After a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Penguins on Sunday to close out a tough 1-3 week, the Hurricanes find themselves still in playoff position but only by the thinnest of margins and with the need to play winning hockey in the final week of the season.
The Penguins and the #3 spot in the Metropolitan Division are now all but out of reach. The Hurricanes were also passed by the Blue Jackets who are now rising and have a fairly easy last week of schedule. That turns the focus to beating out the Canadiens for the final playoff spot.
That chase resumes on Tuesday night in Toronto. The Maple Leafs clinched a playoff with a road win against the Islanders on Monday night. Here is hoping that the Maple Leafs have a little bit of a letdown without much to do until the playoffs begin. Regardless, the Leafs are a modest 4-4-2 in their past 10 games.
The Hurricanes enter the game following a tough week in which they were not able to match tougher competition. The biggest thing coming out of the Pittsburgh loss is re-finding the pace and pressure that makes for peak Hurricanes hockey in 2018-19. Instead of being the aggressor on the forecheck, the Hurricanes instead were the team fumbling the puck under duress.
Winning on Tuesday will require a better effort.
My watch points follow.
‘What I’m watching’ for the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Toronto Maple Leafs
1) Who tilts the ice?
Against Pittsburgh, the the Penguins were the aggressor on the forecheck from the start and mostly throughout. A couple other teams have also been able to turn the tables on the Hurricanes in recent games, so this is definitely worth watching. Can the Hurricanes get the puck deep into the offensive zone and then hem the Leafs in? Or are the Canes destined to again be the team stuck in its own end like in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh?
2) Attention to detail and ability to move the puck from their own end
The Hurricanes troubles in Sunday’s loss started with the Penguins forecheck but there was also a significant element of sloppiness in the mix. The Hurricanes turned the puck over repeatedly in their own end when pressured. Then on top of that, the Canes struggled with defensive zone coverage. I will be watching see if the Hurricanes can play a cleaner brand of hockey in their own end on Tuesday.
3) Heroes rising up
With only three games to go and a slim one-point lead in the playoff chase, we have reached the point were the pressure is significant. Some players have a tendency to rise up in such occasions. Other players can start gripping the stick tightly or start overthinking things. To push through the the final week and up into the playoffs, the Hurricanes will need key players to step up and play their best games of the season. On Tuesday, I will be watching to see if in fact the Hurricanes can find a couple leaders/heroes.
The puck drops at 7:30pm on Fox Sports Carolinas with John, Tripp and Mike.
Go Canes!
Toronto clinched 3rd in the East yesterday. They know their first round matchup is with Boston, with Boston having home advantage. That will be a tough test for them. Hopefully between last night’s celebration, having nothing to play for, and wanting to be rested for the playoffs they take their foot off the gas tonight.
Tampa is in Montreal for what could be a prelude to their first round matchup. The Lightning will likely be trying to make a statement to the Habs and should come with their best. At least that’s palm reader told me this morning.
I think this is the game that decides the Canes playoffs.
2 points plus a Tampa Bay win again the canadiens puts the canes 3 points in front needing a single point out of two relativley winnable games. Even I would declare playoffs practically in hand.
A Canes loss coupled with a canadiens win gives the canadiens the upper hand, even if their schedule is slightly more difficult, at least on the surface. That would be near the end of the playoff hopes for the Canes.
If both teams lose the situation remains in the balance and the next game is the decisive game.
Fleury is probably going to be in the lineup for tonight, at least he has been called up.
I would’ve liked to see Saarella or Necas recalled and put on a third line with svech and the Keg, putting Walmark, Mcginn and Martinook on a hard hitting responsible 4th line, but the canes are going to rol with their usual roster, hoepfully with some tinkering to find a few extra sparks.
In mostly unrelated news with more bearing on the 2019/2020 season Ned was named the AHL goalie of the month for the second time this season.
If that isn’t enough to earn an NHL goalie roster spot, I don’t know what would be.
With Dundon’s comments last night about the Adam Fox negotiations to Chip Alexander we may soon see an end to the Adam Fox era. There is the possibility this is part of high stakes bargaining on TD’s part. And part of brinksmanship negotiations on Fox’s side knowing he has leverage because of his option to return to Harvard and be a free agent tin a year. Given the emphasis on culture change in the organization the Canes Fox’s stance may have made him undesirable to “the committee”. and expendable. We know the committee has made that decision before on a player much better than Fox.
What college player in his right mind would sign with either a Canadian team or a US small market team.
Canada’s dollar is low against the US dollar and therefore discounted.
US big market teams offer players big money doing ads on TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Look for Fox to be drawn to NY teams, Boston, NJ, Chicago, LA, Dallas, Anaheim, San Jose, Vegas, and Philly.