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Carolina Hurricanes Blogger •
Knowing the odds and statistics and how the Hurricanes/Penguins series has played out through 3 games, it is difficult to feel good that this series will end well. But after 2 days off to stew in the unpleasantness that has been the Eastern Conference Finals, I actually do have a good feeling about game 4. I will be surprised if the Canes bring anything less than 1 of their best efforts of the season in terms of intensity, and my money says that this combined by help from the hockey gods will be enough to salvage a “not in our house pride win” on Tuesday night even if it is not enough to get back into a series that seems gone.
But the legitimate naysayer has a good claim to a different and less pleasant ending for the Carolina Hurricanes 2008-09 season. As frustrating as it would be had the Canes lost the 1st 3 games because of lack of effort that would actually be an easier problem to correct quickly and ride to a game 4 win. To the contrary, I actually think that the Canes effort and compete level has been pretty good through 3 games. The problem continues to be the sudden disappearance of any semblance of Canes defense in their own zone to the point where they are regularly losing track of even the obvious defensive targets. Paul Maurice and his coaching staff must come up with something to make grade A quality chances more difficult to come by for Malkin, Crosby and the Pens in general.
So how do the Canes get a lot better in a hurry defensively? The difficult part is simply better basic coverage, awareness and decision-making. But through 3 games, the Pens have used a combination of speed, aggressiveness and skill to make the Canes look 2 steps slow time and time again. Might Maurice try to compensate by having someone shadow Malkin and Crosby a bit more even when they do not have the puck? In hockey this is a difficult proposition that results in a power play-like situation, but maybe trying to make someone other than Malkin and Crosby beat you is a gamble worth taking at this point. The alternative of trying to play sound team defense throughout the defensive zone has failed miserably the past 2 games. Might the Canes revert to a safer puck possession type of game when #71 or #87 is on the ice trying to get into a cycling game with a more conservative approach by the defensemen such that you force the Pens scoring duo to spend as much time as possible trying to win pucks on the boards far away from any scoring chances? Or will Coach Maurice just demand a better effort in the defensive zone and more sticks on sticks and bodies on bodies to make life more difficult for the Pens?
Regardless of which route Coach Maurice chooses, the key to the Canes getting into a game 4 where they at least have a chance to win must come through better defense first. Only after that can you ask Cam Ward to be a difference-maker. And only after that can you look to Staal’s line to have its first great game of the series and lead the way on offense.
The one positive that comes out of situations like the one that the Canes find themselves in now is the ability to get good measures of character of individuals and the entire organization. The last time the Canes found themselves down 3-0 in a series, character rose up in a huge way and ultimately provided a building block for a surprising run to the Stanley Cup finals the next season. In the 2001 playoffs, the Canes were down 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils who had physically punished them (season-ending concussions for Ron Francis and Shane Willis) and whooped them on the score board too outscoring the Canes by a whopping 11-1 margin. The series was over by all accounts and the Canes were supposed to fold up the tent in game 4 at home and head quietly and humbly to the golf course. Instead the undermanned team minus its captain and another top 6 forward put forward a gritty effort and won game 4 at home and even more surprisingly game 5 back in New Jersey ultimately stretching the series to 6 games and showing a ton of character in the process. Most of the same players were part of the 2001-02 team that beat the same Devils team in the 1st round of the 2002 playoffs on the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
So down 3-0, I am not completely giving up hope but I am unfortunately realistic and understand the long odds of a 3-0 deficit. But more than anything, I watch Tuesday’s game and hopefully more to see how individuals and the team as a whole reacts.
1) Eric Staal. Does he find another level of determination and a higher gear to lead his team forward? Or does he just write it off as a bad ending to a good playoffs at this point and look forward to next year? He is the C in training for this franchise and how he responds in games like this says a lot about the future of this team.
2) Cam Ward. Has he just been defeated at this point partly via no fault of his own when his defense seemed to fall apart against the worst possible opponent? Or does he rise up and just battle like mad to give his team a chance in game 4 even if they do not deserve it?
3) Tim Gleason. He has grown into a leader on the blue line and one of the heart, soul and grit guys on the team. He (like the entire defense) has struggled in this series to the tune of being on the ice for a whopping 8 goals against in only 3 games. Does he give in admit that at least this time around he is just overmatched? Or does he channel frustration to his best effort of the series and 1 of his best of the playoffs to do the impossible in slowing a flying Malkin and Crosby?
4) Ray Whitney and Rod Brind’Amour. Can the veteran 2/3 of the captains rally the troops at this point? Or do they let the guys move forward to “what could we have done differently in games 1-3” before it is required?
As disappointing as the Hurricanes’ quality of play has been on the ice in the Penguins series, I continue to like the quality of people in the dressing room. It is hard to see it right now, but this is still the same bunch of guys who fought admirably through 2 difficult series and won games and entire series with a never-say-die attitude. I fully expect that this team will show up for game 4 with the effort needed to at least salvage a game in this series. The trickier part is coupling it with enough improvement on defense to make it matter.
I usually steer clear of individual game predictions, but I am feeling a loud and still positive RBC Center, an Erik Cole goal and a Canes win in game 4.
Go Canes!
But the legitimate naysayer has a good claim to a different and less pleasant ending for the Carolina Hurricanes 2008-09 season. As frustrating as it would be had the Canes lost the 1st 3 games because of lack of effort that would actually be an easier problem to correct quickly and ride to a game 4 win. To the contrary, I actually think that the Canes effort and compete level has been pretty good through 3 games. The problem continues to be the sudden disappearance of any semblance of Canes defense in their own zone to the point where they are regularly losing track of even the obvious defensive targets. Paul Maurice and his coaching staff must come up with something to make grade A quality chances more difficult to come by for Malkin, Crosby and the Pens in general.
So how do the Canes get a lot better in a hurry defensively? The difficult part is simply better basic coverage, awareness and decision-making. But through 3 games, the Pens have used a combination of speed, aggressiveness and skill to make the Canes look 2 steps slow time and time again. Might Maurice try to compensate by having someone shadow Malkin and Crosby a bit more even when they do not have the puck? In hockey this is a difficult proposition that results in a power play-like situation, but maybe trying to make someone other than Malkin and Crosby beat you is a gamble worth taking at this point. The alternative of trying to play sound team defense throughout the defensive zone has failed miserably the past 2 games. Might the Canes revert to a safer puck possession type of game when #71 or #87 is on the ice trying to get into a cycling game with a more conservative approach by the defensemen such that you force the Pens scoring duo to spend as much time as possible trying to win pucks on the boards far away from any scoring chances? Or will Coach Maurice just demand a better effort in the defensive zone and more sticks on sticks and bodies on bodies to make life more difficult for the Pens?
Regardless of which route Coach Maurice chooses, the key to the Canes getting into a game 4 where they at least have a chance to win must come through better defense first. Only after that can you ask Cam Ward to be a difference-maker. And only after that can you look to Staal’s line to have its first great game of the series and lead the way on offense.
The one positive that comes out of situations like the one that the Canes find themselves in now is the ability to get good measures of character of individuals and the entire organization. The last time the Canes found themselves down 3-0 in a series, character rose up in a huge way and ultimately provided a building block for a surprising run to the Stanley Cup finals the next season. In the 2001 playoffs, the Canes were down 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils who had physically punished them (season-ending concussions for Ron Francis and Shane Willis) and whooped them on the score board too outscoring the Canes by a whopping 11-1 margin. The series was over by all accounts and the Canes were supposed to fold up the tent in game 4 at home and head quietly and humbly to the golf course. Instead the undermanned team minus its captain and another top 6 forward put forward a gritty effort and won game 4 at home and even more surprisingly game 5 back in New Jersey ultimately stretching the series to 6 games and showing a ton of character in the process. Most of the same players were part of the 2001-02 team that beat the same Devils team in the 1st round of the 2002 playoffs on the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
So down 3-0, I am not completely giving up hope but I am unfortunately realistic and understand the long odds of a 3-0 deficit. But more than anything, I watch Tuesday’s game and hopefully more to see how individuals and the team as a whole reacts.
1) Eric Staal. Does he find another level of determination and a higher gear to lead his team forward? Or does he just write it off as a bad ending to a good playoffs at this point and look forward to next year? He is the C in training for this franchise and how he responds in games like this says a lot about the future of this team.
2) Cam Ward. Has he just been defeated at this point partly via no fault of his own when his defense seemed to fall apart against the worst possible opponent? Or does he rise up and just battle like mad to give his team a chance in game 4 even if they do not deserve it?
3) Tim Gleason. He has grown into a leader on the blue line and one of the heart, soul and grit guys on the team. He (like the entire defense) has struggled in this series to the tune of being on the ice for a whopping 8 goals against in only 3 games. Does he give in admit that at least this time around he is just overmatched? Or does he channel frustration to his best effort of the series and 1 of his best of the playoffs to do the impossible in slowing a flying Malkin and Crosby?
4) Ray Whitney and Rod Brind’Amour. Can the veteran 2/3 of the captains rally the troops at this point? Or do they let the guys move forward to “what could we have done differently in games 1-3” before it is required?
As disappointing as the Hurricanes’ quality of play has been on the ice in the Penguins series, I continue to like the quality of people in the dressing room. It is hard to see it right now, but this is still the same bunch of guys who fought admirably through 2 difficult series and won games and entire series with a never-say-die attitude. I fully expect that this team will show up for game 4 with the effort needed to at least salvage a game in this series. The trickier part is coupling it with enough improvement on defense to make it matter.
I usually steer clear of individual game predictions, but I am feeling a loud and still positive RBC Center, an Erik Cole goal and a Canes win in game 4.
Go Canes!
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