Hurricanes early success, here to stay?

[Nordiques1979]

Just wandered if the Canes early success is just a bubble or will it last for good?

Mrazek as been surprisingly good so far, their defense in general was their power as expected, Faulk-Slavin-Pesce-Hamilton is way underrated.

They giving up just 25 shots by game, and are #1 in possession.

So will it last? And why?

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[RibFrabcus]

Just wandered if the Canes early success is just a bubble or will it last for good?

Mrazek as been surprisingly good so far, their defense in general was their power as expected, Faulk-Slavin-Pesce-Hamilton is way underrated.

They giving up just 25 shots by game, and are #1 in possession.

So will it last? And why?

The team feels different this year. Still dominating shot and xG share, but also actually outscoring teams as well. We'll see if they keep it up, but the team definitely has a different vibe this year.

 

[DannyGallivan]

I heard that they've outshot their opponents in every game by a wide margin. I saw them against the Jets yesterday and was duly impressed by their attack mode. How they were able to go on the attack so effectively and not give up more odd-man rushes was beyond me. The Canes and Devils will make the East much more interesting this season... especially in the playoffs.

 

[Mathios]

If the special teams get better, then yes, i think they are good to go, even with their shaky goaltending. Not cup contenders, but at least playoff-bound.

If they don't improve their PK and PP, it will lose them A LOT of winnable games and then it's the usual about .500 season. Which is okay, considering new coach, rookies, goaltending...

Could go either way, but whichever it is, they have a lot to improve.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Jordan Staal is a standout to me so far. Instead of being the defense shut down center he was last year. He's now shooting a ton and scoring at a PPG pace (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 pts in 6 games.)

Wouldn't surprise me if he got 30 goals (would be a career high for him) if he keeps this up all year.

 

[tarheelhockey]

FWIW, Mrazek’s game last night was the first time that he’s looked particularly good. The goaltending improvement has been more a matter of adding McElhinney and Darling being in the press box injured.

Goaltending continues to be a huge x-factor which will either save or sink their chances. The skaters in front of them have been greatly improved and it looks sustainable. Doubt they stay at the top of the division, but they should be in the playoff race.

 

[Nordiques1979]

Still wonder if Darling coming back will help them. I know he was in beast mode and motivated as never entering training camp.

Don't know what the deal to play Svechnikov on the 4th thought?

 

[Tryamw]

Still wonder if Darling coming back will help them. I know he was in beast mode and motivated as never entering training camp.

Don't know what the deal to play Svechnikov on the 4th thought?

Pretty sure it's just to ease him into NHL play. But our 4th line has played more then the 3rd most nights.

In regards to here to stay.
I expect to end up on the playoff bubble but outside still. I'll revisit that at the halfway point but I love the entertainment value they have And should be better next year.

 

[The Missing Piece]

I sure hope so, after they stopped doing the HFboards Hurricanes member draft there's no reason to hope they don't make the playoffs anymore.

 

[Svechhammer]

Just watching them, they look completely different this year. I don't think the W/L results are sustainable, but I think their play is. They just come at you offensively in waves, and aren't concerned with giving up an odd man rush because they trust the blue line to make up for it, and they're good enough defensively to make good on that. They're set up to win games giving up 3 or 4, but scoring 4 or 5.

Thing is, last night showed just how good they can be. Mrazek played a legitimate solid game in net while making some very good saves. They dominated play against a very good Winnipeg despite being on the road on the 2nd leg of a back to back and had it not been for Brossoit standing on his head, they probably win that game 4-2. If they are able to get any kind of reliability in net, they're going to win a lot of games, and they're possibly set up to win a lot of games anyway.

 

[Nordiques1979]

Pretty sure it's just to ease him into NHL play. But our 4th line has played more then the 3rd most nights.

In regards to here to stay.
I expect to end up on the playoff bubble but outside still. I'll revisit that at the halfway point but I love the entertainment value they have And should be better next year.

...and Necas still hasn't show his whole talent!

 

[Svechhammer]

...and Necas still hasn't show his whole talent!

You see it quick installments here and there. He's still struggling to catch up to NHL speed, but once he does, this team is going to have a few highly skilled forward lines that can score on anyone.

 

[Svechhammer]

Jordan Staal is a standout to me so far. Instead of being the defense shut down center he was last year. He's now shooting a ton and scoring at a PPG pace (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 pts in 6 games.)

Wouldn't surprise me if he got 30 goals (would be a career high for him) if he keeps this up all year.

I don't think its a coincidence he's starting to play like Brind'Amour now that Brind'Amour is coaching the team. Its almost like he was asked to fully sell out defensively under Peters, and is being given the green light to press play offensively under RBA.

 

[SabresSharks]

Certainly not the same old Canes. Brindy has them playing an uptempo, play-to-win game which is fun to watch. Entertainment value is way up.

They got a bit unlucky losing last night late in the 3rd. One scrambly line change was a big factor in Little's winning goal. They really deserved to make it to OT at least.

As the Canes crew above notes, goaltending is still a question mark, but I'd say they've got a decent chance to make the playoffs regardless. The forward lines aren't fully established yet, as young players like Svech, Necas, Foegele, Wallmark show what they're capable of doing, and who they mesh best with, at this point in their careers. There's probably some upside to an impressive start, if the inevitable tinkering by the coaching staff gets it right.

 

[Sam Spade]

Everyone picks them to make it every season, we have to be correct eventually. So I'll yes they make the playoffs.

 

[tom leafers]

i hope not, ive grown to love the annual HFcanes fan playoff draft.

in all seriousness i hope for the best for them

 

[Big Cactus]

I hope the best for them but I won’t be putting money on them to make it in. They’re always my darkhorse team to make it in, always have great advanced numbers but always get screwed by garbage goaltending. Maybe this year is different but I’ll wait and see.

 

[Narow]

I feel as their succes will depends a bit too much on that top line. Hope im wrong tho.

 

[Cor]

Looking at their numbers, it certainly appears sustainable.

That said, their goaltending worries me. Both Mrazek and McBackup can be quality backups, but both will get overworked in a starters role. Darling is pretty ungood as well, but will be given a chance to redeem himself when he returns I would imagine.

They have one of the best defenses in the league in my opinion, some good talent up front (some of them underrated) but their goaltending is incredibly worrisome.

Get a quality starter, and improve the forward depth a little at the deadline, and they should be one of the top teams in the East.

 

[Nordiques1979]

Looking at their numbers, it certainly appears sustainable.

That said, their goaltending worries me. Both Mrazek and McBackup can be quality backups, but both will get overworked in a starters role. Darling is pretty ungood as well, but will be given a chance to redeem himself when he returns I would imagine.

They have one of the best defenses in the league in my opinion, some good talent up front (some of them underrated) but their goaltending is incredibly worrisome.

Get a quality starter, and improve the forward depth a little at the deadline, and they should be one of the top teams in the East.

I think they will definitely start Darling as many games as they can until they go after another at the deadline (if in good position to make the playoffs).

Always thought that the Canes was the good choice for Darling seeing the defense in front of him. It was a major let down for me last season, if Darling fail this season, he will fail everywhere...

 

[Roboturner913]

I always thought Brind'Amour would be a great head coach, but I honestly figured it would be some other team hiring him.

He's the biggest difference IMO. The team on the whole plays just the way he used to play. Young legs don't hurt, but the older guys on the team like Staal and Justin Williams have more bounce in their step.

They're also just having fun and that comes from the new owner too. He's got a lot of criticism from so-called "hockey people" for shaking things up the way he has, but he's putting people in a position to be happy. The things they do with local media, the goofy little win celebration, Svech got this fancy plaque for his first goal, new fancy locker room, etc.

When people are happy they look forward to coming to work and doing their best. When the atmosphere is more blah or oppressive, they will do just enough to make themselves accountable, but they won't put their joy into it.

Goalie play will hinder this team. They will lose games where they severely outplay the other team. Otherwise they could be a top 5 to top 7 team right now.

 

[WJCJ]

I think they will have their ups and downs but I think that they are going to be a playoff team. Some of us have been thinking this would have happened a little sooner. Maybe wishful thinking or just getting ahead of ourselves or maybe they just needed some more experience. Whatever it is, I think that they are an up and coming team and their D is going to be among the best for the next probably 5 years and maybe beyond.

 

[57special]

Jordan Staal is a standout to me so far. Instead of being the defense shut down center he was last year. He's now shooting a ton and scoring at a PPG pace (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 pts in 6 games.)

Wouldn't surprise me if he got 30 goals (would be a career high for him) if he keeps this up all year.

Yeah, me too. Doesn't hurt to have talent around him. Now, he did score one with his knee against MN, so, he might cool off at some point. I do like the CAR D...they're not crazy good, but they're good, and should probably get better. I will say that all the shots are a bit misleading. They aren't always accompanied by a lot of good scoring chances.

CAR's speed is impressive.

Wasn't impressed by the PP, and the Goaltending will likely be an area of concern.

 

[Mikeyg]

Here to stay? Nah. Its the same old story in the metro, theres only room for 1 of njd/car/phi in a wild card spot I would think. Pit and wash will start stringing more wins together and cbj is just a flat out better team.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Here to stay? Nah. Its the same old story in the metro, theres only room for 1 of njd/car/phi in a wild card spot I would think. Pit and wash will start stringing more wins together and cbj is just a flat out better team.

CBJ may be a better team, but Carolina dominated the only matchup between the two thus far.