Saturday stinker - thoughts on Canes

What’s that smell? For fans of the Carolina Hurricanes, it was a smell that they hope not to smell the rest of the season. The Canes played probably the worst game they have in the past few years – then again I think there were some of the games like this past Saturday played last season. I don’t understand (as there are probably a lot of fans that don’t) how a team can be dominate one night and then lack luster the next.
I can already here some homers stating that Corey Stillman, Bret Hedican and Mike Commodore were all out of the lineup and that David Tanabe hadn’t skated in more than a week nor been in a game since a couple of preseason tilts when in St. Louis. Face it, this is not a time for excuses – it is a time for execution! It doesn’t matter who is in the line up and who isn’t. I mean these guys get paid to play! If the Canes fans want to fall back on the same excuses for this past Saturday’s thrashin’ like most did last season, then why even bother playing the season? Just put the Canes a few games out of the playoffs and let the better teams go after the cup.
Face it! The Canes did little in the offseason. Is this something that is going to catch up with Carolina? Only time will tell. The thing that at the moment gets me is that Rutherford signed David Tanabe to a two year contract and now the N&O is reporting that he is battling Dennis Seidenberg for the seventh defenseman spot. Why should this be? I mean why not carry 8 defensemen? And to sign David Tanabe? No offense, but couldn’t Carolina used there money more wisely?
Now off my soap box and onto tonight’s game:
Both teams currently have a mirror image of each others record standing at 1-1-1. Toronto finally hit the win column with a Saturday overtime victory against the Montreal club that beat Carolina in overtime beginning the season. Both teams come into the game with question marks at some positions. For the Maple Leafs, it is in net. Vesa Toskala – who Toronto picked up in the offseason – so far has taken the reigns of being the number 1 netminder but for how long? As for the Canes, well their questions are going to be who is available. It appears that Mike Commodore might be out for the contest as well as Andrew Ladd. Corey Stillman might be able to finally suit up for a game this season. All in all, Carolina has to simply play like they did against Pittsburgh. If Carolina comes out flat, it will be a long game to watch for Hurricane fans.

Deja vu? Please dear God no!

First and foremost – please no deja vu as in last season with the first two openers at home and raising/unveiling a banner twice. The result of Fright Night 1 and 2 from last season was a shootout lose and a taken out behind the woodshed but whippin’! For the love of God, please Carolina do not attempt to make the fans that come out to tonight’s game feel like it is the home opener because this might be news to you –IT ISN’T!

Now, before we can look ahead to tonight’s game, lets take a look back at Wednesday’s overtime lose to Montreal. All in all the issue with the home opener was that Carolina could not hit the broad side of a barn! If memory serves me right – and I have had a few adult beverages since then so it might not – the Hurricanes missed something like four open nets. That in my mind is what turned the tide. Well that and zebra nation. And can anyone tell me what in the world the Hurricanes did to offend zebra nation? I mean Justin Williams aka Willy was crushed to the ice by a cross check after the whistle had blown and nothing was called. Fast forward to overtime where Nic “the secret weapon” Wallin gets called for a cross check in front of the net. I admit it might have been a cross check and a penalty but if you didn’t call it in the 3rd period, how for the love that is holy, can you call it in overtime? Would that have been called if this were a playoff game and in overtime? I ask the zebra nation to focus and call the game and not the players!

Now, on to tonight! I am stoked and ready to go. The cooler is in the truck, the flags flying when I drive, the jersey (number 11 Williams is you must know) is hung and ready to we worn! The power play from Wednesday night might have been a concern for most persons watching the game. Carolina went something like 1-7, but out of those seven chances with the man advantage, Montreal was called for “delay of game” three or four times. Delay of game – player in own defensive zone firing puck over glass without it being deflected by another player or glass itself!

The thing that concerns me is the defense or lack there of for some of the game as well as the way that Montreal took the play to Carolina in the second and third periods of Wednesday night’s game. If – and I know that if a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his arse when he hopped – Carolina can tighten that defense up and take the play to the Pens for a full 60, I don’t see how Pittsburgh can get a win. The only other concern – and this is because I am no fan of the guy – Johnny Grahame “Cracker” in net. I presume that he plays tonight and Ward goes tomorrow when the Canes play the Caps in DC.

No hangover! No excuses!

For the Carolina Hurricanes, there can’t be any time sitting in ‘idle’. This season, the Canes need to get off to a fast start. There can’t be any excuses. Last season was lost before it ever started. Carolina was not mentally nor physically ready for the start of the 06-07 season. This season must be different.
With the pickup of Matt Cullen and Jeff Hamilton, many are stating that the Canes power play should be better than last season. Also, many are believing that since Cullen is back in the fold, Carolina should win more shootouts if the games come down to that. I personally hope that Carolina has limited overtime games and that the Canes can get the check in the left column before it ever goes to a shootout.
The defense to me is still a big question mark. Carolina did not make any moves on the defensive side other than letting Anton Babchuk head back across the Atlantic and back to his home country of Russia. Dennis Seidenberg should get some more playing time on the 3rd line and I believe that if he can improve from a season ago, he can be the defensive stop that the Carolina Hurricanes are looking for and the reasoning they traded away Kevyn Adams .
Enough about my opinion of what the Canes need to do, lets just drop the puck on this 2007-2008 season. Something that Carolina does tomorrow night as they host the Montreal Canadians for the first of two home games before hitting the road for a six game road trip while the state fair is in town. After the Pens visit, Carolina’s next home game is October 22 against the Canucks of Vancouver.