GDT: League of Justice @ Cowardly Smurfs, 7PM EST

[geehaad]

Hasn't Brent had some penalty kill time?

Didn't someone on this board establish some time ago that Tim Brent is not a penalty killer?

I seem to recall that...

 

[tarheelhockey]

Looking at the TOI stats, I think maybe we were just all off because we're judging 4th line TOI by Westgarth and not Brent? Brent's avg'ing about 7 minutes of even strength play a night. So they're just double shifting one of the wingers with the 4th line instead of playing Westgarth.

That seems reasonable?

This is why I've been griping so much about Westgarth. If Muller wants to play heavy to the top-6, that's fine... he can live or die by that sword. What I can't figure out is why you keep ANY player on the roster for about 3 shifts' worth of service, night after night. At least play a 7th defenseman or put a guy like Boychuk in there for a shot.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Three full days off in a condensed season is stupid. And very, very boring.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Isn't it about time for JR to inquire about Erik Cole? He's retiring after the season anyhow.

I kinda feel bad for the Canes, because if you think about it, we're a Tuomo Ruutu away from being a solid team up front. Losing him has really tossed everything into a jumble and made us a lot softer than we really are.

 

[geehaad]

we're a Tuomo Ruutu away from being a solid team up front. Losing him has really tossed everything into a jumble and made us a lot softer than we really are.

You think so? I was thinking that the scoring and/or threat of scoring has been pretty satisfactory so far this year, if not somewhat of a pleasant surprise (we're somewhat of a pessimistic group). The defense, on the other hand...

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

If we put Ruutu on the third line with his BFF forever Jokinen, we suddenly have three lines that can score AND forecheck efficiently.

Our third has done nothing, and when Skinner/E. Staal go into a slump, we will be screwed unless our bottom lines step it up.

 

[tomdundo]

If Ruutu is in last night, we have this...

Tlusty-Eric-Semin
Skinner-Jordan-Dalpe
Bowman-Jokinen-Ruutu
LaRose-Brent-Dwyer
Westgarth,Boychuk


Not Faulk-Not Faulk
Not Faulk-Not Faulk
Not Faulk-Not Faulk

Ward
Ellis

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

You think so? I was thinking that the scoring and/or threat of scoring has been pretty satisfactory so far this year, if not somewhat of a pleasant surprise (we're somewhat of a pessimistic group). The defense, on the other hand...

For me, at least, what I was excited about this year was not only the winger for Staal but the depth in the forward lines that we'd have. The top end scoring has been there, Semin, the Staals, and Skinner have been a force, especially in the last 3 games. The issue is that our 3rd and 4th line aren't as good as we thought they'd be.

Do you guys realize that if we add Ruutu to this lineup right now our lines would be:

Tlusty - Staal - Semin
Skinner - Staal - Dalpe
Bowman - Jokinen - Ruutu
Larose - Brent - Dwyer

No doubt our offense has been good so far and no doubt that our D is the problem here, but for goodness sake LOOK at that lineup. We go from having Fins and Skins being our best line last year to 2/3rds of that line being our 3RD LINE.

So I definitely get what he's saying. We have a great offense right now, no doubt. But, in my opinion, we are a Ruutu away from being an ELITE offense, especially if Bowman could show any kind of chemistry with Jokinen and Ruutu like Skinner did. We get those top 3 lines rolling at once? We'll be a matchup nightmare.

EDIT: Clearly you guys DO realize this, because I got beat by two people...

 

[geehaad]

It would appear as though folks are reading my post to have said "we doan need no steenkeen Ruutu". Not what I was intending. I was intending to say that I wouldn't characterize it as "they would be solid if they had Ruutu", but instead "they are solid despite not having him". They would be even better if he were in the lineup (though I'm guessing his wife Mrs Summer Ruutu would disagree with that statement), but without him they are still "solid" up front.

Certainly "solid" compared to what we've seen in the past coupla/few years, anyway.

 

[nobuddy]

It would appear as though folks are reading my post to have said "we doan need no steenkeen Ruutu". Not what I was intending. I was intending to say that I wouldn't characterize it as "they would be solid if they had Ruutu", but instead "they are solid despite not having him". They would be even better if he were in the lineup (though I'm guessing his wife Mrs Summer Ruutu would disagree with that statement), but without him they are still "solid" up front.

Certainly "solid" compared to what we've seen in the past coupla/few years, anyway.

Summer Ruutu is his sister, and she is involved with Jeff Skinner

 

[geehaad]

Summer Ruutu is his sister, and she is involved with Jeff Skinner

Ya know, you could have been a bro and corrected me when I first made the incorrect ID in the keeper league thread, so I didn't embarrass myself in front of the larger audience...

 

[Lazyking]

But embarrassing yourself is the caniac way.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

How dare you misidentify characters in Jeff Skinner fanfiction.

Infract plz.

 

[My Special Purpose]

It would appear as though folks are reading my post to have said "we doan need no steenkeen Ruutu". Not what I was intending. I was intending to say that I wouldn't characterize it as "they would be solid if they had Ruutu", but instead "they are solid despite not having him". They would be even better if he were in the lineup (though I'm guessing his wife Mrs Summer Ruutu would disagree with that statement), but without him they are still "solid" up front.

Certainly "solid" compared to what we've seen in the past coupla/few years, anyway.

I didn't read it that way.

As PTP and a couple others put it, the problem comes when we get *too* top heavy. If we're getting nothing from the bottom six, it puts too much pressure on the top six and forces Muller to play them too much when we're tied or behind in the third period. Ruutu makes us a lot more balanced, and also softens up the opposing defense with his physical forecheck. Both of those things were clearly lacking in the Boston game.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The good news is that our main board "worst team in the league" thread was the only one to get locked... so we've got that going for us.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

The good news is that our main board "worst team in the league" thread was the only one to get locked... so we've got that going for us.

Wait, so our main board "Are the Carolina Hurricanes the worst team in the League", complete with reasonable, well thought out (trolling) points as to why the 'Canes are bad was locked.

But the "Are the Sabres the worst team in history" isn't?

That doesn't make sense, two of the three Administrators on this site are Sabres fans!! And besides, we are tied with the Sabres in the standings!

 

[DaveG]

 

[keslerburrows]

Can someone explain to me how Tlusty is playing on the top line and still doesn't have a point! Killing my fantasy team! I love this guy and was happy to draft him but is there some reason to be concerned?

Thanks guys.

 

[Brock Anton]

Can someone explain to me how Tlusty is playing on the top line and still doesn't have a point! Killing my fantasy team! I love this guy and was happy to draft him but is there some reason to be concerned?

Thanks guys.

He could have a few goals so far, but he seems a step slow to me (which is odd, seeing as he played very well during the lockout). Semin and Staal have set him up nicely a few times and he's a split second too late and he gets stick checked.

IMO, he should be safe on the top line because there's really nobody else to put there at this point (Skinner/Jordan/Dalpe have shown too good chemistry to split up).

 

[tarheelhockey]

Tlusty has been in on a couple of goals, but he plays the kind of game that doesn't always translate into hockey-card stats. With Semin and Staal on his line, he's got a clear mandate to be the defense/screens/boardwork guy, so I'd expect him to trail significantly behind his linemates in the stat department. Still, he should pick up some points any day now, especially if Semin starts putting the puck in the net.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

2 of the Canes losses are to Boston and Tampa who continue to play extremely well. Boston leads the east and has at least 1 point in every game this year (5-0-1) and is 4th in the league in GAA allowing only 1.9 GA/Game. Tampa is also 5-1 and leads the NHL in scoring averaging almost 5 goals / game.

That terrible 1st period against Florida is really the difference of being 3-2 with losses against 2 of the better teams early in the season. If Team defense and goaltending can improve some, the team might squeak into the playoffs. If not, it will be another top 10 pick.