An interesting starting point is figuring out what is acceptable points-wise for the upcoming stretch of road-heavy hockey. As of writing this, the survey in the Monday Coffee Shop article has the Hurricanes seeking a 5-4 or 6-3 mark in the nine games leading up to a return home for more than a single game. For me, 5-4 would do it. By no means is it lights out, and it could even see the team slip another point or two off the playoff pace, but I think it’s good enough for now.
So what does it take to accomplish 5-4 or better in the next nine games? In order of importance, I say these things:
1) The goaltending needs to find consistency
The netminders do not necessarily need to stand on their heads and steal games. But a hallmark of collecting enough points on the road is being sound defensively and in net such that most games are close. That benefits from the NHL’s unique scoring system that awards points for many losses and also can see a late bounce or two tilt a close game favorably. When the goal is to play .500 hockey or slightly better that is enough.
The problem is that the Hurricanes goalies have been anything but sound and consistent recently, so the goal is for a change in direction.
2) Same for the blue line
Hidden somewhat behind a few horrendous goalie highlights is the fact that the defense too was really shaky during the recent downturn. Break downs were plentiful and the volume of odd man rushes and other grade A chances resulting from mistakes by the defenseman was way too high.
Again, the best way to collect points on the road it to play sound and solid hockey that nets some overtimes that least collect a respectable OTL point and offer the chance to get another too. The blue line which was mostly better in Saturday’s win needs to regain its footing and be better defensively.
3) Multiple sources of offense
The Hurricanes most recent winning streak was fueled offensively by the TSA line scoring in bunches. Ideal for road success would be if the Hurricanes can get a few things clicking offensively and be more balanced. Jeff Skinner scored for the first time in nine games on Saturday, so hopefully that will ignite his next goal-scoring binge. The power has looked better and been reasonably productive of late, so there is greater hope on that front. And hopefully the TSA line can continue its scoring ways. Regardless of who it is, the team needs to get a few things clicking at the same time offensively.
4) A continuation of the compete and physical engagement level from Saturday
On Saturday when the hockey gods did not justly reward the Hurricanes for a dominant first period, the team just became more determined, forged forward and ultimately netted a win. The biggest question I have heading into Tuesday’s game is whether the team can convert that level of determination into an every game thing or if it is still reserved for the intermittent desperate game every few weeks.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Do you agree with these needs to be successful on the road?
2) Are there any that you would add?
Go Canes!
This article sounds like what RF could have wrote…
We’ll be happy with MEDIOCRITY!
That mindset…ENSURES ANOTHER LOSING SEASON!
How can anyone care SO LITTLE?
I complain BECAUSE…I…CARE!!
1. 5-4 is the minimum record for success. 6-3 or better would make up for not going 2-1 on the last home stand.
2. Faulk needs to get his mojo back.
3. Noah Hanafin is tied in goals, and has more points than Matt Duchene. We may have won that non trade.
“May have won”??? –> Major win! 🙂
Yes, this is the list. In fact and unfortunately, it’s been the list for quite some time now, maybe even all season. I would add one more: be more disciplined. We seem to have found ourselves shorthanded too much lately which, in the aggregate, is a sign to me of team frustration.
Like most fans, I find it hard to continue to watch without staying optimistic; I have to admit that it’s been a challenge lately, especially watching the two games against the NYR – they just seem to have our number – but I am seeing encouraging signs.
Rask has actually been quite good since his benching and Lindholm has become more physical; we’re going to need both of them to make up ground. I have always been skeptical of McGinn, but I tip my hat to him: he stirs the pot and has made things happen; we need that kind of energy on our team.
And as much as I am frustrated by the volume of oopses on defense, especially by our top defensive guys, I am equally encouraged by the upward trajectory of Hanifin and Fleury; irrespective of where they slot, they have been, as Tripp would say “noticeable” in their own ways over the past two weeks: Fleury for not being noticed and Hanifin for his offense.
On this date last year, NAS was 11-9-4, tied for last in their division (in pts), and going nowhere. They put it together and went on to the Cup Finals. Today, we are 11-9-5. Anything can still happen. When we actually find our winning formula, which virtually every team in the league ultimately does, and which we have done every year starting around this time, we will see the difference on the ice and then in the standings. I haven’t lost that part of my optimism.
The rest of the season starts tonight.
Whoops, NAS wasn’t last, COL was. 6th. http://dropyourgloves.com/Games/AnyDateStandings.aspx?Date=2016-12-5&League=1
The list is spot on – the only thing I would add is continuing improvement in special teams. As dmilleravid said this has also been an issue all season.
To me the most important is 4. We need to continue to play like we did against the Panthers, not necessarily with the fighting but with the physicality. We have several guys who hit hard (McGinn and Nordstrom are standouts), fight to stay in the slot (Williams and McGinn), are strong on the puck (Staal). We have to bring the same no-excuse energy. Good things will happen and other things will fall into place.
I agreed with Williams on Friday night when he said we are a better team than how we have been playing – and that has to change.
We can no longer afford .500 stretches, regardless of away/home. We squandered our games in hand (for the most part), and so 5-4 won’t cut it.
6-3 is acceptable, but we really need a string of 7-2 stretches to catapult us into the discussion.
To put this in perspective, we are chasing two teams we really should be ahead of (New Jersey and Islanders). Never mind Washington and Pittsburgh.
This point is well taken. We haven’t really had any losing streaks – but we haven’t had any real winning streaks either. Winning teams have winning streaks and if you win a couple only to then lose a couple you are not doing yourself any favor. Hopefully we will see a solid W-L-O record – if we do, we will be seeing against some pretty good teams in this stretch and that will be a good tell. Muddling through the next 9 games will be disappointing.
1), 2), and 3) are correct. Carolina needs good goaltending every game, the blue line needs to be well above average every game (that is what fans expected and how the team was created), and scoring from two or more lines and the D. With all of those, the team will find that 5-7 game streak that turns the season around.
4)–would the game have been as much “fun” Saturday if the Canes had lost in OT or shootout? I am not saying being physical is bad, just that the Toronto and second Dallas games were every bit as impressive. If we are honest, the team is not built to dominate through checking. In fact, heavy hitting is not a formula for success in the NHL in 2017 and hasn’t been for several years (yes the analysis support this). The team did seem more focused–but that showed on the PP and PK just as much as in the fighting. Being aggressive is central to Carolina’s success, but it is aggressive play by the D in closing gaps and from the forwards in being quick to win puck battles. I truly believe the Canes will be better served in the long run by being the league’s least penalized team, yet one of the hardest to score on.