After firing 45 shots with nothing to show for it in a solid effort but 2-0 loss versus San Jose on Sunday, the hockey gods made amends on Tuesday night in Dallas. It took only 25 shots to score 6 goals and win 6-4 in Dallas on Tuesday. The Canes shot pucks through, around and just generally behind 2 Dallas goalies all night once the floodgates opened in the 2nd period.

Jeff Skinner started the scoring with a well-placed shot from an odd angle early in the 2nd period. That goal was a huge turning point. Down 2-0, the Canes could have started to feel snake bit. Instead, that goal seemed to suddenly remind Dallas that they have been struggling a bit, and the Canes went on to score 3 more goals and exit the 2nd period with a 4-2 lead. A goal only 9 seconds into the 3rd period by Eric Staal put the Canes up 5-2. The Canes then survived (barely) a 3rd period of fire from the Stars to hold on to a 6-4 win.

A few notes:

1) Scorers scoring. Jeff Skinner's 1st goal was in my opinion the biggest of a game that had many. Eric Staal's 2nd goal to push to 6-4 after the Stars climbed to 5-4 and were surging would rate a close 2nd. 3 goals combined from the 2 scorers was a nice burst of primary scoring that has been lacking of late.

2) Baby steps. Alexander Semin did not do anything spectacular, and his 10:52 of ice time (2nd lowest) might say something about where he is right now, but returning the lineup after missing a couple games with injury, he took steps forward. He drew 2 penalties and through the puck at the net a few times instead of holding it without purpose.

3) Cam Ward. It was a very strange game for him. 4 goals against never goes down as 'great', but he was actually pretty good. When things got chaotic in front of him in the 3rd period, he remained calm and made some good saves. Unlike the goalies at the other side, the stuff that got behind him was much more misfortune than misplays.

If I get a chance, I was going to write a whole blog about it, but I view the Canes success this season requiring a thus far mostly unfound combination of 3 things:

1) Buy in and consistency playing the system and bringing the effort. This has been building and generally very good. The bottom half of the roster gets it, and the team as a whole has been bringing a solid effort. Even the Winnipeg and Boston losses were not horrible in terms of effort.

2) Goaltending. The team did start playing better in November, but it is in no way a random coincidence that the Canes winning streak matched Cam Ward finding a higher gear.

3) Scorers fitting in and scoring. The top end scorers need to find the balance of fitting into the system and do it without trading in their offense, skill and creativity. Eric Staal seems to get the system but has been a bit light offensively especially in a few games where the Canes desperately needed a big goal. Jeff Skinner has been hard to figure. He seems to be the victim of fewer 'oopses' of late, and he has been pretty consistent buzzing around the offensive zone and shooting the puck. So for me, I think he has been making progress despite not scoring recently until tonight. Alexander Semin is still a work in progress and represents huge upside to the Canes current level of play if he can find his scoring and do it the right way.

Next up is hockey late night for Raleigh with a 10:30 Eastern Time start in LA in Thursday. Get your coffee or whatever other drinks and snacks you need to do Canes hockey until about 1am and take to Twitter while tuning in to Tripp and John.

Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63

Go Canes!


4)

Join the Discussion: » 4 Comments » Post New Comment

» Maple Leafs and Hurricanes: Comparison in rebuilding strategies

» Snarly Hurricanes vs. Flyers match up set for Saturday

» Canes treading water - Will they eventually drown or swim?

» Solid first half of week tees 'make up' time at home for the weekend

» Hurricanes at Red Wings -- Canes look claw even for road trip