If you have not bumped into it elsewhere yet today, please check out Canes and Coffee’s effort to raise “coffee funds” to cover monthly expenses (boring) and also hopefully build a small budget for fun additions this summer (more exciting) in preparation for the 2017-18 season.
With a Hurricanes overtime loss giving up a point and nothing gained with Tuesday’s win that just matched the Bruins win, the stakes continue to get higher each and every game.
After a day off, the Hurricanes will face-off against a tough opponent in the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets come into the game with the second best record in the entire NHL and still with a chance to catch to Washington Capitals to wrestle away the President’s Trophy and claim a home ice advantage for as long as they can stay in the playoffs. Columbus also sports a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games.
Put more briefly. The Columbus Blue Jackets represent a tough opponent on Thursday night in Raleigh.
From the Hurricanes’ side, it is simply about doing what they have been doing which is playing good hockey and winning, importantly with an ever-decreasing margin for error. The Hurricanes have reached the stage where they really need to get every point.
‘What I’m watching’ for the Hurricanes versus the Columbus Blue Jackets
And on that note, here is ‘what I’m watching’ for Thursday’s game
1) Energy, pace and legs
We have reached the point in the season and the overloaded March schedule where hitting a physical wall is a looming possibility each and every night. Thus far, the Hurricanes continue to look capable physically. And the team did have Wednesday off to recharge. But especially against Columbus, being able to play an attacking game with speed will be critical for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes do have a 5-3 home win to their credit against the Blue Jackets on January 10. The Hurricanes played well but also benefited from leaky goaltending in that game. In 2 other games on the road, the Jackets mostly squeezed the life out of the Canes in 4-1 and 3-2 losses. The key to the game is likely to be the neutral zone. If the Hurricanes can skate and move the puck with pace through the middle of the rink, their offense is activated. If they are stymied and unable the move the puck, the game becomes a grinding territorial battle that is not ideal for the Hurricanes style of play. Similarly, if the Hurricanes have 1 of those nights (and there have been a few recently even during the points streak) in which they grant a free pass through the neutral zone with speed, they will have a tough time defensively. Early in the game, I will be watching closely to see what the Hurricanes look like for skating pace and also whether they are winning or losing in the neutral zone.
2) Cam Ward
On a night when Detroit seemed gassed playing their third game in 3 days, Ward received a relatively easy game to ease his way back into rhythm. To his credit, Ward handled the workload given to him and deserves high marks for that. But at some point, the Hurricanes are going to need their goalie to rise up and tilt an even or worse game into the win column. In case that call comes on Thursday, I will be watching early to see if Ward looks sharp early and can make timely saves.
3) Staying within themselves and playing their game
With the pressure mounting, the Hurricanes wavered and looked like a completely different team on Monday. There were unforced errors and maybe most significantly too many mistakes (Jeff Skinner was front and center with a relapse) from trying to do too much. The Hurricanes were much better in this regard on Tuesday, but it is hard to say if the Hurricanes self-corrected or if Detroit was just too winded to generate enough pressure. Against a good team like the Blue Jackets, if the Hurricanes spot them 5-7 grade A scoring chances on decision-making mistakes, it will likely be a really long night.
4) Leaders rising up
The Hurricanes have had a rotating collection of leaders in recent wins which is a good thing obviously. Any and all contenders are welcome, but I will go for Jordan Staal with a possible side of Jeff Skinner and Justin Faulk.
We have reached that point in the season (ON MARCH 30!!!) when every game is the biggest game of the season until it is not. This biggest game of the year is at about 7:07 at PNC Arena.
Go Canes!
What I am watching for is a big game from Victor Rask. I think he has a “bookend” season. The first week and a half of the season he was playing at a level just below the superstars (McDavid, Matthews, Crosby). It looked like an all-star season. Well, the past 2-3 games he has been playing better again and should have scored at least twice. His level is picking up at the right time. The other 3 As on the team (whom you mention) have all been leading along with Lindholm and Aho during the streak. I hope, and actually believe, that Rask will be one of the two or three players who make big plays the remaining 7 games.
One other thing I am hoping for (but don’t expect given the two Detroit games) is a large crowd. Both nights when I tuned in I was wondering where the fans were. This is the meaningful hockey in March that has been missing. The fans need to show up and make a difference.
Of the players playing really well right now at least intermittently trading turns, Rask has been on the quiet side. I hope you are right that he surges down the stretch.
As for attendance, it lags success significantly. I fully believe that Raleigh is at least a good enough hockey market, but it will take playoffs to create the buzz necessary to refill the seats. The hope of playoffs, optimism for young players, modest progress, etc. is a good thing, but in my opinion it really only pulls a small group of semi-regulars back (so people who track the team weekly but maybe go 8-10 times per year add a few games). I am optimistic that we get an energetic crowd, but on a Thursday night, at this early juncture in the rebound, it is not reasonable to expect an extra 4,000-5,000 people show up.
I actually think we’ve been somewhat lucky on this streak and that our play has been more inconsistent than the record indicates. Even Tuesday: a few leaky goals scored otherwise a very tight game and LIndholm’s PP goal deep is the game-winner. That won’t cut it given how Bobrovsky has been played (lights out lately).
I’m looking for a game where we are clearly the dominant team territorially AND on the scoreboard – like either the recent MTL or FLA or MIN games. We won’t squeak out an OT point if we play like we did against DET or PHL.
Agree with the neutral zone point: we have to control their speed and limit their grade A chances.
Also, look at special teams play: their excellent PP against our excellent PK and our surging PP against their PK.
Finally, Bobs has been really good lately; I’ll be surprised if we get to 3-4 goals tonight. Cam Ward will need his A game.
I am watching NHL network and they just had graphic that Carey Price has GAA under 1.6 and SV pct. around .940 last twelve games. And I remember that prior to second game Howard had sub 2.00 GAA for the season. I think the Canes might just 3 or 4 again tonight. They have been able to score on even the best the past 3 weeks.
I’m going to have to get on this site earlier. ctcaniac and dmilleravid have stolen all my thunder. As usual, their comments are right on point, so I will just shut up for today.