I wrote in a bit more detail why I thought Thursday’s game in Toronto took on extra significance even above being simply an important game for a team trying to claw their way up into the collection of teams in the middle of the big Eastern Conference pack. You can find the longer version HERE.
The short version is:
1) With as much progress as the Canes have made over the past 2 months, they still teeter right at the edge of being in or out of the mix right now. A solid (2-1-1 even) close before the all-star break surely sees February games that matter whereas a quick thud over a 4-game sprint in 6 days could quickly turn 2 months of solid play the other direction.
2) To get to 2-1-1 (or even better) this start could be key. The set of 4 games sees a challenging match up against a rested Rangers team tomorrow and concludes with a game against the red hot Blackhawks. Ideal would be to get 1 of the 2 (or more) out of the way tonight and also cut the current losing streak real short at 1 game in regulation and 2 counting overtime losses.
Yesterday’s news about Cam Ward going on injured reserve with a concussion is also significant. I wrote that up in some detail HERE for today’s Daily Cup of Joe. With Lack probably tentatively slated to play the last 4 straight leading up to the all-star break if he plays well, it would be great for him to get off to a good start tonight to build confidence with the team and momentum heading into the weekend.
With that, here is what I will be watching Thursday night against the Maple Leafs:
1) Eddie Lack
He was not very good on Sunday in Pittsburgh in giving up 5 goals but then neither was anyone else on the Hurricanes. I view that game as 1 of those occasional throwaways that happens to even good teams. This said, it is the kind of game that you want to rebound from and quickly put in the past. In his first game as the #1 with Ward on the shelf, does he rise up and look ready to go on a run like he did with Vancouver last season?
2) A burst of energy
It is hard to say for certain, but I suspect that Sunday’s poor showing was at least partly due to fatigue after a tough 2 weeks in terms of volume of games and travel. Since then, the Canes have had 3 days off to get their wind back. The hope is that the team comes out rested, recharged and with some jump that it can use to seize a win against a beatable opponent to start the 4-game stretch leading up to the all-star break.
3) Phil DiGiuseppe with Jeff Skinner
It is expected that Phil DiGiuseppe who was recalled from Charlotte earlier this week will be immediately reunited with Jeff Skinner on a line centered by Victor Rask. DiGiuseppe was riding shotgun for much of Skinner’s scoring run in December, and I think his role in it is underestimated. When Jeff Skinner gets hot, he is going to score in bunches regardless of line mates, defensive match ups, etc., and there was definitely an element of that in December. But I think there was also an element of DiGiuseppe making good offensive plays to contribute, not just ride along, and more significantly I think his ability to play at Skinner’s pace is key to maximizing Skinner’s chances and therefore production. Simply by being up in the play makes more space for Skinner and forces the defense to sort out more than just Skinner trying to win 1v1 or 1v2. It is that tiny window of time and space that is all Jeff Skinner needs to quickly create and capitalize on scoring chances. The Canes played some of their best hockey of the season when Jeff Skinner was scorching hot making the Canes 3 lines deep. Skinner has played decent but been quieter of late. Here is hoping that putting Skinner/Rask/DiGiuseppe back together can generate more offense for team that has seen sporadic scoring of late.
4) Time to step up
If the Canes are going to fully push up into the pack, the time is now. I view the rest of the January schedule as mostly ‘live to fight another day’ to be immediately followed by a home-heavy and reasonably spaced February that should be the team’s best chance to climb further in the standings. If it is going to happen, I think it takes a big push by the veteran leaders. Eric Staal has been a consistent contributor so far in 2015-16, but does he still have the ability to rise up offensively and put the team on his back offensively for a few weeks as he did in years past? Can Jordan Staal continue his strong 2-way play and also find a clutch goal here and there especially on the nights when the scoring is hard to find? Is this Justin Faulk’s time to carry his team as its leader? Eddie Lack was obtained via trade and then quickly signed to a 2-year extension that locked him in as at least half of the team’s goalie tandem for at least the near future. After a bumpy road settling in, is he ready to stake a claim to being the outright #1 going forward? Winning hockey games especially this time of year takes good efforts from 20 players, but oftentimes the difference between almost in individual games or treading water for short stretches is 1-3 key players being the difference-makers. Who are those difference-makers for the Canes tonight?
The puck drops at about 7:30pm on Fox Sports with John, Tripp and Michelle.
Go Canes!
