For the second home game in a row, the Carolina Hurricanes did not come out with enough fire and ended up being dominated at the RBC, this time at the hands of the Dallas Stars by a score of 5-2. The team fell behind 3-1 in the opening period, with one of the goals coming with just 28 seconds left.
Three minutes and change into the second period, the Stars made it 4-1, and coach Paul Maurice had seen enough. He took out goalie Cam Ward and replaced him with backup Brian Boucher.
The goalie change was not enough to spark the team though as the Stars would score yet again later in the period, this time on a shorthanded odd man rush, making it 5-1 and literally ending the game a full period early.
Carolina's two goals were both scored while on the man advantage. Chad LaRose scored the first on a nifty putback of a rebound in the first period and Tuomo Ruutu would score Carolina's second goal with a wrister from the slot area in the third.
The team's coach had criticism for his players again after this contest, admitting that they got beat to every puck and lost every battle. But he said he had no answers for it.
Bryan Allen said that "they outworked us". Brian Boucher said much of the same. Tim Gleason said the team did not "stick to the system."
The Hurricanes will try to get back to the basics when they go on the road next week with games at New Jersey and New York.
Game Notes:
- The stat sheet is pretty much meaningless as this game was over when it was 4-1 early in the second. The Canes mounted no furious comeback attempt and still lacked any fire or emotion after starting to get embarrassed at that point.
- The team finished 2-9 on the powerplay.
- Ward allowed four goals on 14 shots. Three of the four came from open shooters and the other was from Robidas while at the point of a powerplay.
- The team was 49% in the faceoff circle. (Staal 59%, Sutter 40%, Ruutu 67%, Brent 38%)
- This was another bad game for Eric Staal, at least concerning his plus/minus, as he added to his league worst (-14) with another (-2), now giving him (-16) in just 14 games. He did lead the team with six shots on goal. After the game Maurice was asked if Staal was hurt to which the answer was, "No one is injured."
- The Canes have now allowed a total of 47 goals, second most in the East. They have a -12 differential between their goals for, (35), versus goals against, (47), which is the worst differential in the East.
- Jiri Tlusty had a game high seven hits.
- Jay Harrison had a team high three blocked shots.