GDT: Game day thread, the day before the game day. (CAR vs NJ)

[Roboturner913]

Skinner seems about the same to me. Rask, on the other hand, has been mostly invisible for 4-5 games now.

I can't be the only one that noticed that it was Ryan, not Rask, at center on that line late in the game, and that it was Skinner and Ryan cycling around and creating chances and Rask not contributing much to the situation. I'm starting to wonder if he's been playing hurt.

I'd like to see Skinner take Stempniak's place on that line with TT and Aho. Stemp makes too many bonehead plays to be logging time on what is essentially the no. 1 offensive line right now. I don't think you can be too afraid of ruining chemistry when things have gone as cold as they are.

 

[Joe McGrath]

The start of the3rd period Stempniak was with Rask and Skinner and Aho was with TT and Staal. That opened things up a bit. It also created a line of McGinn-Ryan-Nordstrom which would qualify as one of the worst 3rd lines in the history of ever.

 

[CandyCanes]

The start of the3rd period Stempniak was with Rask and Skinner and Aho was with TT and Staal. That opened things up a bit. It also created a line of McGinn-Ryan-Nordstrom which would qualify as one of the worst 3rd lines in the history of ever.

But the funny thing is that McGinn-Ryan-Nordstrom line was generating some of the best scoring opportunities in the 3rd. But mostly from McGinn, he was moving last night.

 

[CandyCanes]

Also has Aho and Skins played any ES time each other yet?

 

[Anton Babchuk]

Rask has been invisible for a lot longer than 5 games. I'd say about 25 games or so. He'll score a goal here and there and pick up some cheap assists after Jeff Skinner does something but he's a non factor for about 90% of every game. Tired of watching the puck just roll off his stick for no reason and an absolute refusal to engage physically at any point in time. If he gets pressured along the boards he'll just cough up the puck. He's gotten a free pass because Jeff Skinner got him a bunch of freebie assists to start the year so his production is still decent.

I wonder what this board would be saying if Lindholm started the year with Skinner while Rask played with Teravainen who took about six weeks to mentally arrive from the World Cup. Lindholm = breakout season ?!?! Rask = worst contract ever?!!

Derek Ryan is another guy who fans thought was good because he picked up some Jeff Skinner points. Now has 1 goal and 4 assists at ES despite unbelievably favorable usage. Not an NHL player outside of the powerplay where his deficiencies don't matter as much.

 

[Roboturner913]

Also has Aho and Skins played any ES time each other yet?

No, and this is something that needs to happen at some point. I don't even care who the 3rd guy on that line is.

I also don't get separating Nordy and Stalberg. Those two were born to play together. If we're going to have gaping holes in the lineup, I'd rather put Nordy-Jmac-Stalberg back together and use that as the third line the way they did when Staal and Lindy were both out.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yep, but credit to Skinner, he's handling it very well and staying on his game.

Yeah, he did a nice job playing through it last night. The Caps got to him and it showed, and I suspect that's why the Devils came at him so hard.

I said the same a couple games ago, but the problem is, until Lindy gets back, what are the options? Peter's really can't change the Aho-TT-Stempniak line as it's the team's best right now and the only one regularly generating offense.

With the way Stempniak's playing, his spot shouldn't be sacred. Aho and TT, I agree that's gotta stay together. I wonder what happens if you swap Ryan and Stempniak. edit: I left this half-written for 20 minutes and everybody else beat me to it.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Well I stand corrected, I guess there are some options. It's a little bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic because there are 2-3 guys that aren't really NHL material, but something needs to change so might as well give it a shot. Hopefully Lindholm and Faulk are back sooner rather than later. Playoffs are already a long shot, but after the STL/CHI trip, the Canes have a number of home games in a row. For the most part, the season is over if they don't make hay in those games.

 

[Unsustainable]

I was posting the FB response of Skinner not being on the score sheets.

If you don't watch the games and only stat watch it makes it seem like he disappeared

 

[Roboturner913]

It is weird that they didn't seem to have issues fielding a solid offensive lineup when both Staal and Lindholm were out, but with just Lindholm out everything has fallen apart. I wonder if any part of that is because Ryan can only play center.

 

[Joe McGrath]

It is weird that they didn't seem to have issues fielding a solid offensive lineup when both Staal and Lindholm were out, but with just Lindholm out everything has fallen apart. I wonder if any part of that is because Ryan can only play center.

Probably has more to do with Faulk being out.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Probably has more to do with Faulk being out.

From where I sit, probably 80% Faulk and 20% Lindholm.

Faulk being out is really making life difficult on the PP and it throws off our defensive pair matchups at ES. Slavin looked fantastic with the puck last night, but nobody on D other than Murphy has a shot worth worrying about.

Lindholm being out screws up our lines more than anything. Meh though he may be, he fills an important niche in our lineup. It's enough to make me appreciate him more, and also be a little more intensely disappointed that he's probably never going to fill that niche at a very high level.

 

[NotOpie]

I was posting the FB response of Skinner not being on the score sheets.

If you don't watch the games and only stat watch it makes it seem like he disappeared

Neither Skinner nor Rask has scored in the last 5 games. It is not for want of trying. However, Jeffy is trying too hard on many nights where earlier in the season he made more nifty passes to his linemates. That made defenders respect what is a very nice skillset for Skins - he can pass, but he devolves into a guy who tries to do it all on his own. Ultimately it often puts Skinner in a position where he doesn't have the puck and is double or triple covered so he can't get to the puck when passed to him. That's what has happened to Rask who is a good but not great distributor. Whomever said they think he might be playing hurt is probably close to the truth. Recall, he had off season shoulder surgery and now, a lack of conditioning or muscle development in the offseason would start to show. He's going to have to struggle through if that's the case.

Regardless, Rask is much more effective as an offensive player below the dots. Skinner is better when he initiates above the dots but ends up below the dots post-pass or shot, sniffing for the rebound or slight opening.

In the last 5 games neither of those things happened....or, and I think Ryan playing center is only a faceoff thing as Rask's numbers, which used to be respectable, have declined significantly in that regard while Ryan is winning a lot of faceoffs. Again, I think this reflects on Rask's missed body work because of the surgery.

 

[NotOpie]

I cringed when I heard Brind'Amour say that they "just need to get shots on net". That's Maurice-level simplicity that doesn't work well against a very good goaltender playing in his second game in as many nights after recording a shutout. You just don't want to let that guy see a ton of shots from well outside the crease because you let him get into a groove and stop your offensive flow by constantly making a relatively easy save and getting a whistle. The Canes can be quite inept offensively against defensive-minded teams, but I don't think it means that you abandon the style you typically play. To me, the "always put the puck on net" directive stifles creativity, and that's what some of these players do well.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe he meant they were getting a little too cute with the puck and he wanted them to try and translate "fancy passing" into real offense? Not sure, but I had the same reaction, particularly because the Canes have little to no net front presence so "shots on net" = "easy saves". It would be one thing if we had Holmstrom camped out in front of the net, but we don't.

To a certain extent I agree with both of these points. However, there's a difference between putting shots in the middle of a chest protector or nipple-high, glove side and banging shots off pads and blockers to get a good rebound. But then again we have so few players camped out in front of the net, or even just crashing the net. As much hate as Stempniak has been getting lately, he does, at least, crash the net and make the attempt to screen the goalie. Why Jordan Staal doesn't plant his big ass in front of the net on every power play is beyond me. He spends more time on the half wall or behind the net....and he's not a good enough passer for that positioning. Heck, little Sea Bass even goes to the dirty areas.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

The game winning goal last night was a guy just throwing it at the net and getting lucky.

I know fancy plays make the highlight reels, but a non insignificant amount of goals in the NHL come from plays that don't register as scoring chances.

 

[geehaad]

Neither of you are describing the same thing that I'm thinking of when I hear "shoot everything". I'm not talking about the power play, and I'm not talking about taking a screened shot. I'm talking about shots off a 3-on-2 rush, point shots with no traffic, or after *finally* getting control after a board battle and wristing it the net. And yes, absolutely, shots straight into the chest of the goaltender. That counts!

 

[NotOpie]

Neither of you are describing the same thing that I'm thinking of when I hear "shoot everything". I'm not talking about the power play, and I'm not talking about taking a screened shot. I'm talking about shots off a 3-on-2 rush, point shots with no traffic, or after *finally* getting control after a board battle and wristing it the net. And yes, absolutely, shots straight into the chest of the goaltender. That counts!

Which was my point....and I am agreeing with you. I think you throw shots at the net, but at least try and make it somewhat of a competitive shot, or you wait until you can...that's what I was alluding to.

Even Tripp realizes that you can blast a shot at a pad in the hopes of getting a juicy rebound....but what's frustrating is when discretion is the better option...wait until you have the numbers....get the goalie moving side to side....that sort of stuff.

Then again, we're often guilty of "one pass too many".

BTW, did anybody see Teuvo's late 3rd period wrister where he missed the small nook on the blocker side high corner by about an inch? That kid is a sniper and he needs to continue to use that skill.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Then again, we're often guilty of "one pass too many".

That was definitely the case last night, moreso than in an average game. I didn't see the interview but I can agree with the sentiment that we passed up too many shooting opportunities.

 

[Roboturner913]

What's frustrating is when they're just playing catch back and forth on the points. I've never been a "shoot, shoot" yelling guy but man, at some point you just have to say **** it and try to do something. There's nothing wrong with a wrist shot from out deep if that's what you have to do to get it through traffic. This team needs to learn how to score dirty goals.

 

[Unsustainable]

Aho is such a smart player.

I think it's time to try him with Skinner.

Skinner - Aho - ???

It would be nice if Gauthier was available for a call up to put there.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

What's frustrating is when they're just playing catch back and forth on the points. I've never been a "shoot, shoot" yelling guy but man, at some point you just have to say **** it and try to do something. There's nothing wrong with a wrist shot from out deep if that's what you have to do to get it through traffic. This team needs to learn how to score dirty goals.

At least on the PP, it didn't look like it was there. My personal opinion, was that because the Canes didn't have Faulk (and virtually nobody sets up camp in front of the net), the PKrs were rushing out at the defensemen not giving them any time and space and thus closing off shooting lanes. Easier to see if that was the case in the arena vs. at home, but it looked like that a bit to me.

Faulk has that uncanny knack of being able to get his shot off and get it on net....None of our other defensemen have that.

 

[RodTheBawd]

We were running some umbrella looking ******** with 2 down the middle and the halfwall guys playing near the tops of the circles playing catch. Rod needs to go back to the drawing board if he's trying to come up with something different without Faulk.

 

[NotOpie]

Rask has been invisible for a lot longer than 5 games. I'd say about 25 games or so. He'll score a goal here and there and pick up some cheap assists after Jeff Skinner does something but he's a non factor for about 90% of every game. Tired of watching the puck just roll off his stick for no reason and an absolute refusal to engage physically at any point in time. If he gets pressured along the boards he'll just cough up the puck. He's gotten a free pass because Jeff Skinner got him a bunch of freebie assists to start the year so his production is still decent.

Not sure I agree w/this...Rask has exactly 5 assists on Skinner goals and Skinner has 4 assists on Rask goals. They really are working well together and both are benefitting. This last stretch of 5 games has been brutal for them both. In Rask's case he only has something like 6 shots over that period. Other than this 5 game stretch, Skinner hasn't gone more than two games before he picked up a point. Rask had a stretch of 4 "goose egg" games earlier in the season. But other than that, they've both been fairly consistent scorers. Jeff needs about the same amount of assists as he does goals; that's when he's the most dangerous because it means guys are punching in his rebounds or he's finding guys in good shooting position.

By the way, Rask's 1st assist on a Jeff Skinner goal happened in Game 8 against the Rangers. He didn't get another assist on a Skinner goal until Game 17 vs. FL. Meanwhile Skinner picked up 3 assists on Rask goals in the same time period.

In truth Rask hasn't been living off of Skinner as much as they've been feeding off of each other. They both need to be going for either to produce at a high level.

At least on the PP, it didn't look like it was there. My personal opinion, was that because the Canes didn't have Faulk (and virtually nobody sets up camp in front of the net), the PKrs were rushing out at the defensemen not giving them any time and space and thus closing off shooting lanes. Easier to see if that was the case in the arena vs. at home, but it looked like that a bit to me.

Faulk has that uncanny knack of being able to get his shot off and get it on net....None of our other defensemen have that.

An interesting stat regarding the PP is that Aho doesn't have any PP goals, but about 1/3 of his assists are on the PP. He also doesn't have any game winning goals. More Aho on the PP on the half-wall (much like how the PP would go through Ray Whitney back in the day) is something the team needs to consider. He has more time and space so the adjustment to NHL speed is less of an issue....even with guys closing quickly a la last night.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

An interesting stat regarding the PP is that Aho doesn't have any PP goals, but about 1/3 of his assists are on the PP. He also doesn't have any game winning goals. More Aho on the PP on the half-wall (much like how the PP would go through Ray Whitney back in the day) is something the team needs to consider. He has more time and space so the adjustment to NHL speed is less of an issue....even with guys closing quickly a la last night.

I think the stats you mention are more a case of (a) small numbers as when you say 1/3rd, you are only talking about 4 assists on the PP and (b) He is 7th on the Canes in TOI/GP so he's not getting as much time on it and not on the 1st unit. I think that he'll get there though, but the Canes need to have a PP strategy that uses him as well. I agree with you that I think he can be effective on the half-wall as well.

RE: GWGs, again a bit of small sample size. The highest anyone on the team has is 2. Skinner has none as well. Stempniak has none. The Canes only have 16 wins vs. 21 L (incl OT/SO) so not that many GWG's to go around as of yet.

 

[tarheelhockey]

We were running some umbrella looking ******** with 2 down the middle and the halfwall guys playing near the tops of the circles playing catch.

It didn't occur to me till I read your description, but doesn't that sound an awful lot like the PP under Kirk Muller?