Game Analysis: Hurricanes At Ducks

by Cory Lavalette on Feb 9, 2012 4:00 PM EST

The Carolina Hurricanes fell victim to what some are calling "the blown call of the year," losing in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks after a non-call led to Corey Perry's game-winning goal. Tuomo Ruutu and Eric Staal scored for the Hurricanes, and Cam Ward made 31 saves in the overtime loss.

The Canes have taken home at least a point in seven of eight games and now sit at 20-25-10 for 50 points, last in the Eastern Conference.

Three Observations

1. Referee Tim Peel's no-call in overtime, plainly put, cost Carolina a fair chance at the extra point. According to coach Kirk Muller, Peel explained that he observed Jussi Jokinen clip the Carolina net and fall over. The replay clearly shows that never happened and that Perry tripped Jokinen, which led to a give-and-go that resulted in last year's Hart Trophy winner ending the game. In a game where few penalties were called, one can expect a play like this to be let go in a different part of the ice. But the fact that Chad LaRose was called on a similar play with the Hurricanes on the power play in the third makes the blown call even more inexcusable.

2. People will surely remember Ruutu's baseball swing goal that opened the scoring, but how about the play Jiri Tlusty made prior to that to get the puck to the goal mouth Tlusty cut to the middle and shrugged off a hit from the much-bigger Ryan Getzlaf, firing off a shot that Ruutu screened from Ducks netminder Jonas Hiller. Ruutu collected the loose puck and whacked it in on his second chance, giving the Canes an early lead. It was a beautiful play by both players, and Tlusty continues to make his case for being a part of Carolina's future.

3. Rookie Justin Faulk continues to impress and make a push to for consideration for the Calder Trophy. He was second on the Canes in ice time (behind only partner Jay Harrison) with 23:15 and led all players with eight hits to help Carolina compete physically with the rough-and-tumble Ducks.

Number To Know

13 — Games in a row that Cam Ward has gone without allowing two goals in a period. The Islanders scored twice in the third on Jan. 3 to get the win, and since then Ward hasn't yielded more than one tally in a frame. Justin Peters, in his only start during that stretch, allowed two goals in the first and third periods in a 5-2 loss Jan. 7 to Nashville.

Plus

Eric Staal — Carolina's captain was at his best on the night. His go-ahead goal in the third was solely due to his forechecking efforts, and he had jump throughout the game. He now has 19 points in his past 17 games, and he was plus-1 for the third game in a row (although he still ranks last in the NHl with a minus-23).

Minus

Chad LaRose — In his first game back from injury, LaRose had his typical high-energy game going. But the offensive zone tripping call he took in the third with the Canes on a power play nullified a great chance to reclaim the lead. Now only if the same call had been made on Perry in OT ...

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Comments

Lactose up to the usual…taking bad penalties during critical times

by bready86 on Feb 9, 2012 4:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Chad also got caught chasing the puck and threw himself out of position, which led to Stewart and LaRose both being on the same side of the ice, which left Sbisa wide open. Which led directly to the tying goal.

by Kahz on Feb 9, 2012 4:17 PM EST reply actions

I was more perturbed with LaRose and Stewart on that 2nd Duck goal that Chad’s tripping penalty which was marginal given what else didn’t get called in the game.

by sittler27 on Feb 9, 2012 6:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think we are seeing the overall improvement in the team’s talent; and that LaRose is not as good as the others. It isn’t that LaRose has gotten worse, it’s that the other players are more skilled and better all around.

by abramsdoug on Feb 9, 2012 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. He is not as fast as most and he gets beaten on the boards on a regular basis. It used to be he was good on the boards. We all love him, but I would rather see Bowman, Samson, or Dalphe on the ice.

by FoxtrotSierra on Feb 9, 2012 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

Kerry Fraser was pretty blunt in saying that the lack of the call was terrible.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=387346

by hurricane9 on Feb 9, 2012 4:56 PM EST reply actions

Fraser has been doing a pretty good job in that column this year. He has shed some very interesting light on some calls and hasn’t held back with his criticism of the officials when warranted.
What is as bad as Peel’s non call is his lame explanation about seeing Jussi clip the net. No way that flies from the view down low that he had. Come on Tim. Man up and tell Muller that you simply blew it. What little respect any of us have for you went out the window with that lame excuse.

by sittler27 on Feb 9, 2012 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

I’d like to see Dadonov called up. Not saying he is the answer to anything but just want to see him. I would think the organization would like to give him a look up here before the deadline.

Nothing I can say about the non-call that hasn’t already been said. Incredible !!

by Hockeydog on Feb 9, 2012 5:10 PM EST reply actions

LaRose

I like LaRose, but lets be honest, we’re a better team when he’s not in the lineup.

by CanesFanFromLI on Feb 9, 2012 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Sadly I agree. If JR could include him in one of our up and coming trades I would be a happy camper!

by CruelIn10tions on Feb 9, 2012 6:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

AGree

besides a penalty while on the PP, and poor play leading to the tying goal, I watched him lose most of his puck battles against the boards last night, and ice the puck i think twice….

…..Still had hustle and work ethic, but really detracted from the overall team performance…..

by Squeaky83 on Feb 9, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

Unfortunately, scouts from some of the teams that are rumored to be interested in him were at the game.

by hurricane9 on Feb 9, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

Ouch! Not Good

by CruelIn10tions on Feb 9, 2012 7:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Just finished watching the game. Tim Peel is as useless as ever he was.

by rmmeli on Feb 9, 2012 5:43 PM EST reply actions

10 overtime loses & 10 points of out a playoff spot.

That equals a lot of missed opportunities. Converting some of those to wins (plus taking off the extra points from other teams) and considering all of the one goal games lost this season in regular time, this team could have easily been in the thick of the playoff hunt. The difference between the playoffs and last place could very well be just 20 goals.

by Franklnc on Feb 9, 2012 5:47 PM EST reply actions

holy moley is this true?

quite the telling stat.

rosie…oh, rosie…

cammie deserved a better fate, i thought he was pretty solid. LOVED sutter this game. but then again, what’s not to love with #16?

please trade larose…please….pretty please?

"The Carolina Hurricanes will keep President and General Manager Jim Rutherford for at least four more years after resigning him to a contract extension that runs through the 2015-16 season."

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 9, 2012 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

The real difference was...

Simply put, Paul Maurices poor effort to coach this team.

by surgalt on Feb 10, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

Blown calls.... mistakes... Gary B... really?

Is this the time again when the question if the coach can challenge the ref’s decision or play becomes relevant? If Kirk would be able to demand a review it will be clear that ref made a mistake. Or we are again coming to the words of Gary B: " the game is full of mistakes"?
I would really like if someone will let Gary to read this post – by saying so he is promoting mistakes of the league he leads – hearing this from the commissioner – nothing but… ok, at least not right. One day we have a clock issue which costs one team a win, now this and Gary covers it… unbelievable.

All above is my personal opinion.
Thanks,
Andy_S

by Andy_S on Feb 9, 2012 6:32 PM EST reply actions

Tim Peel has been making dismal calls against the Hurricanes for years

To me the most telling thing about the call last night is that the NHL stands by year after year while Tim Peel makes horrid calls against the Canes and others. Peel’s statement that he saw Jokinen trip on the net was absurd.

Tim Peel has been making dismal calls against the Hurricanes for years.

http://t.co/oq1SsfYf

Realistically, the fact that controversial calls coming at very inopportune times occur with the same official is troubling.

by abramsdoug on Feb 9, 2012 7:22 PM EST reply actions

Thanks.

The diving call on Cole going to the empty net may be among the Top 5 all time worst calls vs. ‘Canes. I didn’t recall it was Peel though.

I vote the worst to be Walrus McCreary disallowing the first period goal in game 7 of Finals vs. Edmonton.

by drifterscape on Feb 9, 2012 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

Tim Peel...

Owes us 10 points in the standings. Chop Chop, Gary Bettman. Make it happen.

Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)

by thebl4ckd0g on Feb 9, 2012 8:01 PM EST reply actions

Minus pt2

Was it me or did Skinner look a little lazy yesterday? He had a few nice plays but a bunch of bad passes and seemed to really glide back to the defensive zone. Maybe it was just an off day but he looked really off at times.

by The Gottfather on Feb 9, 2012 8:03 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Ditto, it seemed like everytime he fell to the ice he expected a penalty to be called. Had no hustle to get back up and back into the play.

Hopefully next game he’s back to his old self.

by CruelIn10tions on Feb 9, 2012 9:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

All this fan knows is ........

the Canes cold hasve won the game but didn’t…:-( Good night everyone

9/11/01 - Never Forget !!
Long Live #63 The Condor
Go Canes & Checkers !!!

by CaniacSteve on Feb 9, 2012 11:23 PM EST reply actions

A few comments

That non call was the worst I have ever seen. Every official at a USA Hockey seminar is told, if a penalty creates or takes away a scoring opportunity you have to call it. He is in the position to see the trip and simply did not call it. On Puck Daddy you hear the Anaheim call and even they were in shock!
LaRose- first game back from whatever he had, may need more then one game but I have always said he is a great 4th line player.
On coaches challenge i dont think you could do that on a penalty, don’t see how that would work most of it is up to the official to see it and then put the arm up.
On the Game 7 non call, you have to remember if you DVR the game, NBC didnt get the view that showed the puck in the net until sometime in the next period. At that time non of the views they had clearly showed the puck in, plus it didnt cost us the game. We dont know if this did or did not, we have not done well in shootouts but we should of had a 4-3 and those usually result in goals.

by Matt Katlen on Feb 10, 2012 7:53 AM EST reply actions