Skinner With The Winner, Hurricanes 2, Kings 1

by Bob Wage on Feb 4, 2012 10:27 PM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Game Recaps

After another very slow start, Jiri Tlusty tied the game in the second period and Jeff Skinner netted the game winner in the third as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night, 2-1 in front of an announced sell out crowd of 18,680 at the RBC.

The Canes were very sluggish in the opening period and managed only four shots on goal, even though they had two powerplay opportunities. The Kings took a 1-0 lead on a shot by Anze Kopitar, but Tim Gleason took down Kyle Clifford near the end of the first as both received fighting majors and Tlusty ignited the crowd with a tremendous play at 15:40 into the second.

Tlusty blocked a shot at the blue line and used his speed to get past the defense in a race to the puck at center ice. From the slot area he put a perfect shot past goalie Jonathan Bernier to tie things up.

Skinner then made a series of good plays leading to his goal at 3:02 in the third. First he kept the puck alive behind the net. As Drayson Bomwn passed it to Jussi Jokinen, last year's Calder winner then went to the front of the net where he dug out Jokinen's rebound and slid it past Bernier for the winner.

It was his 15th of the season.

The Kings would battle as best they could the rest of the way, but Cam Ward was on his game and made 24 saves on a game total of 25 shots for Los Angeles.

Game Notes:

The powerplay did not look good in this one as the team went 0-3. The Kings scored their only goal with the man advantage and went 1-2 on the game.
After just four shots in the first, the Canes finished with a total of 22 for the game. Tuomo Ruutu had a game high eight shots. Next closest was Skinner with three.
The Canes won just 40% in the circle, better from their 30% clip in Boston. (Staal 38%, Sutter 33%, Nash 25%, Brent 50% Skinner 50%)
The team was credited with 23 hits led by Tlusty with four.
Carolina had 24 blocked shots. Bryan Allen and Jaroslav Spacek were tops with three each.
Allen and Justin Faulk led the way with 23:00 and 22:59 of ice time respectively. Low on the team was Anthony Stewart who had 8:00.
Riley Nash was credited with a team high three takeaways.

post game interviews:

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Comments

dont mean to correct anyone

But in the 4th paragraph it says jussi jokinen last years calder cup winner. Should be Jeff skinner. Good win canes

by Elliott Farrell on Feb 5, 2012 8:19 AM EST reply actions

It’s possible Bob could have already edited the paragraph, but he’s not calling Jokinen the Calder winner, he’s describing Skinner.

This is how it reads:

Skinner then made a series of good plays leading to his goal at 3:02 in the third. First he kept the puck alive behind the net. As Drayson Bomwn passed it to Jussi Jokinen, last year’s Calder winner then went to the front of the net where he dug out Jokinen’s rebound and slid it past Bernier for the winner.

Now replace “last year’s Calder winner” with “Skinner”:

Skinner then made a series of good plays leading to his goal at 3:02 in the third. First he kept the puck alive behind the net. As Drayson Bomwn passed it to Jussi Jokinen, Skinner then went to the front of the net where he dug out Jokinen’s rebound and slid it past Bernier for the winner.

That works ;)

twitter @jbk_ltd

by Jamie Kellner on Feb 5, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

that was what I attempted to say but I can see it being unclear. thanks Jamie.

Editing Manager of Canes Country.com

by Bob Wage on Feb 5, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

missed the game again

2 in a row that I miss being on the left coast on business. Glad to be coming back today. I guess I may pass them in the air. Glad to see some wins vs good teams. I am now leaning towards signing Ruutu now. Since JR has come off of his norm policy with Gleason, I think inking Tuomo now may have more value than trading him with a hope to sign him over the summer.

"Forget about style; worry about results."
Bobby Orr

by Caniac233 on Feb 5, 2012 10:29 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

JR undoubtedly offered Ruutu a contract as well. The fact that he is not signed is indicative that he is more than likely going to test the market to gauge his value. Fair enough, his right, but it means he must be traded to ensure some value.

by JussiJuice on Feb 5, 2012 7:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Maniscalco said that JR was negotiating with Ruutu’s agent now, for what that’s worth.

by hurricane9 on Feb 5, 2012 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

Did he say there were negotiations with Ruutu’s agent or was it more in the nature of rumors? I’d be extremely happy if Rutherford were able to re-sign Ruutu. That’s great news and Manascalso doesn’t say things like that unless he has very good basis for it.

by abramsdoug on Feb 5, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

I think it is pretty much a given that JR would be giving his best offer to Ruutu before trading him. He already broke his negotiation policy with Gleason and we are a much better team with Ruutu, why wouldn’t he be negotiating?

Gleason’s deal smelt awfully like a “last offer before I agree to a trade” deal. Ruutu has to be in the exact same boat. My guess is that he wants more than JR is willing to spend which means he will eventually be traded.

by JussiJuice on Feb 6, 2012 7:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Bob, I can see this on FB and get here via that link, but if I go to canescountry.com I don’t see it. The last story is last nights game thread. Might be just me, but with the lack of comments I thought there might be some type of linkage or server issue you might need to correct.

by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 5, 2012 4:21 PM EST reply actions

Works normally for me.

Hi, my name is Michael Procton, and I will mindf*** you with logical yet (often) pessimistic retorts until the cows come home. Good Day.
--by Aisander D on Feb 4, 2012 7:59 PM EST
I gotta stop takin' my baths durin' Peter's shenanigans.

by MichaelProcton on Feb 5, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions