GDT: Lightning V. Hurricane

[Navin R Slavin]

That was fun.

It doesn't mean shit.

 

[bluedevil58]

2 blue line bombers in the 3 pairings. Screen goal, take shots from point. Things bound to go in. Sounds simple and effective IMO.

 

[The Faulker 27]

A win is a win. New coach, new system, new players. Load this new vessel with wins, and go full thrusters on October 4.

 

[gocanes88]

Is that guy with the trivia one of the HF members?

At least SOMEONE noticed me

I didn't realize it was on the stream until someone tweeted me... guess more people than just those in-house saw my dorkiness.

 

[Identity404]

Booth really impressed, very poised.

Darling didn't give up any goals, but still looked shaky. It's a improvement over shaky and fat sob I guess.

 

[geehaad]

Hamilton reminds me of Pitkanen.
Pairing him with Slavin is drool-worthy.
Foegele isn’t going back down for a while.
Kuokk elevates talented players around him.
Darling had the worst-looking shutout ever.
But he needed it, desperately.
Maenaleinen blew his chance.
Gauthier will do better under RBA’s system.
PP#1 is awesome to watch.
Where does Svechnikov fit on the PP?
Necas knows how to load up his shot, ala Zadina.
Can’t decide if he’d do well to slow it down a bit.
TT’s stickhandling is just a joy to watch.
Our arguably best player was arguably our worst tonight.

 

[DaveG]

At least SOMEONE noticed me

I didn't realize it was on the stream until someone tweeted me... guess more people than just those in-house saw my dorkiness.

Thought that was you

 

[Svechhammer]

yep.... still confused

 

[FreshSeabass]

I have a bad feeling we are going to see the patented slow start from Aho.

 

[super6646]

Good to see Hamilton and Ferland scoring. Still rooting for those guys when we don't play you

 

[GoldiFox]

Necas sets up exactly like Ovechkin on the PP with the same one-timer (albeit slower and less accurate)

 

[A Star is Burns]

Darling had a couple of shaky moments, though I don't think even they looked as bad as his worst last year. He did have a few confident moments and saves after he settled in. Hopefully good results will lead to more confidence and positive consistency.

 

[HisIceness]

Good to see Hamilton and Ferland scoring. Still rooting for those guys when we don't play you

I love you(r avatar)

 

[Roboturner913]

I'm ready for the goddamned season to start right f***in' now

 

[DaveG]

Observations from the last 2 nights.
I didn't think Aho was bad tonight, though I appear to be an outlier on that opinion. On the flip side Maenalaenen outright looked like an AHLer and drug down the rest of that line. He may get another game but IMHO he just doesn't have the skill level to play a top 9 role in the NHL if this game was an indication. I'd like to see a line of TT-Aho-Svech or Ferland-Aho-TT get a shot before the end of the preseason.

PP#1 - holy shit was that fun to watch with two trigger men like that
PP#2 - I've been telling people for a while that I think Slavin has more to show offensively, I know it's just pre-season but he looked capable of running the 2nd unit tonight

Between what Wallmark, PDG, Koukkanen, Goat, McKegg, and McLovin showed the past two nights I would loathe being the guy that has to decide which 3 or 4 of that group has to be sent down.
Roy and Bishop looked good too, though they're behind Wallmark and McKegg at the moment. Probably one more game for each and the better of Roy and Bishop may get a 3rd game.

Darling. He at least looked positionally better tonight (likely as a result of losing weight) and moved around in the net better (definitely a result of losing weight), but still holy hell. His puck tracking is still like a damn cat trying to catch a laser pointer and his stick handling was really shaky even with that one nice outlet pass he sent up. Mrazek looked a lot more steady of what I saw of him. Would like to see Mrazek win the starting job with a 65-35 type split.

 

[DaveG]

also, I spent the first period right behind the penalty box in the 3rd row. I don't get why people pay that much for those seats. We moved up to the top of that section for the 2nd and 3rd and man what a difference does that make for following the game. SO much better for getting a feel for how a play is developing. Even as someone that plays I don't think I'd ever want to pay those kinds of prices to watch a game that low without being behind one of the nets. Thankfully those were freebies with hurricane relief donation.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Checkers should be stacked, anyway.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I didn't think Aho was bad tonight, though I appear to be an outlier on that opinion.

I don't think he looked bad. He had some high-profile mistakes that stand out in the memory more than all the little things he did right. A lot of offense still flowed through him. If anything, I thought TT was much less effective than usual while skating on the same line.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I don't think he looked bad. He had some high-profile mistakes that stand out in the memory more than all the little things he did right. A lot of offense still flowed through him. If anything, I thought TT was much less effective than usual while skating on the same line.

I thought he was pretty good defensively, anyway. 1C is s tough job.

 

[Wolfpuck]

Dougie Hamilton is the real f***ing deal.

That is all.

 

[urho]

I really like Kuokkanen. He's the kind of player that can really play well with talented linemates, a quality lacking with many bottom 6-guys. He's just so smart, reminds me a bit of young Jussi Jokinen in that regard.

 

[The Faulker 27]

Aho had a slow start the last 2 seasons. If he's playing in a new role at C, I'm expecting that won't change this year. We'll still be using words like "best" "player" "team" by the end of the season.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

also, I spent the first period right behind the penalty box in the 3rd row. I don't get why people pay that much for those seats. We moved up to the top of that section for the 2nd and 3rd and man what a difference does that make for following the game. SO much better for getting a feel for how a play is developing. Even as someone that plays I don't think I'd ever want to pay those kinds of prices to watch a game that low without being behind one of the nets. Thankfully those were freebies with hurricane relief donation.

I sat directly behind the canes bench at the only game I’ve attended in Raleigh. It was a cool experience seeing the players up close but I wouldn’t do it again. I’ve sat behind the nets and right on the glass in Toronto - same thing. Much prefer being up higher with a better view.

 

[Drivebytrucker]

Watching those first two games, you can't help but think that RBA is going to be starting Mzarek.

I'd honestly like to see McKegg take Rask's job at 4C until he gets back. He's a little older, has a more NHL experience.

We're young enough without starting another rookie

 

[Breakdowns]

I don't feel that I've been either positive or negative. And that goes for the past 20 years as a Canes fan/employee. I think I'm honest, and I have no trouble calling out dumb stuff when I see it. I'm not always very good at taking into account the power of word choice, and that's an issue I've been working on for a while now. But in the end, I don't see it as being negative when you say that bad decisions lead to bad results. And I don't think it's positive to say that good decisions seem to be leading to better results.

I've been a dick a lot in the past, and I'm not being as much of one lately. Maybe that's what you meant?

Yeah, you are right, your choice of words has been better, and it is why I thought that you are more positive about this season. I think your opinions lately have been very interesting and I agree almost with all of them!


As for the game, just saw the highlights, McLovin and Necas seemed great, Darling still looked uncomfortable playing, but he didn't gave up a goal. Hopefully this will continue!