and you will not be playing golf in April ’13.
we will know about Ruutu in day or two
Per Bob McKenzie, JR has made his best contract offer to Ruutu and it is up to him to sign it or not. No numbers were released but safe to say if he doesnt I think he would be traded. I think Spacek will be gone at the deadline, and maybe Allen.
by Matt Katlen on Feb 21, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions
Bob McKenzie's Thoughts on the Hurricanes
McKenzie has said that he thinks whether or not Ruutu will be signed to an extension or traded is likely to be resolved more in hours than days. McKenzie also said that he thinks the Hurricanes organization is leaning toward trading Spacek, but keeping Allen. I don’t know if that means Allen will also receive an extension. I think signing Allen to a two year extension would be excellent. Allen has helped settle down the defense; and will help the kids on defense mature as players.
Re-signing Allen for next year is a real good idea. Letting Spacek go is regretably also a good idea. Trading Kaberle and his 4 year contract away for Spacek was as much to dump Kabs as it was to sign Spacek. Spacek’s play and intangibles are superb. But when Pitkanen returns we will well stocked on the back end. Inevitably injuries will allow one of the prospects to get an opportunity rather than have one forced into the NHL before they are ready.
Re-signing Allen would have been a good idea (and cheaper) if Gleason hadn’t been given a huge contract.
With Pitkanen, Faulk, Gleason, Harrison, and McBain we have 5 signed D. Add Allen as a 6th and Joslin as a 7th and we have the exact same D next year with zero spots for Murphy. Sanguinetti, and/or Dumoulin.
That doesn’t even address the clear need for a true mobile top-pairing shutdown D that the Canes need if they ever want to compete for a Cup.
I just don’t see how that log-jam works. Even if the Canes let Allen and Spacek go and smartly acquire a top-pairing D that still leaves no room for the prospects.
by JussiJuice on Feb 21, 2012 11:11 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
What if… Joslin stays on the fourth line. The young defensive prospects get their professional education in the AHL as is the league standard. Injuries aren’t unusual for defensemen they are inevitable. Prospects fill gaps as those injuries occur. At worst a logjam of NHL ready defenders in Charlotte would be the perfect tender for top six winger trades. Cups can and have been won with defense by committee. Starting 2012-2013 with the defense set goes a long way towards a good start to next season. Wishing and hoping Murphy, et. al. can be “Faulk-like” could be asking for lightning to hit twice in the same place.
Agreed. Keeping Allen doesn’t seem to make as much sense now that Gleason is signed. I preferred to resign Gleason but I know a lot of people disagree and would’ve rather have kept Allen. Either way, re-signing both would just create a big logjam and not give us much room at all to retool the defense in any way. It would pretty much be the exact same like you said.
"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward
I just don’t see how that log-jam works. Even if the Canes let Allen and Spacek go and smartly acquire a top-pairing D that still leaves no room for the prospects.
This is one of the reasons I still believe that McBain & Joslin are available to be traded for the right return.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
by PackPride17 on Feb 21, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
+1
No coaching staff – not even one as unbelievably loaded as ours – can do it all by itself. IMHO, there is no better way to augment the men behind the bench than a veteran player that still contributes. Yes, Spacek is in many ways equally qualified, but (and this kills me to say it as a fella in his 40s) Allen’s 8 years younger and in pro sports that’s significant.
Except for Sanguinetti, none of our top-shelf D prospects has played professional hockey. I just don’t think they’re going to be candidates for more of the NHL than a week or two at a time next year.
The Oreo line is quickly becoming 40 seconds of hell. Joslin may have found a home, and I’m hope-hope-hoping the brass are not in a hurry to break that up.
Tlusty shout out
I know people have liked his game now on the first line, and his scoring adn assists go a long way in helping that line look like a true first line (finally). But lost in this offensive output has been one fact I found which shows even more benefit to Tlusty playing up with Staal.
Tlusty is +7 on this team (tied with Gleason for top +/—). His defensive ability and resonsibility were wll proven on the line last year with Sutter—and he has brought that responsibility with him to the top line. That has really steadied the defensive side of Staal’s game as well, and is a reason why they have been improving in +/—. Scoring helps, holding the puck and passing better helps, both of which Tlusty also brought to the top line, but his backchecking makes this line better on both sides of the ice.
Tlusty ‘s bona fide. He’s a keeper.
The NBC announcers were complimenting Tlusty too last night. He was one of the spotlight players throughout the game.
He’s finally showing why he was a 1st round draft pick. Maybe he wouldn’t be a first line winger on 95% of the teams in the league, but its working out on our team. He and Staal obviously have some great chemistry together that came out of nowhere. What I’d like to see over the offsesason is getting a right winger that can play with them well and move Ruutu (if he stays around next season) to play with Jokinen/Skinner.
I was at a Hurricanes event a couple of years ago and sat with somebody in the organization, whom I will not name. We were discussing virtually the entire roster. He said he was probably most impressed with Tlusty of the young, not yet established forwards. His take was that Tlusty was hampered by nagging injuries and a poor fit in Toronto where he was rushed and pressed into the NHL before he was really ready. He had great things to say about all the young forwards and felt all were developing nicely. I was interested, however, that he in his mind he was personally so high on Tlusty. In hindsight it shows how the progress of young players is not always in a straight upward curve and nagging injuries can influence how quickly the player develops. To me, it also emphasized the importance of coaching.
I think the forwards now under Muller, MacLean, and Brind’Amour are very well coached and are picking up their game accordingly.
How about Dave Lewis?
I missed something these days.
I saw a lot of comments about Muller, MacLean, and Brind’Amour, but none on Dave Lewis?
Is he still there? I thought he was good in teaching…
I agree with you. We’ve spent the time developing Tlusty and I would hate to see him go elsewhere and flourish.
by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 21, 2012 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
Tlusty is my favorite Cane!
Don’t know why…but I just love the way the guy plays.
Tlusty is +7 on this team (tied with Gleason for top +/—). His defensive ability and resonsibility were wll proven on the line last year with Sutter—and he has brought that responsibility with him to the top line.
The funny thing there Squeaky is that Tlusty was a 7 through his first 25 games this season under Maurice. Since then, he has gone +14 under Muller. I agree that his defensive responsiblity has been what Staal needed; but the scoring of Staal, Ruutu, and Tlusty has been the major factor in the +/.
JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!
by PackPride17 on Feb 21, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
Trusty
I’m happy to see Tlusty working out so well with Staal. Indeed – this is a guy who’s never had an injury-free season and now we’re able to see his potential. He has reasonable size, good speed, great hands and by all accounts has some pretty sick shoot-out moves.
Chemistry is a funny thing – last night for a brief moment the NBC announcers stopped talking about the Capitals and Ovechkin to speak about the chemistry that’s developed with Staal and Tlusty. I think Muller’s system and confidence in the captain has really made things happen.
Megaweapon… Megaweapon… Megaweapon…
more shouting
The performance of the 1st line since it acquired Tlusty is all the proof I’ll ever need that chemistry and synergy trump all. If these guys can keep this going, our top 6 forward to-do list just got significantly shorter.
Truning Point?
Is this a turning point for the Canes? Did the crawl to the top get a huge boost from last night’s “complete performance” The Schmucks think so, but we’ve got alot of crazy opinions. Take a look, www.sportschmucks.com
by Sports Schmuck on Feb 21, 2012 12:47 PM EST reply actions
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