First, congratulations to Tuomo Ruutu for winning the bronze medal playing for Finland in the Olympics. The medal continues an incredible run for him in world competitions. He does not bother going to these events without bringing home souvenirs. The Olympics were not so kind to the other 3 Canes (Semin, Faulk, Sekera). Hopefully it is a positive that sees them return with a fire in their belly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Carolina Hurricanes, there is no time for easing back into things. The team had a generally solid run of hockey in January and February, but by virtue of giving a little bit back with a couple home losses in the last week and the rest of the Metro Division picking up the pace, the Canes find themselves with no margin for error down the stretch. The team enters the stretch run 3 points (1 game in hand) behind the Red Wings for the final wild card spot and 6-7 points (2 games in hand) behind the Flyers and Rangers for 2nd/3rd in the Metro Division. The remaining 25 games features the following challenges: @LA, @Ana-2nd 1/2 of back-to-back, @SJ, @NJ-2nd half of back-to-back, @Bos, Edm-2nd half of back-to-back, @Chi, @Wpg-2nd half of back-to-back, @Pit-2nd half of back-to-back, @Det-2nd half of back-to-back. When you add it up, there are 10 games out of 25 against either an elite opponent or playing the 2nd half of a back-to-back set.
The upshot is this:
1) The Canes schedule is tough. It will help none in trying to coast into the playoffs with mediocre or even good play.
2) The Canes are going to need to play their best hockey on a nightly basis down the stretch to have a chance. The 2013-14 norm of playing well for a week or so and then hitting a bump in the road giving part of the gains back will not get it done.
3) The Canes MUST methodically and consistently do the work to win points against teams below them in the standings. The stretch run starts with 2 such games against Buffalo and Dallas before the teeth of the schedule is front in center with 3 games in 4 nights on the road out west against good hockey teams.
The Canes 5-game road trip to start the stretch run ends right before the trade deadline. I think it takes wins in Buffalo and Dallas and a 3-1-1 trip to push into the playoff chase and possibly to convince GM Jim Rutherford to be a modest (1 more forward) spender at the trade deadline to chase the playoffs.
As for the Sabres game tonight, it is simple. If the Carolina Hurricanes are going to push for the playoffs they should be a better team than the Sabres. They need to show up with that attitude and equally importantly a willingness to do the work for a full 60 minutes to get 2 points. In the last meeting, the Canes got down early but Buffalo was loose enough defensively to permit the kind of open, skating game the Canes prefer. The Canes rode that to a strong 2nd half of the game and a win. I would much prefer a more methodical, intense game from the outset that sees the Canes ahead early and pulling away, but we are very much at that time of year where it is about results not analysis. Any kind of 2 points will be acceptable!
It all starts tonight in Buffalo!
Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63
Go Canes!