As disappointing as the result was Tuesday night (and that is top of the list this time of year), I am torn between "could have been better" and "could have been good enough. The level of play was not what it was in the stellar win versus St. Louis, but that was just going to be hard to match. It was not abysmal either.
Chances to push past 1 goal included:
--2 posts (Liles and Dwyer).
--Another decent game from Skinner in which he collected some decent scoring chances.
--A couple good chances for Tlusty in close.
--A couple good chances from Dwyer.
--2 almost, but not quite, breakaways by Gerbe.
--Drayson Bowman bulling his way to the net a few times with the puck at least half in tow. (1 of those actually did result in a goal.)
--A random collection of deflections that at least had a chance to find net instead of going behind it.
It is not so much that the Canes deserved to win, but they could have and it would not have been a hockey travesty had it happened. The game also highlights the importance of getting points when you can because some nights it just does not work out.
A few game notes:
--The power play was again a negative. The 52-second 5-on-3 power play that could have tipped the game in the Canes favor was heavy on offensive zone time, but light on any cohesion. Just like with the struggling 5v4 power play, the puck seemed to move a step at a time without much in the name of creativity or breaking down the box and minus any ability to put a puck in a shooter's wheelhouse. When Liles clanged the post, it was almost as if the hockey gods looked down and said "You have earn a goal. We are not bailing you out." The regular 5-on-4 power play actually seems to be regressing.
--Drayson Bowman. Relative to his role (which is that of a depth forward), I think he played most above what would have been asked of him before the game. When presented with a 2v2 or 3v3 situation and not much for options, he consistently plowed to the net like a power forward. One of those rushes netted the only Canes goal and a couple other rushes came close. He also had 2 specific shifts that I remember in which he parked in front of the net and was beaten for doing so - not glided by trying to time it, not stopping there for a second hoping the puck showed up before a defender - PARKED. The 4th line in general had a decent night led by Bowman. Nash made no mistake burying a key goal when Bowman's Erik Cole-like bull rush created a mess and a loose puck in a scoring place. Ruutu was also part of that key goal.
--Justin Faulk. I hate to belabor the point, but he continues to look like he is laboring a bit physically be it just because he is worn out or be it because of a minor injury. At times the Andrej Sekera show when he is on the ice has hidden it a bit, but he has had more than his share of rough shifts of late. Tuesday saw Bryan Little (pretty sure I tagged the right Jet) walk right around him straight to the net in the 1st period. Winnipeg's 1st goal featured Faulk pushing forward at center ice only to have the player and the puck get behind him. Then when Gerbe and Hainsey both rushed across to try to put out the fire, it was Andrew Ladd beating Faulk to the front of the net for an easy uncontested rebound goal.
--Eric Staal and the 1st line. In my game preview, I called on the need for the Canes best to continue to lead. The line was not abysmal, but it was not great either in notching nothing offensively. Most striking to me is trying to think of any good scoring changes for EStaal or ones that he directly created for his line mates. I come up with none. I am not sure if I missed 1 or 2, but the point is the same. It was a quiet night for him.
--Attention to detail costs at least a point. This time of year, when you get a chance to collect a point or 2, it is important to do so. What is most heartbreaking about this game is how close the Canes came to at least earning a point only to let it get away late with sloppy play. Malhotra had the puck on his stick without any pressure and with a passing outlet to Dwyer only to rush the puck up the boards. When Winnipeg held it in, the Canes were very quickly out of sorts with too many far to the 1 side of the ice. Sure enough when the puck found the other side of the ice, the Canes were still sorting out assignments.
The key is to move forward and not let the 'what ifs' and 'what could have beens' lead to a slide that costs more than the 2 points already lost. With a couple wins this weekend, the Canes will still enter the Olympic break within a point or 2 of a playoff spot with a game or 2 in hand against the teams ahead of them.
Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63
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