Looking to find a higher gear offensively and pick up a win in the second of three games in California, the Carolina Hurricanes took to the ice in San Jose.
The game started ominously. The Sharks struck first only 3:44 into the game after an Jaccob Slavin clearing attempt took and odd carom past Clark Bishop and to the front of the net where the Sharks were waiting and finished. The Sharks would strike again on the power play when they fed the puck through the heart of the penalty kill and then quickly back to the front of the net for a pretty passing goal for Tomas Hertl. Aho/Staal/Teravainen had a strong first period and some near misses, but the first period ended with the Sharks up 2-0.
The second period saw more of the same. Timo Meier scored on a nifty redirection goal. And then an own goal on a Jordan Staal deflection dug the hole to 4-0. The Canes would get a small amount of life late in the second period when Lucas Wallmark scored on the power play through a Justin Williams screen. For a team that has been struggling to score, the 4-1 deficit heading into the third period was probably enough to send many a Caniac to bed.
The Hurricanes pushed a bit in the third period, but the team’s ability to generate and finish grade A chances just is not high enough right now to overcome a 4-1 deficit. The result was a third period that mostly just seemed to tick away until San Jose added insult to injury by increasing the lead to 5-1 which was the final.
In some ways, this game could just be written off as one of those nights on the road with all of the bounces. But on the heels of a Sunday loss to the NHL’s worst team, the Canes
Player and other notes
Sebastian Aho early
I liked Sebastian Aho’s game early. That line in total was very good in the first period. But as the game wore on the initial burst seemed to subside.
Bounces
By no means would I pin this game on bad luck. But it did play a larger role than usual. The Slavin clear seemed to take an odd bounce that surprised everyone. The Meier goal was no doubt a skill play but could also have gone wide of the net or hit the goalie. And the Jordan Staal own goal was just unfortunate too.
Still struggling offensively
I liked Aho/Staal/Teravainen in the first period. The power play did net a goal. Past that, the Hurricanes just did not do enough offensively as has been the case too regularly of late.
Brett Pesce returns
He was not phenomenal, but Brett Pesce looked okay in his return. He makes the team better, so it was good to see him back in the lineup. The team is now down only Micheal Ferland in terms of injuries.
Decent night for McElhinney
McElhinney’s top line stats did not look good, but he actually had a decent night. Goals against included a tap in and two deflections on which McElhinney had no chance. He also made some really good saves in the second half of the game. So he was not magical as he has been in recent games, but McElhinney was not horrible either.
Still not enough in and around the crease
I continue to think that a key component of emerging from the current scoring slump will need to be generating more ugly goals from in and around the crease. As the season wears on, it is becoming clearer that this team just does not have enough raw offensive fire power to win pretty all the time.
Jordan Staal
He left with an upper body injury and did not return. For as much as the team could use a bit more scoring from him (like everyone else), he is still a solid player, and the team is worse without him.
Next up is the finale for the three-game road trip. The Hurricanes must win in Anaheim on Friday to salvage something from the trip.
Go Canes!
Yeap, not staying up was the right thing to do.
Glad Jordan Staal is scoring. 😉 Next step, score in the right goal.
I saw the first period. It wasn’t good. Went to bed.
This is a real challenge for Brind’Amour to earn his pay. The Canes have zero confidence and are feeling a ton of pressure. Somehow Brind’Amour has to take the pressure off of them. The team lacks scoring talent, that is for sure, but they aren’t this bad.
I watched the first two (I usually stay up to midnight, anyway). Ouch. You can’t explain away opposing goals just because they seem “fluky”.
It was a Darling-like performance for Mac, in some ways – some excellent saves, sometimes being hung out to dry, and one (or two?) that shouldn’t have gone in.
If a high-probability chance includes chances in and around the crease there is the answer to my question yesterday about why we can’t convert them – we are still throwing at the goalie’s logo.
Is it (past) time to reach to CLT and not for a search for a scorer – but for a search for some new energy, which has been effective in previous years.
What was the nature of Staal’s UBI? That must have happened in the 3rd.
The team definitely needs something new. Since they are out west, it will need to be line shuffling. Then maybe try a Checker, as tj suggests to bring new energy. I am skeptical. So far Roy, Bishop, Carrick, and Bean haven’t really instilled energy. My personal take is that I wouldn’t bring Necas up until he is dominating every shift in the AHL. So I guess that leaves Kuokkanen or Saarela. At this point it is worth a try. Though I think the scoring is more likely to come from line changes (put the talent together and the bangers together).
In previous years the call-up that provided energy wasn’t a single player but more than one (Slavin, Pesce, Ryan or Ryan and PDG, as I recall).
Ferland was the exact wrong guy to lose for a West Coast trip. He may not have made the difference between winning and losing, but his presence would have been felt.
About a year ago, I threw out the idea that maybe it was time to look at moving Jordan Staal. Not because he’s not a good player but maybe he’s not the right type of player for this lineup. If you can’t score, you can’t win and as good as Jordan is at most hockey things, scoring isn’t one of them. If you swap out him with a substitute that is 50% as good defensively, but twice as good offensively (not out of the realm of possibility), it may make sense. I like Jordan and on a different squad he brings lots of value, but his strengths don’t outweigh his deficiencies when paired with this group. It’s really sad too. If he only had decent hands he’d be ok. He’s actually regressing at this point.
Of course, I hope he’s ok too – forgot about his injury. He has to be hurting – I thought he was going to be out long term from the knee injury he picked up a week or two ago and now this.
A different take on we are a worse team without Staal…. I agree if we were using him for his strengths… however, the way we are trying to have him be a scorer and on the line with Aho, even having him on the PP…. I think that hurts more than it helps… He is taking time away from someone else. I have no idea who would be better, but having Staal play that role keeps us from trying someone…. so we will never know.
So, I certainly never ever wish for anyone to be hurt…. and I fully appreciate what Staal brings (effort, defense… he is trying to be an offensive guy…) however, I hope this forces us to look at something else.