‘Must win’ is always overdone in early February for a team sitting within a point or two of the playoff cut line, but Tuesday’s match up against the Flyers is as close as you can get given the math.
The Hurricanes’ consecutive home losses over the weekend increase the sense of urgency, but the circumstances around those losses magnify the situation by a factor of 5. Both losses were lackluster efforts in which the Hurricanes barely showed a pulse. Had it only happened on Friday, perhaps it could be written off by the back-to-back against a fast team. But with the same result after a day off on Sunday, the level of concern about the state of the 2017-18 season justifiably rose.
Coach Bill Peters went on a tirade in his post-game press conference and then proceeded to bag skate the team at Monday’s practice. He also made it clear that the lineup would change for Tuesday.
Basically, whatever he could muster for shock paddles to try to significantly shift the current trajectory has been employed. If that does not prompt a response from the team, the possibility that the 2017-18 season is officially off the rails and destined to crash is a very real possibility.
While the past few days paint a dire picture, the season is far from lost. As I said on Twitter on Monday afternoon:
1/2 So here's the crazy part…If @NHLCanes win on Tuesday (I know it's a big if), they will be in playoff spot or at most 1 point out will have best record in last 5 games of any of 5 teams battling for 2 wildcard spots.
— Canes and Coffee (@CanesandCoffee) February 5, 2018
Tuesday’s opponent is none other than the team that the Hurricanes are trying to catch right now. If the Hurricanes win, they will climb above the Flyers by a single point (Flyers would have one game in hand) and in the process tie the Islanders for the final playoff spot.
And interestingly, the Flyers are sputtering just like the Canes. The Flyers salvaged an overtime loss point with a goal with 2.6 seconds remaining on Saturday but lost their three prior games.
So Tuesday’s game represents a chance for one team to try to right the ship and take a step forward while stepping on a fellow combatant in doing so.
‘What I’m watching’ for the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Philadelphia Flyers
1) The lineup
I am on record in Monday’s Daily Cup of Joe as saying that the lineup changes for Tuesday needed to be more significant than simply reshuffling the fourth line and sliding Klas Dahlbeck into the #6 slot as has been done previously. With no AHL call ups today, my call to sit Jeff Skinner and Noah Hanifin would seemingly be the only way to make a bigger statement, but best guess is that we see run of the mill depth shuffling. On Tuesday, I will be watching to see if Peters follows through in a meaningful way with lineup changes that aggressively address accountability.
2) The right kind of desperation
If the current state of the 2017-18 season cannot spur the Hurricanes to dial up the intensity, finish checks and play with a physical edge and snarly demeanor, then it just is not happening with this squad. On Tuesday, I will be watching to see if the Hurricanes can use adversity to dial up their game or if instead they wilt and fade under the increasing pressure.
3) Leadership
Tuesday’s game is the kind that demands leaders to step up and lead. If I had to lay bets on production from key players, I would bet on Sebastian Aho first and Brock McGinn second. Aho seems to get it, has natural scoring ability and is hot. McGinn does not rate as highly in terms of raw scoring ability, but if I had to bet on player who fully appreciates the magnitude of the situation and will do anything to make a difference, that bet would be on McGinn right now. That said, there should be at least three or four players on the list above McGinn, so on Tuesday I will be watching to see if leaders either formal or otherwise emerge.
4) Goaltending
Because of the number of other things swirling around right now, I bumped goaltending down from its recent home in the #2 slot. But if Tuesday’s game turns out to be a hard-fought affair between two desperate teams as expected, and if scoring continues to be at a premium for the Hurricanes, the margin for error in net is likely to be tiny with the stakes high. That pressure makes for a challenging game for Cam Ward and something definitely worth watching.
The puck drops at 7:07pm at PNC Arena.
Go Canes!
Matt, you’re spot on!
1. Icing the same lineup could signify a disagreement between GMRF and BP. The coach is trying to lay down the hammer and rightfully so, but it seems the GM is not providing any changes (not even call ups) to make his coaches words have significant meaning. This is likely the biggest reason we see complacency. I would think Dundon is fiery like BP, and he would see through this one. Time will tell.
2. I think this question was answered the last two games. I don’t think this team as constructed has the fire and brimstone.
3. Leadership is missing beyond some role players.
4. Whoever is in the starting crease needs to own it.
Through all this I would keep an eye on Dave Tippett. A successful hockey executive/coach with ties to Dallas, Houston and Hartford. Just a hunch I would not be surprised if conversations are being had between TD and others.
Francis has to go!!
Just like the player he was, he is not aggressive and is not a leader.
Has no balls to make moves or come out and explain what he is doing, which is nothing.
He has till the 26th of February to make moves, if he does not, he needs to go.
We are still in playoff hunt, and what makes me sick, actually with most peopke who comment on all blogs, we are only points out of 2nd or 3rd place, sick of hearing just make it in, even though I know that is a starting point, this team needs to STOP WITH JUST TRYING TO GET IN AND START PUTTING A TEAM TOGETHER TO BE ON TOP, and Francis cannot do that, bring in NEW GM!!!!
Questions…Do we need a GOON (or 2)?
Do we have anybody on this team (other than McGinn) who can or wants to play physical?
Is there anyone on the team who UNDERSTANDS “THIS IS A ______ CONTACT SPORT”?
…RF has never shown any awareness concerning these things…
explains a lot FWIW!
Biggest game of the season so far, without a doubt. And as Matt points out, not just for what it means in the standings. After the debacle of the last two games, along with Peter’s tirade, the way the team comes out and plays this game will tell a lot about the passion, or lack thereof, the leader’s possess. If there was ever a reason to play with fire and desire, this is the game. And if it’s not there for this matchup, it just ain’t there… and that could mean a much bigger problem than simple player substitution can solve. And speaking of that, I was one of those who anticipated at least a call up or two from Charlotte, to shake things up, but RF appears to have stepped in and nixed that thought. Which is no surprise, knowing his conservative personality. But if we get another repeat performance tonight, of the last two games, he’ll have some explaining to do. Certainly not to the loyal fans, but to his head coach, who pretty much demanded some fresh troops. So we’ll see… it’s gonna be interesting tonight, to say the least.
I wonder if it is RF or BP who nixed the idea of a call-up.
Or, perhaps, a callup wasn’t made because the Checkers are in the NE and there would be no chance for a player to get significant ice time before a game.
BP has been all about wanting “players who can play in the NHL” and not “players who may be able to play in the NHL”. I think he is more averse to callups this season that RF. But no one really knows what is going on in those offices.
Francis is a clueless GM.
I have lost all respect for him.
If he sits back and does nothing of significance before Feb 26th, he should be fired.
If he is being told not to do anything, that is a mistake.
Skinner, Rask, Staal and Faulk have NEVER been worth the money THEY MAKE, non are leaders, no one plays a non stop physical game, NOT ONE stands up for teammates, not one beat the shit out of Calgary player when Aho got cheap shot to head, are you F’ing kidding me.
I was in Marine Corp, did not make millions, but stood up for the guy next to me? No matter what the consequence, out these words in that locker room.
Supported this team since DAY ONE IN SUMMER OF 1997, went Yi every game in the shit hole Greensboro!!
Get rid of Francis and hire an outspoken, talented, aggressive GM who has won at all levels.
We’ll know the lines soon enough, but from what I can tell from the lines at yesterday’s practice there will be some shuffling – Lindholm was centering Skinner and PDG, for example. We are not going to see Skinner sit – listening to Peters the past couple of days he said Skinner has been close with many of his shot attempts and that even though he only has 3 goals in 20 games he has created a lot of good chances. That doesn’t sound like imminent benching to me. Dahlbeck will certainly come in for Fleury.
You made an excellent point after the DET game, Matt. The team is failing in the D zone by losing their assignments and leaving so many players alone in the slot. It doesn’t matter if Ward of Darling are in net.
Also, of late, it doesn’t matter who is in net – you can’t win when you are averaging 1.5 goals/game.
Who is in the doghouse? – Kruger, Jooris, and Fleury are healthy extras tonight. Ryan moved down to the 4th line – with DR and Stempniak on that line there is now offensive spark, but I wonder how the PK gets affected. Lindholm centering Skinner and PDG will be an interesting experiment. Earlier in the season I would have said I would expect a positive result from it – I still think it is there.
F
Aho-Staal-Teravainen
McGinn-Rask-Williams
Skinner-Lindholm-Di Giuseppe
Nordstrom-Ryan-Stempniak
D
Slavin-Pesce
Dahlbeck-Faulk
Hanifin-van Riemsdyk
G
Ward
This is not a shack up!!!!
McGinn on 2nd line, are you freaking kidding, Peters is to blame with Ron, neither knows what they are doing.
We have 3 AHL guys in there and they should all be on 4th line!!!!
Peters is hypocritical!!
Biggest game of the year, and considering how big the last two were and the effort we got, im sure this is a 5-1 Philly victory. Team has no heart. They don’t care.
I don’t know who is going to win tonight. Yes we played two poor games and there are recognized issues with the team this season. Given that we are only one win out of the playoffs. But the negativity here is overwhelming – it’s depressing and unnecessarily so. Too much ranting and venting and too little critical analysis and commentary in the comments.
I am done for now with reading the comments or making my own. I will continue to read Matt’s take because I find that to be well-considered and well-written, but will stop reading after his “Go Canes!”.
Sayonara. The fact that this team had back to back winnable games and came out and got outworked, outmuscled, outwilled, outhearted, out-everything-ed on home ice tells me that they either don’t care or don’t know who they are as a team. 53 games into the season. They should be IN a playoff spot with the opportunities that have presented themself. And if they haven’t gotten there yet, with the efforts we’ve seen, I have a very hard time being hopeful they’ll get there. We’re in the same position we’ve been in for years. But I’m supposed to get pumped and just hope it’ll be different? Why? This team is still lead by a bunch of guys who come up insanely small in the moment. Jeff Skinner? Don’t get me started. Faulk? Lost. Hanifin? As many assists for the other team as he has for us. If you watched the last two games and are not upset with this team then I’m not sure you’re truly a fan. How can you be proud of that? Like I said earlier.. They look like they don’t care. If they play hard and come up short I’ll never complain. But lackadaisical hockey… in February… in a playoff race… come on man. It’s frustrating that I’ve spend MY hard earned money to watch millionaires watch people who want it worse than they do kick their teeth in.
I felt the same way after I spent my hard-earned money on a Wendy’s baconator. They can afford way more than two slabs of bacon. Sadly, I still keep going back.
A bag skate and some line shuffling should get their attention.
Biggest game of the year so far. I drove to RTP to support the boys, win or lose they are still my team.
I always love when someone says they will stop commenting on sites like this due to negativity (as if that is going to change the feelings of others). C’mon man…don’t be so weak. Everyone has a right to voice pleasure and displeasure. If anything, blame it on the team for being so inconsistent.