Saturday found the Hurricanes taking the ice with a sub-.500 record for the first time during the 2017-18 season and also riding a three-game losing streak. Playing against the Coyotes who entered the game with a 1-12-1 record, the match up at least seemed favorable to squeak out any kind of win and claw back to .500. But it was not to be. In what was largely a disjointed game that looked very much like two bottom dwellers slugging it out, the Hurricanes mustered only one late regularly goal and an overtime loss in the process.
State of the offense
At the most basic level, the Carolina Hurricanes lack any and all of the things that can generate consistent offense.
Aside from Jeff Skinner, the team has no pure finishers who can snipe goals in bunches.
Right now, the team’s power play is futile.
And with a roster of skill players who first nature is to find an open chunk of ice hoping to receive a pass, the team plays long stretches of hockey without anyone creating havoc in or near the crease.
The team has a decent number of players with a reasonable amount of skill, so I would expect the intermittent goal scoring outbursts to continue. But I also think they could continue to be fool’s gold that is not repeatable on a regular basis. Ideally, the team needs to gain boosts in power play efficiency, a commitment to scoring more ‘crease havoc’ goals and hopefully a bit more finishing.
Shorter version is that offensively the team really is pretty much right where it was in 2016-17 which maybe should not be surprising given that the personnel is pretty similar and the additions were not really the type of player who could be a scoring catalyst for a high-end scoring line.
A broader look at Saturday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes
Past the offense, I think the half full version is that the Hurricanes were better defensively. Scott Darling had a decent game before the shootout (which I still refuse to count as real hockey) and the defense did not gift away grade A scoring chances.
The half empty version is that against the worst team in the NHL right now, the Hurricanes looked to be an equal for the most part. The game was really sloppy through two periods with both teams handing the puck over regularly. The Hurricanes did seem to find a higher gear due to late desperation and netted a goal and a point in the standings in the process.
Notes from the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes
Roland McKeown’s debut
How cool would that have been if Roland McKeown had scored on his first shift like he very nearly did? Past that I thought he had a decent debut. His strengths are that of a positionally sound stay-home defenseman with a really good stick and knack for interrupting passing lanes. His challenge short-term will be mobility. He has a tendency to maybe too much err on the side of not getting beat to the point where he backs off and gives too much for time and space. That said, with a group of defensemen whose natural tendency is to jump up into the play, perhaps his skill set as a defenseman who sits behind the play is a complementary fit.
Jeff Skinner and the lack of help
He did not score, but he pushed. He earned a penalty shot and in true Jeff Skinner fashion fired the puck toward the net whenever possible. Color commentator Tripp Tracy’s brief speech extolling the potential of Jeff Skinner to score a big goal late tells you exactly where the team is offensively right now. Jeff Skinner has shown a knack for scoring big goals this season and is the team’s best bet at any point in time. But looking for one player to fill this need just is not how good teams work.
Noah Hanifin
For as much as every third or fourth game is a reminder that things have not clicked defensively on a consistent basis for Hanifin, his game really has taken huge strides offensively. He is exhibiting more and more of his inner Joni Pitkanen playing with the puck on his stick and just taking off when skating lanes are there. In addition, he continues to demonstrate a really good knack for where and when to step into holes to join the offense, receive the puck and shoot.
Scott Darling
After losing what I thought was a winnable game on Sunday with an ‘iffy’ first period and a five hole goal against late, I thought he rebounded well. He had little chance on the goal against when the puck went right across the crease to the back door, and what’s not to like about one goal against through regulation and overtime? With the team sputtering on offense, a hot streak by Darling would be incredibly well-timed right now to buy some time to figure out other elements of the game.
Jordan Staal
His goal was obviously a huge one. The goal netted only one point but that one point at least kept the hole from getting deeper. I thought Staal played well in general. The issue with Staal is that he just is not the kind of player who can put the team on his back. Rather, he is a great player capable of eating up hard minutes and being break even such that he puts the ball on the tee for a scoring line to win a hockey game with a plus one in the goal scoring department. The issue is that right now the Hurricanes have very little in terms of that scoring ability.
The power play
Somehow the power play mostly looked worse on Saturday night. Both units have clearly reached the ‘squeezing the stick’ stage with everything just looking really tentative, be it moving the puck up the ice or moving it in the offensive zone.
Overtime play
On the flip side of the power play struggles, I actually like the model that the team has built for overtime despite not being rewarded for it recently. The team gets the importance of puck possession in 3-on-3 play and has generally won the battle in this regard. Further, though maybe a bit conservative, the team has generally made good decisions on when to risk puck possession for a scoring chance. The issue here is similar to 5-on-5 play which is that the team just does not finish enough, but all in all I think the team is on the right track in the extra session.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What positives did you find in another tough night on Saturday?
2) Do you take any consolation in at least netting a point?
3) What else would you be trying to jump start the team right now?
Go Canes!
Coaching problem, System problem, or Player problem. Your thoughts Matt…. I’d say we lost 3-4 points in winnable hockey games. 4 and 5 points out of wildcard with 3 in hand over Philly. The biggest negative of the year so far is the embarrassing power play. I hope that the rest of the season doesn’t turn into a drinking game for everytime Tripp Tracy say’s building block or confidence. How long does Peters have until the Steve Smith is the new hurricanes head coach?
I think it is a combination.
The players as individuals are generally not playing great right now especially with regard to generating offense.
But the thing that troubles me most is Peters’ (so far) inability to coax more out of what he has. To me, it feels like has a model and how he thinks it should work and just keeps trying force that. Part of coaching is taking what you have, adjusting the system/style of a play a little bit to match it and getting the most out of what you have. I do not see the Hurricanes as an elite team, but I do think they are underperforming relative to their talent level.
1)Positives…. We have defensive depth.(enough to warrant a trade imho) Hannifin’s game was the best of the season to me, <3 goals against so Darling is out of the doghouse. You can't expect him to play a shutout in order to win games. Late game push/ desperation rewarded with a goal. Staal's reaction to his goal left no questions on his motivation or effort level. Ol' Hardhat (Mcginn) sniping a shoot-out goal. Not a lot of positives in this game. Canes looked like they were fighting the puck all night…again…against a weak opponent that should have been dominated by Carolina's forecheck/ puck possession style of play. This will play in to your third question but the canes have to figure out the power play. Thats a coaching problem and Im not sure how much longer Francis has to be patient with the current staff before some dynamic changes are made.
2) No Consolation in stealing a point. Canes should have taken 3/4 points this road trip if they want to establish themselves as a winning hockey club. They haven't dug themselves the proverbial hole quite yet but its starting to get iffy.
3) Looks to me like a young team that is struggling confidence, or that Peters has lost the room. The coaching staff had better figure out a way to get through it or Id start looking elsewhere for changes (Keep Smith). This franchise cannot afford another year of broken promises and miss the playoffs again. Id take Faulks C and give it to Skinner or Williams. Shake up the leadership. Reward hard work and results instead of complacency. Faulk is really struggling. If is not the broken stick it's whiffing on an empty net or sloppy pass on the PP or turnovers after a routine tape to tape pass getting caught in his skates. Little mistakes (a captain shouldn't make) that are happening too much every game.I see what I could get via trade for him. I'm conflicted on him he has the potential like in years past to be one of the teams best…. but I haven't seen one game this year where he played like Captain. I have a theory that there is some resentment or at least let off in his effort/game following Slavin and Pesce replacing him on the top line. I think he might benefit from a change. Of course I can barely skate backwards but if you were paying me 4.8 million a year i'd expect the same level of accountability from a frustrated fan base. I hope I'm wrong because we've all seen how good he can be and maybe its just the Yips but 2017-18 I'm not seeing it so far. Love Bill Peters but this is a results orientated business and If Francis can't get a trade to spark the team and Peters can't find a way to win the room back then I wouldn't be surprised to see a change
Wow, that game was a race to the bottom…which team was the worst?
I’m beginning to think: RF all the way down to the water-boy(or is that up) SHOULD BE FIRED!!!
The pre-season was the APEX for this team…
Over the last 5 weeks I’ve used analogies of playdough and round pegs/square holes when describing this team. I’ve also said a pessimist is an optimist with experience, whereas the ‘glass half full’ posters will say patience is a virtue. Patience is one thing, but the need for extended patience in the NHL gets you a lottery ball as has proven the last decade and will prove itself again quicker than we all think.
This team as constructed is not good enough and will be playing .500 hockey the rest of the year unless changes are made. We need to make a hockey trade, sending out a young talent (or two) to get what we actually need in return. We need a net front forward who can score greasy goals, a playmaker/finisher and veteran defenseman. If we can’t get a playmaker then just shift Aho to center since we have an overstock of perimeter guys who dish instead of crash.
Call up Vegas, try to get Neal (finisher and net guy) and Garrison (vet Dman) with salary retained. Call up Edmonton and see if we can snag Strome or RNH. GMRF may not want to pay the short term price, but he has to give up someone decent in order to create lines that gel.
This is unacceptable. It is really time for accountability. We have a way of making other teams goalies look great. The players may be doing what they are asked to do for BP’s system. I have liked BP but the results speak for themselves. We are limiting goals by the other teams but we cannot score. Where is Wallmark and Zykov. Nobody goes to the net much, probably part of the defensive system in place.
PP, Rodey needs to be fired. It is darn right embarrassing. I do not think Darling has been getting the help in front but he has been less then average at just above 900. 2 for 3 in the shootout is not good. So, he does not get a pass but the scoring is the bigger issue.
And our captain can’t handle a pass and drops his stick for a nice goal by the other team. He should not be captain. Its time for a trade.
This will be a repeat of 2016-2017 if something is not done soon. It is time for some heads to roll.
1. What did I find positive? One thing. Jordan Staal’s compete level.
2. No consolation at all. All of our conference competitors are starting to pull away from us even though several of them are not playing well. There is no improvement in this team.
3. What to do to get better? The answer to me is obvious. Call up the players we have in Charlotte that are now better and/or have more upside than several players currently on this team. Our player focus is on players who won’t make a mistake and allow a goal to the point we are loaded with players who can’t put the puck in an open net.
Our problems start with the coaching. Peters is so concerned with defense that it overrides everything else. Ron Francis has to get more aggressive in going after players who can put the puck in the net. He has to get bolder.
I will not say more because all of my compatriots above have made most of my complaints, observations, and suggestions. puckgod for GM!
1) First positive – Darling. He came in and did everything you want your starting goalie to do. After an iffy game in his last start he was strong -great saves when he had to, solid saves otherwise, he wasn’t beat – good rebound control and smothering the puck.
I am glad, Matt, you acknowledged the development and strength of Hanifin’s game With confidence in his offensive game and willingness to learn defensively his defensive failures can be minimized.
Fleury has stepped up to the increased role. He has confidence with the puck and shooting, and he was mostly sold on D – impressive for the rookie.
The return and success of the T-S-A line in the third.
2. I am happier with one point than zero points. Enough said.
3. The game’s starting lines looked like an exercise in “let’s throw stuff to the wall and see if anything sticks”. It didn’t. But Aho on Kruger’s line?? We need better lines that make sense for the individual players. We have rehashed that here (and you and I are similar in views, Matt). I don’t comprehend what Peters wants to see in his lines.
I think it is time for personnel changes – bringing up Wallmark (for Ryan), Zykov (for McGinn, maybe?, or Nordstrom’s game – although I do like Nordstrom’s game on Kruger’s wing, and I wouldn’t want to see Zykov on the 4th line when he should be net fron for a better scoring line).
Faulk for Duchene? (wait, did I write that out loud??? :-D)
What did I like? Well, Darling played well. I liked McKeown. Hanifin had his offensive game moving. The lines for this game were mot good. We have too many defensive first players. Defense needs to be played, but it should be so you can get on offense and score
There is no consolation for 1pt. This was supposed to be a 3-4 pt mini-trip. While there are still worse teams out there in terms of points, we are not the team we thought in the preseason.
Redo the power play. 1-3-1 is not working. Maybe a 1-2-2 is better, but 1-3-1 is not the answer. I would think if we can’t find the right hockey trade, RNH, Turris, Galchenyuk, we need to call up 2 forwards, one of which can be sent down without waiver worries when Stempniak is healthy enough to play, if possible.
Sadly, this was a game of two teams that could and should be much better, very much a race to the bottom.
At least Arizona had low expectations coming in, and can literaly pick up a top 3 draft pick next year, while the Canes manage to always mire in mediocrity and lack the decisive push to either the playoffs or the bottom, the worst recipe for long-term relevance.
I think darling played pretty good and I liked Jordan Stall’s interview, he showed some emotion, and I think Roland played pretty well in his debut. Beyond these 3 things I didn’t like the game at all, little compete, same problems as always. I almost turned the TV off halfway through the third period, because I was frankly getting bored, something that has not happened in 10 years of watching the Canes play but is really rearing its ugly head this season.
At least I am glad I didn’t and saw a tying goal.
We need to bring up fresh faces. Valentino is tearing it up in the AHL, if anyone has a business coming up, it is him.
I am concerned that the Checkers have practically booted Julien Gauthier of the roster. He has been a healthy extra in I think their last 4 or 5 games (2 or 3 weeks). There are holes in his game, and we correctly question his compete without the puck, but how is that going to be remedied by boxing him. This kid is a type of player this team desperately needs, so we need to do our best to squeeze a first round draft pick potential out of him for next year.
Hey, didn’t we sign a contract with Erik Cole, maybe it’s time to dress him.
Faulk and a second round pick for Duchene, done deal. If we can also throw in TT or Rask (or any of the other interchangible skilled perimmiter player) for a bag of pucks I consider it a bonus.
Gauthier was hurt I’m pretty sure.
The only thing hurting for Gauthier, bw, is his game. He has been a healthy scratch. Vellucci has clearly stated that to play for the Checkers you have to come to play every night and play well. Hopefully, Gauthier learns accountability. Sit him however long it takes to make him want to compete on every shift. That has been the hit against him for the past 3 years. And what we don’t need is a player who doesn’t compete every shift, no matter his size or possible ceiling.
And I agree Zykov has been outstanding (no “o” in his first name) with two more goals in the last 2 games including a nifty breakaway gwg last night. He offers more than a net front presence, but he offers that too.
I know, I just think Valentino is a fun nickname, but thanks for pointing it out.
I don’t know. I don’t care how hard people come to play, I want to see results.
Sure, we can get an average player who works his butt off come to the rink every day and score 7 goals, or a spotty flashy player who works well every third night and scores 20, I take the latter.
Of course you want both, and it’s not even that simple (+ – stats and all that, we sure got burnt by Semin).
But my thinking is that we spent a first round pick on this kid, we can’t sit him out for a moral lesson forever, or until he quits, and I don’t see the press box as
a place to teach you to be a better player. It’s a place where you can sit on your butt and earn 60 grand, as opposed to sitting on your butt and earning a million in the NHL).
Let him play, make mistakes, get criticized by the coach and the team mates, or send him up and let him play with the Canse. Maybe trying to make it on the big state is what the guy needs. He can’t be that much worse than what we got on the roster right now, in terms of intensity and commitment that is.
Nickname usage acknowledged!
The thing about Gauthier is that he doesn’t play hungry – not in the AHL, nor in his last few years in juniors (which is why he dropped to 22 for us). I would love to see him succeed – he seems like a great guy and I am sure Vellucci would love to see it too. It’s on Julien to make it happen – he needs to show he’s ready in practice and then step up when he gets called in, which he will. But I do understand what you’re saying – and think he needs to be called in again soon.
I have nothing good to say. And I have no hope in this team until I see someone show some initiative and make a change. This is an embarrassment. Done with the excuses. “We just need to be better.” Make me want to scream.
Andddd the canes are on the sidelines as the big deals finally go down. Why am I not surprised. Here’s to hoping it won’t go to ten years without playoffs. Nine seems to be more likely every day.