The 2017-18 Carolina Hurricanes hockey season is officially underway. The Hurricanes collected three out of a possible four points and will next try its hand on the road.
If you have not read it already, today’s Daily Cup of Joe profiles Hurricanes hockey as relates to playing road games.
The Thursday Coffee Shop will simultaneously look backward at the two home games to start the season and forward to the upcoming four-game road trip.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
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Discussion questions
1) What jumps out at you from the first two games at home?
2) What will you be watching most closely as the team takes to the road for the next four games?
3) If you were Bill Peters, what adjustments would you make in terms of lineup of tactics playing away from home?
Go Canes!
In terms of adjustments, in his post-game comments on Tuesday Peters suggested he will be making some changed, including his lineups. So I am expecting changes in Winnipeg, although probably not wholesale ones.
The first big question-mark on defense is whether TvR is ready to go. If he is, then it gives him flexibility in his top-4 pairings. If not, things get interesting. Dahlbeck is not strong on his off-side. The question is whether he is better on his off-side than any right-D prospects (McKeown). If Dahlbeck doesn’t work out on the right, then you get the two extremes of moving Fleury to his off-side, something Peters said he does not want to do, or move Slavin to his offside – but that pushes Fleury to the second pair.
As for forwards, possibly Jooris in for McGinn, some reshuffling of the top 9, maybe Necas (finally) taking a role as well.
What about pushing Hanifin to his offside? That would still push Fleury to the second pair but I feel like he is playing well enough to at least try it for a period and see. It’s not ideal but it would keep our top line with Slavin and Pesce intact and able to tackle big minutes. Plus I would rather see Hanifin on his offside on the 3rd line than have Faulk get pushed there by moving Slavin.
Hanifin has never had even a short run on his off side at the NHL level, and especially after his tough outing defensively in the opener, I would not be inclined to mess with him.
If Peters decides that he wants to split Slavin and Pesce anyway, Slavin is comfortable on the right side. That would effectively push either Dahlbeck or Fleury up into the top 4, but Peters could still tinker in-game possibly reuniting Slavin/Pesce for penalty kill and going heavy on Faulk for power play to shift more minutes to the top defensemen.
Peters is fine with using a bit disjointed combinations on the road, so I could see him going this route but then stealing a shift here or there where he reverts back to regular and just skips 1 or 2 of the bottom defenders.
1) What jumps out at me is resilience. We got points in games we would have lost last year. This is a competitive team. Darling has made a difference.
2) I will be watching to see how well our D lines play. Faulk has been playing very well, so has Fleury. Yes, we had defensive gaffs the first game, but 1st game jitters. We recovered from that and played a very good defensive game against the Jackets. Our D is for real. The only question is if TVR will make the road trip. If not we should bring McKeown up. Dahlbeck does not work on the right. Not crazy about moving D to their off side.
3) I would not make adjustments. If thing are not working then we can do some in game adjustments and move the D around a little. 4th line looks good, so IMO McGinn should stay until something breaks. Jooris probably needs some action but do not fix what is not broke. If there are adjustments it will probably be with the top 9 forwards. I know they want to get a look at Necas but Kuokkanen is looking great. Maybe Aho gets moved? There was a lot of people with comments about different forward lines to try. Practice may give some clues what BP is thinking.
TVR most likely will miss a game or more, I’m sure if they think he is NOT going to be available SOON…their decision will probably be to bring up someone (likely McKeown), BUT if he is nearly ready to return…Dahlbeck it is!
While I look forward to seeing Necas, I doubt he will replace Kuokkanen, SO who is not playing particularly good? …that he could displace? …no centers (unless someone is dinged up…?)
ON a different note, it looks like Foegele is making a case for being called up, if a spot opens up…eh? He’s kicking butt in the “A”…!!
TvR was at practice today in a yellow jersey. That is encouraging that he may be ready to go by Saturday evening. Or, if not Saturday then Tuesday.
Stempniak was also on ice today before practice.
This is a key stretch. Last year, the Canes’ away record was definitely nothing to write home about. We need a .500 record on the road to be in the hunt in March and April. …and we need to start the season strong — establish a winning attitude/culture.
What am I looking for? Clean up the miscues and missed assignments that created turnovers and breakaways leaving Darling vulnerable. Finally, light the lamp — we need to score goals.
This will be a tough 4-game stretch, but not as formidable a few past road trips the Canes have made to bypass the State Fair. There are winnable games out there – we need to go and get it done.
So far, the group has shown heart and grit with the late goals in both home games. Hopefully that is the beginning of something we will see grow this season.
Let’s go Canes!
I’d imagine that we will see Jooris make his debut on the road trip. I expect roster moves before it begins as well… If either Stempniak or TVR will be available probably no need for a recall. But if they are both out, I’d imagine they will recall a defensemen?
Plus, any idea what they will do with Necas? I know he seems inclined to go back to Czech league, but what is the argument against going to play in Charlotte (on what seems like a stacked team)? He could learn the small ice, not have his entry level deal started, plus gain chemistry with some guys he might play with here soon?