Coming off a loss to the Rangers to open December, the Hurricanes have a chance to rebound quickly with a home game on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. For the second week in a row, the week’s finale represents a chance to salvage something after a tough front part of the week. Last week, a win on Sunday got the Canes on the board with a 1-2 record. This week, a win would net a break even 1-1-1 mark.
The game is what I like to call a fair back-to-back for which both teams played and traveled the night before. The opponent is a team in the Panthers that has failed to put things together in 2017-18. The Panthers are 3-2 in their last five games but only 10-13-2 in total for the season.
But this game is less about the opponent and more about the need for the Hurricanes to rebound. As I stated in my recap for Friday’s game, I really like the agitated, “it’s not okay” tone of Justin Williams’ post-game interview, and I hope that demeanor is contagious as the Hurricanes try to re-find a higher gear.
‘What I’m watching for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Florida Panthers
1) Cam Ward
Cam Ward has had a few other starts of significance following losses, but I really think that his (expected) start on Saturday will be his most important of the season thus far. The team needs a win to salvage the week before departing on a long road trip. The goaltending in total has really struggled of late and needs to right the ship. Ward himself is coming off by far his worst start of the season last Friday against the Maple Leafs. The game is an important rebound game on at least three levels and the kind of game that the Hurricanes really need to get to keep treading water and not begin to sink while much of the Metropolitan Division is swimming ahead.
2) Leadership
This is the kind of game where a few leaders need to step up and set the tone. Ward is one possibility as are the three captains, Justin Williams and anyone else who feels the force and can step up. This is not the kind of game where you show up and hope for the best. Rather, it must be the kind of game where the team shows up with a not to be denied type of determination.
3) Attention to details
At least as concerning as the ‘iffy’ goaltending of late has been the degree to which the Hurricanes have been slipping in terms of attention to details. The volume of significant defensive break downs has skyrocketed over the past couple weeks. The team that was playing clean hockey early in the season has suddenly been taking many more penalties. In addition to just not playing great, the goalies have had a large number of ‘big oopses’ of late. And in general the Hurricanes play has just been sloppy in terms of the basics. The current level of play has been gifting away a goal or more pretty much every game which makes it really challenging to win in the NHL.
The puck drops at 7:07pm for Star Wars night at PNC Arena.
Go Canes!
What I’m watching tonight is the front office. Paraphrasing from my comment in the other thread, we can’t hang last night or team scoring problems on Darling. I think the old cliche about goalies bailing out the team is funny, because the bigger problem is our offense can’t even bail out themselves and is causing our defense to suffer. Wide angle shots all night lead to lost points and lower place in standings. Good on Williams for stepping up and saying it.
Since the beginning of the season I (and a few others) have been saying we are one offensive catalyst and veteran defenseman away from seriously becoming a playoff contender. To obtain this, we have to trade something good. Faulk should be dealt and he can turn it around with another team. Skinner is a great east/west skater and has streaks of gold in him, but he’s not a guy to put the team on his shoulders (think Messier type). His whining on the ice is very old and not what good leaders do.
The problem is management as a whole is too patient and believing the analytics will somehow take this team to the playoffs (finishers take teams to playoffs). That said, I agree to be patient and build around Aho, TT and the rest of the young guns especially on defense. But for the next 2-3 years we need to change the culture otherwise the young players will not want to re-sign here. We have enough issues bringing in veteran guys because of the environment that is harbored.
The dynamic of this team is simply off and needs fixing. Trade a few pieces while we can, and do it fast otherwise the entire Metro division will be looking at us from their rear view mirror.
We must lead the league in weak goals. We give up at least 1a game.
I’m sorry but I’ve given up on this team. I even deleted my twitter which may seem unrelated but the whole reason I made it was to talk hockey. When I get to the point I’m throwing things in my apartment it’s time to find another hobby. It’s not fun anymore. I wish the canes and the front office cared as much as I did. But they’ll just try to work through it or some sh… stuff, right? Don’t make any changes for gods sake. This team won’t go to the playoffs. I’m pretty sure this core with Skinner and Faulk are capable of doing so. They don’t play the game the right way. Skinner wants to dangle the entire team and be the hero. Faulk just sucks. Darling is not a starting goalie. No one plays the body. No one goes to the net. No one does what they need to do to win a hockey game. I’m done watching the same story unfold time and again.
The last few years I’ve dealt with it. It’s sucked, sure. But I knew it would be that way and just tried to enjoy it. But now, they’re supposed to be good, and they just keep doing absurdly dumb things and it’s clear they won’t be competing for a damn thing for the foreseeable future. So what’s the difference. Move them, fire them all, trade them all, who cares.
Here we go again…think I’ve seen this movie before!
Every game is a new start – a new story.
If the team doesn’t come out with fire and passion, if #14 can’t light a fuse under this crew, if the team can’t perform at a high level in front of what should be a huge crowd thanks to the Black Friday sale, then the team is definitely in trouble this season. Systemic trouble.
For the last two years we had a trough in November-December that was only reversed with changed in personnel. Tonight is the tell night because the teams leaves for two weeks. Last year it was 12/6 when the changes came.
Meanwhile in Charlotte the scoring continues in bunches. Foegele had a hat trick last night. And Ned had another beautiful game – 24 saves on 25 shots.
Tonight I will be in Section 118 with a gorgeous, almost-too-young-for-me blonde on my arm. Life isn’t all bad at all.
Go Canes!