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Game #20 @Clr: Disheartening loss |
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Saturday's loss in Colorado was a disheartening one for me, more so than your standard run-of-the-mill loss. It was 2 things. First, it was a win that the Canes needed to continue to hang in there through the current road trip and stay within eye sight of the 3rd playoff spot for the Metro Division. With a win the Canes would have climbed to within 4 points of #3 Washington. Instead, they finished Saturday 6 points back and are 7 back as of today with the Rangers winning and leapfrogging the Caps into the 3rd spot. But the second thing is bigger. For me, Saturday had all the makings of 1 of those games that good teams win. The Canes came out on fire and also happened upon a struggling goalie. Even after giving back 1 goal as a gift, the Canes exited the 1st period up 3-1. Two solid periods of hockey with nothing spectacular should have been enough to secure a win. Instead, the Avs recovered and surge and by the 3rd period, it was clear that it was just a question of whether the Avs had enough clock left to pass the limping Hurricanes. When the Avs young guns surged and rose up, the Canes had no answer. Instead, they mostly looked like they were hoping some combination of Cam Ward standing on his head and winding down 20 seconds of clock at a time just clearing the zone would be enough. It wasn't. I completely get that the Canes D were probably a bit winded late with heavier minutes due to Bellemore's injury early, but I still just feel like when you get a 3-1 lead as a gift, a good team finds a way to cash in. So I guess the part that bothers me most is the measure of where this team is right now in terms of understanding how to win.
A few notes:
1) Justin Faulk. He struggled and generally has been of late. His inexplicable turn to the middle and soft centering pass in the 1st did not lead directly to the Avs 1st goal, but it came soon after. He also seemed to be in survival mode at best trying to match up against the Avs young guns once they got going.
2) Andrej Nestrasil. With 4 shots, a goal and a generally decent night, his first impression was positive. I think the biggest upshot is that when they get back in the lineup, Terry and Boychuk better dial it up. Nestrasil looks more like what the Canes want in a depth forward with more size but still some offensive ability.
3) John-Michael Liles. He had a solid game returning to Colorado with a goal but more importantly just pretty good hockey from the back end. I have also thought that his upside is just higher in the skating version of the NHL compared to the set of big physical Canes defensemen. Just maybe he is ready to find it.
4) Jeff Skinner. His pass on the Liles goal is directly on the path to a ceiling at something like 40 goals and 80-90 points. First, despite the fact that he as a pure goal scorer should always play with a shoot-first mentality, there are times when the pass is the better play more likely to result in a goal. This is especially true when the goalie must respect and expect the shot. Second, passing at something like a 30% rate when given the option to shoot or pass will force goalies to at least be honest and consider what else is coming down the ice on a rush besides Skinner with the puck.
5) Riley Nash. He has been a bit quieter of late, but fared very well in a skating game with 2 assists and also was >70% in the faceoff circle.
Next up for the Canes is a 3-day layoff followed by the usual 3 games in 4 days with travel around the Thanksgiving holiday. These games are tricky because the routine can get completely messed up with relatives in town, sometimes same-day travel schedules and all of the usual holiday stuff that even professional athletes have to deal with.
A win in Florida on Wednesday would push the road trip to a respectable 2-2 and leave only a home and home with Pittsburgh to close out November.
Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63
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