After a heartbreaking loss on Friday to the Capitals that saw the Hurricanes go from having two points in hand late in the game to one point in hand to suddenly walking away with nothing after mostly falling on their own swords, the Hurricanes get a single chance to rebound before starting their bye week on Monday.
A win would be huge on multiple levels:
1) It would remove the bad taste from everyone’s mouths after Friday’s debacle.
2) It would close out the tough eight-game stretch starting with the St. Louis game with a respectable 3-4-1 mark which is only a single point shy of the break even target that I set at the beginning.
3) Most significantly, it would launch the Hurricanes into the bye week tied (based on games above .500) with the Flyers and possibly the Penguins if they also win on Sunday for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
As has been the regular theme of late, the opponent is another tough one. The Calgary Flames currently sit in a playoff spot and enter the game with an impressive six-game winning streak including three straight on the road.
‘What I’m watching’ for the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Calgary Flames
1) Scott Darling (if he starts)
I have not heard official word, but I will be surprised if Scott Darling does not get the start after playing extremely well in a big road win in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. With crunch time coming and Cam Ward sputtering a bit of late, the timing is right for Darling to retake the reins and help the team push upward. By my math, Darling has not had two consecutive strong starts since November. If he does get the start, I will be watching closely to see if Thursday’s win looks to be the needed reset and start on a different course.
2) Resiliency and a push back
The Hurricanes have actually responded to poor outings very well this season. That is the task at hand again on Sunday after Friday’s punch in the gut type of loss. Will the Hurricanes use Friday’s disappointment to fuel better play or instead look defeated and to be suffering from self doubt? History suggests the positive option, but it is still something I will be trying gauge early in the game.
3) Legs
With players out of the lineup due to injury and a sense of urgency, a number of players have logged extra minutes in the past couple games. As the Hurricanes close out the week with three games in four days with the last game even being earlier than usual, fatigue and sluggishness could be a concern especially for key defensemen like Jaccob Slavin and Trevor van Riemsdyk. On Sunday, I will be watching to see if the Hurricanes can find their pace against a team that can skate and attack offensively.
4) Matching the Flames top line
In recent losses, the Hurricanes defense has largely been eaten alive by top-end offensive talents. Patrice Bergeron’s line feasted for five goals in a lopsided 7-1 win. Tyler Johnson surged to a hat trick and a Lightning win. And Alexander Ovechkin has a two-goal and a three-point night to his credit in the two wins over the Hurricanes.
Up next is Gaudreau/Monahan/Ferlund. The top line for Calgary has been flying of late, and represents a big challenge especially without Brett Pesce in the lineup. On Sunday, I will be watching to see how Peters tries to match up and more significantly if it works.
5) Skinner AND Aho?
I think the ceiling version of the Carolina Hurricanes probably happens when Jeff Skinner finds one of his scoring outbursts at the same time that Sebastian Aho and the TSA line are clicking. After an extended quiet stretch, Skinner seemed to benefit from Lee Stempniak’s return and scored. Aho scored too. Could we be on the brink of having both players clicking at the same time? On Sunday I will be watching to see if they can both continue their scoring ways.
The puck drops at an odd 3:07pm at PNC Arena.
Go Canes!
As you said Matt, Canes have responded well to recent setbacks and I believe we’ll see the same thing today. Calgary has been on an extended road trip and the extra day of rest yesterday for the Canes should play into their favor. Darling needs to start making a case as the true #1 goalie, today would be a good point in the season to make it happen. As always, the outcome is likely to be decided mostly by the play between the pipes and Darling needs to step up and have a consistent and solid effort.
This opponent is a very good team. It can score and its goaltending has been improved over its past. No easy win here.
I look for Darling to get the start and be the only Hurricane on fresh legs and have fresh mentality. He will have to be the difference maker for us to get a good result.
The D will likely be porous, with recent overuse of Savin, TVR, and Faulk, and Dahlbeck playing on his off side with Fleury.
In addition to Darling, the offense will have to drive possession and create grade A chances in spite of being depleted, otherwise this could get ugly quickly.
Been offline a couple days, feels like longer.
Per the Coffee Shop Jan 2nd it was asked, number 2. discussion question: “What is your realistic hope for the tough run of seven games against tough competition?” and my answer was: “4 points out of 2 wins and 3 points out of OT/SO losses, total of 7.”
Now it is 2 wins and 1 OT loss so 5 points. So the Canes need to win today to get the 7 points I said. Yeah, I said, do you hear me, the Canes?
I want Teuvo Teräväinen’s goal this game. I also want D-core make it highlight reel material. I hope Darling will be the goalie, THE goalie.
Saddened by the too-fast-moving internet/forum/some feed I get that no one/few reads the previous topics so I am going offtopic but still relevant in the last days context discussion of the ownership change and state the following:
Tom Dundon.
The Athletic magazine, article by LeBrun:
“Dundon said already The Hurricanes staff is working with the Mavs’ training staff in terms of sharing ideas as to best practices when it comes to nutrition and rest etc.”
Anyone remembers my preach about nutrition and linking Jonathan Toew’s food plate?
Mister Dundon came in the form of Santa Claus and as the other fans are just filling their forms what it comes to a Santa wish list the new owner of the Canes HAS ALREADY filled my number one wish, the one that is personally most important to me: “working on nutrition” 😀
If NHL is sending The Canes to play in Finland as the Elliotte Friedman rumor has it I bet, unlike the Avs and the Sens who did boring city sightseeing, the Canes are going to make an appointment with the Santa Claus, the real one, in person.