When the Canes started the current home stand, things were dire. The team had lost 5 straight and the trend in terms of scores was getting worse with the 5-1 loss to the Rangers. There was nothing but hazy futures that seemed far away for either goalie returning from injury and also Jeff Skinner. And it was very much starting to feel like the spring of 2013 in the world of Caniacs. Only a couple games earlier (I think it was before the road Avs loss) I called out for a hero to rise up and drive the team to victory. The hero was a little late. And the hero was not who most would have guessed. But he arrived nonetheless in the form of none other than Justin Peters. After a couple decent starts and losses where the team helped him none and then a couple more (Tampa and New York Rangers) where I did not think he was very good, Peters found a groove and the team has ridden his solid play to the tune of a 3-0-1 home stand heading into the finale against Anaheim.
Friday’s finale features another of the best from the Western Conference. The Anaheim Ducks come in leading the NHL with 31 points. When you dig through their stats, you find a decent number of players who were not even on the roster the last time the Canes played the Ducks during the 2011-12 season. You also find a team that is real deep in terms of scoring early in the season. The team has a whopping 8 players who have scored 4 goals or more and has 6 players in double digits in points. That compares to exactly 1 player with 4 goals and no extras (Eric Staal) and still not a single player in double digits for points. The Ducks are still led by Perry and Getzlaf though now minus Bobby Ryan. That duo has combined for 43 points already. And there, my friends, is the difference between the Ducks and the Canes and the reason for their record.
But just maybe the Canes are catching them at the right time. The Ducks come in having lost the 1st 2 games of their current road trip to Florida and Tampa. And having played last night in Tampa and traveled, there is a possible physical edge to the Canes. The team is missing Saku Koivu (who has been out awhile) and also Ryan Getzlaf who has been out a few games. Getzlaf will likely be a game time decision in Raleigh on Friday night. Finally, the team is currently plagued by a flu bug of sorts that has had players in and out of the lineup. With Hiller playing Thursday and arguably the team’s best goalie so far Fredrick Andersen back in the AHL, the Canes could see Viktor Fasth.
Keys to the game:
1) Jump on them early and “Skate! Skate! Skate!… With 3 days off since Tuesday’s win, the Canes should have an edge physically over a team that played the night before and has a collection of players coming off the flu. But Canes fans know from past experience that this edge is not a given or an automatic but rather something you have to work incredibly hard to claim. The Canes effort and intensity has been good and more importantly consistent of late. Here is hoping that the Canes can bring it early and often and tilt the ice in their favor. And with the 4th line playing incredibly well and taking regular shifts, the Canes are even more geared to push the pace, bang bodies and see if they can take it to Anaheim.
2) More of the same defensively. Other than Perry, Getzlaf and Selanne, the names are not the household variety, but the Ducks are getting scoring from a number of players right now. Somewhat like the Avs game, the Canes will need to be good defensively throughout the lineup because it is not as simple as focusing on and stopping 1 set of players.
3) Finding scoring. I said before the Avs game that it would likely take 3 goals to win. I was happy to be wrong when the Canes won 2-1. Especially if Getzlaf returns to the lineup, I will risk being wrong twice consecutively and say it again. In Tuesday’s win, Gerbe/JStaal/Dwyer was the best line on the ice and netted both goals. The 4th line carried the load offensively in the couple low-scoring wins the previous week. Who is next?
A couple other things I will be watching:
--The lineup. Skinner and Gleason are at least possibles to return in this game. If Skinner is available he probably goes right back where he was on left wing of the 3rd line. If he does return, I will be watching to see if he can pick up where he left off offensively and ideally if he can drag Tuomo Ruutu who could use a jolt with him. Even if Gleason is available, I could see going with the same defense that has been incredibly good over the 1st 4 games of the home stand.
--Continuation from the JStaal line. Gerbe/JStaal/Dwyer was the team’s best line for the 2nd half of preseason playing solid defense but also scoring. To start the season and to some degree throughout it, the line, when together, has continued to be pretty good 5 on 5 defensively. But the offense completely dried up. So was Tuesday’s scoring outburst the beginning of something? Or was it just a random statistical blip? Friday will provide the next data point to see where it goes?
--Saying goodbye. This game will likely be the last in Raleigh for future Hall-of-Famer Teemu Selanne. If it happens late in the 3rd with the Canes up 3 goals, I would be fine with a farewell goal and even polite applause from the Canes crowd.
With a win or even an OTL, the Canes will wake up Saturday morning in the #3 position in the Metro Division which is good enough for a playoff spot 19 games into the season.
Puck drops at PNC Arena a few minutes after 7pm. This is a game where you need to get after it physically early and then keep the pedal down.
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