Monday morning actually finds the Carolina Hurricanes playing well with points in 7 straight games but just quite well enough trying to pull off a minor miracle. A recent positive has been the improved play of Eddie Lack. A recent negative has been the Hurricanes inability to claim an extra point in overtime in six consecutive games now. Both of those are subjects for today’s Monday Coffee Shop polls and discussion.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each poll response.
What do you make of Eddie Lack's improved play and what it means for the 2017-18 Carolina Hurricanes?
- It is fool's gold. In total, Lack has not been good enough and counting on Ward/Lack again for 2017-18 is a bad idea. (50%, 27 Votes)
- He just needed regular ice time, and he is showing that he will be a capable part of a 2017-18 tandem. (33%, 18 Votes)
- That ship sailed. Regardless of how he finishes 2017-18, Lack is destined to be either traded or bought out. (17%, 9 Votes)
- Other (add in comments) (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 54
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What do you make of the Hurricanes' struggles in overtime?
- The team and coaching staff needs to figure out how to improve. (62%, 34 Votes)
- A combination of both. (31%, 17 Votes)
- The lack of extra points in overtime is just bad luck unfortunately. (4%, 2 Votes)
- Other (add in comments) (4%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 55
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What do you make of the officiating in the Hurricanes 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers on Sunday night?
- It really was atrocious and cost the Hurricanes a point in the standings. (50%, 25 Votes)
- It was bad but within the norm and did not drive the outcome. (48%, 24 Votes)
- Other (add in comments) (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 50
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Carolina Hurricanes discussion questions
1) What do you make of the team’s failure to win in overtime. The team has now lost 6 straight in overtime or the shootout and carries a 6-13 record overall. Is it just bad luck in what is essentially a coin flip? If not, what do you think is wrong with the Hurricanes’ strategy, play, etc. in overtime?
2) What do you make of Eddie Lack’s improved play recently? Was it just a matter of him needing regular starts to find a rhythm? Is is possible that a late season run of better play is the worst possible thing because it will cause Francis to trust the same duo for the third straight season? More generally, what are your thoughts on Lack and his role in the 2017-18 goalie situation?
3) What are your thoughts on trying Sebastian Aho at the center position? How do you think he looked in his initial audition there on Sunday night?
Go Canes!
Failure to win in overtime: Other teams appear to have certain player combinations they use in overtime and keep them together. This allows these players to develop set plays and perfect them. We appear to mix up players fielding different combinations eliminating this advantage. Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine.
Eddie Lack’s play: On a personal level I am happy to see any player do well and that goes for Lack and Ward. IMO we still need to go after a bonafide clear number 1 goalie in the offseason and use either Lack or Ward as a number 2. I would prefer Lack as that number 2 as otherwise I worry the coaching staff/management will always favor Ward over anyone else we bring in.
Sebastion Aho at center: My question is WHY? We are loaded at center already so he does not fill a need there. He was obviously comfortable at wing and had developed confidence there. Why would we weaken the wing position and stands the chance of Aho losing his confidence to gain no advantage and just to experiment. Also, management and coaching staff have been trying to enhance our run at a playoff spot (however remote this chance is) and it would not appeat that this would be the appropriate time for experimenting. If we are going to experiment, there are players at Charlotte it would appear to be more important to get a line on than seeing if Aho can play center. Just my opinion.
RedRyder said it all! Neither goalie will bring what this team really needs. Start the search for a stellar, Price-less, Dominator, King Kong, Quicky…WINNER!!! AND A MONSTER MALKINESQUE CENTER!…..
1. I thing it is a combination of bad luck and probably a defeatist attitude. I am a big tennis fan–Roger Federer always looked defeated when he played Rafael Nadal. Now this year, he is playing differently and winning. The difference seems to be that now he is being coached by a former player who had success against Nadal and has beaten him twice already this year–including in a major final for the first time in almost a decade. My point is that at the highest level attitude/belief is important. Which leads to . . .
2. I am starting to believe ever more that Eric Cox writing at Cardiac Cane was correct. http://cardiaccane.com/2017/03/14/carolina-hurricanes-goalies-it-might-not-be-their-fault/
So, the answer to this question appears to be that David Marcoux made Lack and Ward less confident. I think whichever goalie we let go will be better somewhere else next season. And, unless the coach changes, the top-flight goalie we bring in will not be as good.
3. I am ok with Aho getting some time at center. Mike Maniscalco and Shane Willis were talking about Lindholm being a center at some point. That actually might make more sense. Both seem capable of having big seasons, if playing them at center improves the likelihood, then give it a try.
The “defeatist attitude” is speculation of course but an interesting possibility. What concerns me more is the same for the group in general. I think there is something to knowing how win. The exact formula is unclear, but it seems reasonable to suggest that experience winning is part of it.
1. I believe that you make your own luck, and that your luck is directly related to your level of preparation. A properly prepared team will have the correct combination of players on the ice and the “puck luck” will be in their favor more often than not.
2. Can’t add much to what RedRyder said, though I do believe that ctcaniac’s statement about Marcoux is correct also. The Canes need a #1 goalie and a new goalie coach in order to right the ship.
3. I know that Aho was very effective at center in world juniors, but I do not know if his skill can make up for lack of size as an NHL center. Right now I think Lindholm would be a better fit as a center than Aho, but he also seems quite comfortable at wing and quite effective there. The Canes still need someone that is proven effective as a 1C and can step in to that role next season.