Up next: Eric Staal, Ray Whitney and the Carolina Hurricanes
by FrankD on Mar 11, 2010 10:25 AM EST
in 2009-10 game previews
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Print[SBN Hurricanes blog - Canes Country]
Record:27-31-8 (13th in the East)
Scorers:Jussi Jokinen (27g, 27a), Eric Staal (20g, 32a), Ray Whitney (19g, 30a)
If not for such a terrible start to the season, with a combined 5-17-5 record through the first two months, there's a good chance Carolina would be a certifiable threat right now for a spot in the playoff run. Unfortunately for the Canes and their fans, the poor start dug a hole way too deep for any team to try and rebound from. Win streaks have been spotty at best and injuries to Eric Staal, Cam Ward and Tuomo Ruutu were of little help as well. Despite coming back from a brutal leg laceration on behalf of Rick Nash's skate backn in November, Ward has missed a few more recent games due to back issues. Can't say it's been the best of seasons for him, but he is expected to resume skating again and will at some point return to the ice for the Canes this season. As of today, the Canes more or less have to win out the remaining 16 games on the schedule if the hope to play in the postseason.
In other words, it's safe to say the season is over for Carolina.
Tonight the Pens embark on a five-game road trip, the second longest of the season. Perhaps the most crucial part of the next five games rests on Prudential Center ice in New Jersey. Here's a quick glance at the sched:
| Date | Team |
| 3/11 | @ Hurricanes |
| 3/12 | @ Devils |
| 3/14 | @ Lightning |
| 3/17 | @ Devils |
| 3/18 | @ Bruins |
As of today the Pens hold a three-point lead over the Devils, but NJ still has one game in hand. When you consider how poorly Pittsburgh has played against the Devils this season (0-4) you'd hope for a dramatic flip in luck as both enter into the thick of the playoff race. That's a big four points potentially up for grabs at The Rock that would no doubt provide a significant boost to the Pens' lead in the Atlantic.
In two previous instances this season the Pens hit the road for five games: October 30 - November 7 (Record: 1-3-1) and January 9 - 16 (Record: 3-2). NJ is, without a doubt, the team to beat on this trip. Twice over I might add.
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Carolina’s gonna tab Justin Peters, who’s off to a great NHL start, to play tonight.
Peters is 3-1-1, .943 sv % and a 1.77 GAA. Seems NHL players don’t have a book on him yet and he’s played well.
Hopefully the Pens are the first ones to figure him out.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Good eye. Wasn’t sure if they’d go with him or Legace.
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The played Legace last night in Washington, he could use the break!
(I actually saw on twitter the other day their plan was Legace last night, Peters tonight, the coach announced)
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 11, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Is he new? The only Peters I can recall playing in the NHL is Andrew, the one that got bit by Jarkko Ruutu, and he’s a forward (who now, interestingly enough, plays for the Devils). Is he a young rookie, or a Jimmy Howard-esque rookie who’s kind of getting up there in years but didn’t get a chance to play up for the big club until now?
This is his 4th year as a pro, a high 2nd round pick that’s worked his way up to the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
by Hooks Orpik on Mar 11, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Carolina’s an incredible 8-1-1 in their last 10 games….It may be too little too late, but they’ve been playing some great hockey, even after the trading deadline where they dealt away several NHL players for mainly future picks/prospects.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
I honestly don’t know how Carolina’s general manager still has a job after going from Eastern Conference finalists in last year’s playoffs to the basement of the National Hockey League with what is essentially the exact same roster they had last season. I know Cam Ward was injured for a stretch and they had some goaltending issues as a result, but they weren’t getting the kind of effort they needed from their other players, Eric Staal especially. At this point it doesn’t really matter how well they play down the stretch because the odds of them making the playoffs are not good at all – I mean, they would need to win nearly all of their remaining games while the teams in front of them competing for the 8th and final playoff berth would have to lose nearly all of theirs for Carolina to get in. That’s kind of ridiculous.
Yeah like I said more or less win out the rest of the season. And that means they can’t afford OT or SO losses either.
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Well, 14-0-2 will get them there. But you get the point.q
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
He still has a job
because he is the great Jimmy Rutherford.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
Look, Carolina played over their heads a bit last season, and many of their top guys just got really, really old, really, really fast. Guys like Walker and Brind’amour and Cullen and even Whitney are all having significantly down years, because they’re all currently collecting Social Security (or the Canadian equivalent).
Other core players like LaRose and Samsonov are just having rough seasons.
It’s a bit much to call for Rutherford’s head in this.
Especially with the injuries they’ve had. I don’t think the Pens season would be so hot right now relying on Michael Leighton or Manny Legace for most of the season.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
Going to the game tonight! Super pumped
Company tickets that no one uses rocks!!!!!!
"The tradition argument is what has-been's use when they've got nothing left currently to brag about. You can drag out all the numbers you want. Those banners in your stadium don't pass, catch or play defense."
-RIP FSU Football
by krempmasterflash on Mar 11, 2010 2:54 PM EST reply actions
His back is acting up. Think he missed 7 games.
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Interesting stat per NHL.com
Since the Hartford Whalers relocated to Carolina in 1995, the Penguins and Hurricanes have met 59 times in the regular season — and they’re all even. Pittsburgh Carolina each have won 26 games, while the other seven finished in ties. Both teams have accumulated 62 points by earning three extra points with OT or shootout losses.
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