When you have lost four straight, have fallen a game below .500 and are trying to avoid following a familiar pattern of creating an insurmountable deficit early in the season, any kind of win is a good one. In that regard, Tuesday was a huge success. The Hurricanes picked up a 3-1 and in the process ended their losing streak and clawed back up to .500.
In terms of level of play, the game was a mixed bag. On the positive side, the Hurricanes were the better team. They started on time. And they carried play throughout much of the game. So there were definitely elements worth keeping.
On the negative side, I am not sure that the Hurricanes actually solved any of their ongoing problems in the win. Despite having a happy ending, the story was familiar. The Hurricanes won the shot battle but were mostly unable to convert it to goals. The power play looked somewhat better early and in terms of at least playing in the offensive zone but did not score with five tries. So I think despite the win, the game did not really see the team turn the corner offensively.
But again, results matter, especially when a team is mired in a four-game losing streak. And the results were good.
Notes from the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers
Scott Darling
He followed up a strong outing in an shootout loss on Saturday with another strong outing in Tuesday’s win. For the second consecutive game, he allowed only one goal. Darling seemed to have trouble finding pucks around his crease at times during the game, but he was solid on first shot saves and survived otherwise. In my game preview I talked about how well-time it would be for Darling to get hot and carry the team while it tries to sort out some other challenges. Here is hoping that his two-game run proves to be the beginning of just that.
Roland McKeown
He had a solid game, picked up two assists and was named one of the stars of the game. He had two secondary assists which are increasingly deemed to be meaningless statistics, but in both cases McKeown made nice passes to put the puck right in the wheel house of a shooter who put the puck on net to be followed by a rebound goal. His ice time was still limited at 9:28, but he made the most of his opportunity and seems to settling into his NHL role.
McKeown is an interesting case for me. I have never been as high on him as most simply because I do not see his physical skill set (primarily skating) as being in the same category as the Canes other young defensemen. But McKeown has shown a knack to perform when given any kind of chance. Despite probably starting the preseason at somewhere around #11 or #12 on the defense depth chart last season, McKeown more or less won the #6 slot and an NHL roster slot with strong play in preseason. Francis ultimately decided to go a different direction in adding two depth defensemen from outside the organization, but McKeown leapfrogging a couple other players to win a tryout was still impressive and notable. And sure enough, when given a crack at regular season NHL ice time now, he is off to a good start.
Jeff Skinner
For the second consecutive game, Skinner did the work to spend time playing where goals happen and had a decent number of almosts despite not scoring. He was robbed from point blank range by Roberto Luongo, shoveled a rebound attempt off the outside of the post and had at least one more good chance from in close. He is doing what he needs to do to score and will be rewarded in due time if he stays the course.
Derek Ryan
He had his best game of the season. The great hand-eye coordination goal batting the puck out of mid-air and importantly waiting until it was below the cross bar to do so was obviously huge. He also had what looked to be a sure assist on the his feed across the front of the crease to Skinner, but Luongo stole an almost certain goal with his glove. As the player sitting firmly in the slot that would ideally have a high-end playmaking center, Ryan needs to produce some offensively. Here is hoping that Tuesday’s strong game serves as a springboard.
Noah Hanifin
I continue to really like Hanifin’s increasingly assertive play with the puck on his stick. Whereas the 1.0 version of Hanifin broke into the NHL at 18 years old with a ‘don’t make a mistake,’ conservative mentality, the 2.0 version of Hanifin that suddenly seems to be emerging rapidly is comfortable keeping and carrying the puck. He had multiple plays where he assessed what was in front of him and carried the puck assertively through the neutral zone and even had one Joni Pitkanen special during which he carried the puck into the offensive zone and all the way around the net.
Critical for Hanifin is to minimize the downside in the defensive part of his game next time it strikes. He does not need to be perfect defensively. And it is even possible for him to be successful simply playing at a serviceable level defensively. But he must avoid the intermittent implosion type games where he seems to just not have it, be able to find it or fight through a tougher night.
Justin Faulk
The positive with his game is his ‘shoot whenever possible mentality on offense. He is not being rewarded for that approach a bunch right now, but it is still a positive. The negative is that he still just is ‘meh’ at best defensively. On Tuesday, he let a Panther player get behind him right in the slot early, but luckily the pass did not connect. His ill-advised attempt to step up at the defensive blue line led directly to Florida’s goal. With Marcus Kruger already there, when Faulk stepped up and whiffed, Trocheck was behind him with an uncontested path to the net for the goal. He also made another decision-making ‘oops’ for a grade A chance against when he tried unsuccessfully to hold the offensive blue line on the power play sending a Panther player off to the races for a shorthanded breakaway attempt.
The power play and special teams in total
Special teams nearly tilted a decent game into the loss column again. The Hurricanes started on time and built momentum only to see two unsuccessful power play attempts in the first half of the first period seem to slow momentum. With the game still hanging in the balance three more power play chances went by the wayside later. Then along the way, Florida scored on one of only two power play chances. Luckily, the Hurricanes mustered enough at even strength and ultimately prevailed despite the special teams scoring deficit, but the special teams continue to be an issue.
In terms of level of play, I do think the power play was a full notch higher than on Saturday. The first two power plays had a good amount of offensive zone time and generated a couple pretty good chances. I did not think that the power plays after the first period were as good, but the Hurricanes did at least manage to gain the offensive zone more regularly than Saturday when they barely even played offense on the power play.
The cycling game late
Defending a 2-1 lead and with no margin for error, I was encouraged by the run of strong cycling shifts late in the third period. The fourth line of Nordstrom/Kruger/Jooris had a strong 50-second shift playing on the walls in the offensive zone. Aho/Staal/Teravainen did similar only a couple minutes later to help salt away the last five minutes without rolling the dice and surviving under duress in the defensive zone.
Next up for the Hurricanes is a tough back-to-back set with a match up in Columbus against a Blue Jackets team that has recently been able to dictate style of play against the Hurricanes and convert it to wins. Then on Saturday, the Hurricanes meet a Chicago Blackhawks that will be resting and waiting in Raleigh while the Hurricanes are playing on Friday.
Go Canes!
I really like that Darling had another stand-up game – his numbers are definitely improving. I was concerned about continuing issues with his rebound control.
It was great to see the TSA line back together – and as much as they played and as dominant as they were on ice they just don’t seem to have the offensive juice. Did I see Staal on ice with both Williams and Nordstrom at the same time?
Although McKeown played limited minutes he looked solid to me. I find some comfort in knowing we have reasonable relief we can call up from Charlotte for the right side of the D, without having to rely on Dahlbeck playing on his offside.
Although the PP has been worse, it was still pretty poor – and our PK was, again, disappointing. How does a player cross the ice that close to the goal with the puck on his stick?
In spite of his goal, I think the Derek Ryan experiment needs to be ended – and I really like the guy, for the record. Winning faceoffs is less valuable if you can’t do something with the puck afterwards.
McGinn, in spite of his goal, needs to stop thinking he is a sniper and play his game by hitting people and getting (and staying) in the dirty areas.
We could have added another 2-4 goals if we had players in position to gather rebounds when shots were being thrown at the net – a lot of empty net when Luongo was blocking shots but not controlling the rebound.
Just a few thoughts from Section 127, Row R.
Raleightj, you and I are on the same page. This was exactly the kind of goaltending effort that can really boost a less-than-stellar offensive team, and hopefully we see this as a beginning to consistent success for Darling.
I also 100% agree that McGinn was in the absolute exact right position for his goal and he needs to keep going there. Let others snipe, that’s the netfront presence we need. (Side note: Why do you have a love affair with the corner, Jordan Staal?)
I’m still rooting for Ryan, because he is an awesome person, but he is still in the Chris Terry, Riley Nash mold of borderline NHL talent playing too large a role. I think we all are recognizing that it’s only a matter of time before Wallmark and/or Zykov get a call, but it’s great to see Ryan refusing to go out quietly.
All of this and Sebastian Aho is still sophomore slumping and Elias Lindholm seems to be on vacation. We’re in for more than our fair share of inconsistency but this team is 100% capable of catching fire at any time. And we seem to be growing our own trade bait too…
As much as I root for the Doctor, and I do, I am beginning to think that Wallmark may be a major step-up. Or moving Aho to the center and putting Ryan on a wing. I think either change could be singularly significant as the difference-maker for the team this season.
I would like to see either a Wallmark/Ryan swap or Aho to center and a Zykov/Ryan swap to see if we can spark anything.
I root for the Doctor a well. I agree with your comments fogger. I have been saying for a while, Wallmark for center, Zykov for net front. Add Foegele to the list as an option as well.
TT, Rask, and Lindholm are not terrible but nobody is really catching fire and getting to that next level. It would be really nice to see a star emerge from all the drafts selections we collected.
Unfortunately I spent a lot of the last two periods fighting a malfunctioning band saw, but I was able to listen to the play by play and check in at times. The thing that struck me (that I might be incorrect about) was how often I heard/saw shots from the perimeter that turned into either a rebound chance or continued time in the offensive zone.
It seemed like there was more than the garden variety “Pepper the goalie with 60 shots and one’s bound to go in” mentality. Luongo actually made some great saves tonight.
Maybe those don’t show back up against a better defensive team, but I’m trying to err on the side of optimism. This wasn’t the same team that showed up in Colorado or Arizona and neither of them are known for their defense.
Let’s hope it’s that small dirty win that inspires confidence and allows folks like Aho and Lindholm to get back into where they left off last season.
I can’t believe it took this long to watch a complete Canes game, but last night was a first for me. Observations:
* Darling made the saves when needed. Even more than the wins or losses right now, he should be gaining the confidence of his teammates which in turn allows them to be more offensively proactive. Can’t overstate his importance. Last season, the Canes lose this type of game.
* Florida is a bad team and the for the most part the Canes did a good job on the forecheck and pushed play. However, they are not a particularly quick team and rarely seem to be able to counter attack and get chances off the rush. I haven’t seen enough of them to know if this is a trend or an anomaly. My guess is it’s not going to be their style of play.
* Rask, Lindholm…..did’t see much from them. Rask looks awfully slow.
* I haven’t been high on McGinn but thought he played pretty well. Even if he’s not a scorer, when you say his name a dozen times a game you’re usually doing something good. Agree with the comments that he, and most everyone else on the team, needs to be more physical.
* Young d guys are fine. Sure don’t look like deer in the headlights type of players.
* Slavin never…makes….a….mistake. Unbelievably solid play.
* Power play is horrendous. Repeat, power play is horrendous. I knew that before I witnessed it first hand but jeez, just not much creativity. Part of it the lack of the true #1 center….I guess we don’t need to go there this morning but you can’t get over the fact that if you don’t have extremely skilled and creative players, power plays just become more time playing your conservative system of puck management.
* Teraveinen is overated. I think that every time I see him play. He just isn’t much of a difference maker and he’s not well rounded enough to be above a third line player. If that’s what he is, then that’s where he has to play but I don’t see him ever becoming what was hoped for him when he was acquired. I hope I’m wrong.
* Bring on Chicago. They’re not the Chicago of past years but they’ve got a hot goalie and are still a top tier team. Should be a good challenge and entertaining. Probably another 2-1 game though. Cheerleaders won’t even need their sneakers. Flats are probably ok.
Too much coffee before work. Apologize for the wind bag effect.
We need a new coach for the PP. Its horrible.
During the first period, which we completely dominated, I had that “we better score a few goals now or it’s going to be one that gets away” type of games. Luongo was fantastic to keep it close. On the flipside, and though he only allowed one goal, I thought Darling looked tentative and a split-second behind the puck, but that’s two games in a row with only one goal against – something to build on.
My biggest issue right now is Faulk: his brain seems to be underestimating risk and he’s taking far too many chances on the offensive side of the puck, with each one seeming to lead to a high-danger chances against. The rest of the defence looked solid, but boy do we miss Pesce.
I was actually encouraged by the offense even though we didn’t score much. We created far more grade-A chances than in recent games. What I did notice is that we’re far more interested in making the extra pass than in taking an open shot; that tells me we are still pressing and have to make a perfect play to score. I still believe the offense will come around (mostly because it’s under-performing by so much).
Having said that, I think a guy like Zykov, who likes playing in front of the net, and Wallmark, who’s generated offense everywhere, are the sparks we need right now.
I was pleased with the game last night; it was far from perfect and we still have a lot to work on but it was a night and day difference from the Colorado and Arizona games.
We were 0-5 on the PP but we were at least able to gain the zone and keep it there; and they were generating good chances, not just passing around the perimeter looking afraid to shoot. I know that it’s not reasonable to think every goaltender we face is hot but I think Luongo had a really solid night and if we keep playing like last night we will see more goals.
Darling had a good game overall only allowing one in when Faulk more or less left him out to dry on the PK. I was concerned because there were 2 or 3 plays where Darling went down in the butterfly and then couldn’t move across the crease; one of these was on the goal against, it looks like he slips when trying to push across. Curious if anyone else noticed this? I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on any game he only gives up one though.
Slavin looked like his usual self out there and I think Hanifin, Fluery, and TVR had solid nights as well. McKeown notched two points and didn’t look out of place; will be good to have another option on the right side. Pesce has been practicing and I really hope he’s back in the roster on Friday; it will be tough playing Columbus and Chicago without him.
Faulk…. His play in the offensive zone has started to come back to life but he continues to leave much to be desired on D. It is unacceptable for a veteran defenseman with a C on his jersey to be playing the way he is right now. We have two absolute rookies that are outplaying him right now. If we weren’t so short on the right side I would say that Faulk is my leading candidate for a trade.
I think Ryan had his best game of the season last night with a good goal, an almost assist to Skinner that was robbed, and a solid performance in the faceoff circle, especially in the offensive zone on the PPs. That being said, I think he is being over-utilized. He is a stretch 3rd liner at best and definitely shouldn’t be a regular on the 2nd line. It worked last night but won’t in some of the tougher match-ups we have coming up. I would like to see either a Ryan/Wallmark swap, or move Aho to center with either Ryan or Zykov on the wing to see if we can spark some more offense.
Skinner is being Skinner; if he keeps playing the way he is he will keep scoring goals.
Staal and Aho did a great job of keeping possession but need to find a way to get off the walls and generate more chances.
TT, Rask, and Lindholm seemed invisible last night; now would be a great time for any one of them to find another level.
Awesome story with McGinn last night with his family there and playing his first NHL game against his brother. I love the intensity he brings on every shift and right now he brings an edge of physicality that the rest of the team is lacking. We need to get more goals like his battling for rebounds in the crease.
Agree virtus. Faulk has been underwhelming, he would be my leading candidate for a trade as well. Nordstrom goes in that category for me as well. TT, Rask, and Lindholm just are not stepping up. I hope one of them gets going before long. I viewed McGinn as a fringe guy but he brings the physicality nobody else does and is scoring and making a difference. I am guilty of underestimating him. TT, Rask, and Lindholm are not doing any better then him.
Very happy for McKeown. I hope we never see Dahlbeck on the right side again. RBC Center was a ghost town last night.
We grinded one out against a team that is not very good. Our offense and power play are good on paper, but have not shown enough chemistry. All this hope about guys coming around, but we’re 20 games in counting preseason, plus practices and knowing the habits coaches preach. The reality remains little has clicked offensively without going wild west against teams with weak defenses. This recipe is not going to get us to the playoffs.
The next 7 games will serve as a barometer. Whether we need a mid-tier trade of struggling forwards (Teuvo, Rask, Ryan) or possibly a larger piece of our core swapped out for larger returns (Faulk, Staal). In the end, we need a shakeup to bring in players who naturally possess the right habits in creating better chemistry.
Wouldn’t it be nice if McGinn had Wayne Simmonds hands and bulk. He seems to be the only one willing to live in front of the net and sacrifice his body for this team. Watch who the Canes play on Friday and how Tortorella insists that his players do this. I think everyone agrees that that this is the reason our PP is so dismal.
Also…..Aho needs to get off the snide and get a goal. The effort and play making are there but he just doesn’t have anyone around him who can set him up. He has to do it all himself. I am confident that the answer is in Charlotte though. They are 2nd in the league in Goals/Game at almost 4 per game.