GDT: PANTHERS @ HURRICANES

[cptjeff]

The complaining about Aho is beyond insane. They have 3 goals in 2 games. He has 2 assists and was on ice for all 3 of them, and none against. Dude isn’t McDavid. Sorry.

He's also beaten Bob and hit a post on at least 2 occasions. A couple millimeters and he's the leading scorer in the series and has won us 2 games.

He's not a guy who's going to physically dominate play all game. He's a guy who will appear out of nowhere and get stellar chances. He's done that, and they haven't gone in due to some bad bounces. He's been fine. I'd certainly love to see more from him, but he hasn't exactly been that far off.

To me, the biggest thing is that the Panthers know how to defend against the dump and chase game that we play. They lock us along the boards and force turnovers, and we never get to the center. Exact same thing we do to other teams, and they're doing it just as well as we do. Ultimately, we have two options- hope we get the bounces for 4 out of 5 games playing the same style or change up our system to allow for more traditional plays off the rush.

If you consider these games to be 50-50 coin flips playing the same style, (and given the OT that seems fair), there's an 18.75% chance of us getting at least 4 games in 5 where the bounces go our way if we just keep doing what we've been doing.

Changing the system in the middle of a series is a ridiculously hard thing to do. But if you don't, your odds of winning are just 18.75%, and those are not very good odds, even if they're not impossible.

 

[cptjeff]

I think I wanted a Bertuzzi more than Meier. That’s not saying much because I never really cared about Meier, I think he’s a player that rings up numbers on a bad team that features him. Teams know they can win without shutting him down so no one really focuses that hard on him. Putting him a high tension playoff situation when he hasn’t been in it for years was no gimmie.

Bertuzzi excels in these situations. He’s Tkachuk lite. We could’ve afforded that trade. My only reasoning for not being vocal earlier about this one is the fact I dislike rentals in general. I’d want Bertuzzi to stay a few years.

I'll admit that I was quite scared by Bertuzzi's extremely poor season up to that point. Took a lot of penalties and didn't score, and had way too big a dollar amount for that. But he certainly hit the reset button big time and I'd love to grab him in the offseason. We need that kind of player desperately.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Sorry if I was nasty last night. I was really wasted. And in an understandably ugly mood as I'm sure most were.

 

[CanesUltimate11]

I agree completely.

I was just kind of pointing out that that I think there’s a slight disconnect between where us fans think certain players fall in the depth chart vs the coaching staff.

I mean Rod has actually referred to Staal as his #1 center, even though ice time tells a different story. But I honestly do think Rod views him as the #2 at a minimum.

I look at the current line combinations as KK getting a demotion to the third vs Necas and TT being moved to the third line. Either way other than Martinook scoring at a totally unsustainable pace to start the playoffs I don’t think these current line combinations are going to work against this FL team.

Edit to add: I think it actually points to a larger problem that the organization has had. Ever since he signed his current contract they’ve tried to make Staal a 2nd line center. It started with the get him out of Crosby and Malkins shadow and his offensive numbers would improve and they’ve never really hit that 2nd line center on a championship team type of level. He’s an elite 3rd line center and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I agree that early on in his tenure there was that desire to force him into the 2c role and see how his offense grows. I don’t think they are still trying to make him into a #2 center anymore but when he goes up against the other teams number 1 then his ice time is going to reflect that.

Ok, I wasn’t seeing it, but I admit to being high and drunk at the time.

I don’t think the broadcast ever showed it directly so you didn’t miss much

 

[Stickpucker]

That was a gut punch no lie, but let’s put it in perspective. After Svech went down , I had zero expectation we would be here. We are here and however unlikely we could still make this a series. It’s house money for me still and sometimes these guys really surprise me.

After getting punched in the nuts you can either go cry in the corner or GO PSYCHO!!

....What will the Canes do?

 

[Unsustainable]

I didn't know you were a ref!

Weed, not meth

 

[Canes]

Aho has been adequate stats wise. But I think he'd be the first to tell you he should and wants to play better. Granted even if he does play better, the way some of his teammates are playing, it might not matter much.

 

[Chrispy]

Sorry if I was nasty last night. I was really wasted. And in an understandably ugly mood as I'm sure most were.

Wasn’t in a good space myself. Apologies for lashing back. Hope we’ll be good.

 

[Chrispy]

I'll admit that I was quite scared by Bertuzzi's extremely poor season up to that point. Took a lot of penalties and didn't score, and had way too big a dollar amount for that. But he certainly hit the reset button big time and I'd love to grab him in the offseason. We need that kind of player desperately.

Yeah, my biggest concern with Bertuzzi was giving up deadline rental prices for another Pacioretty scenario.

 

[Negan4Coach]

Wasn’t in a good space myself. Apologies for lashing back. Hope we’ll be good.

Yeah, its all good bro

 

[chaz4hockey]

I agree that early on in his tenure there was that desire to force him into the 2c role and see how his offense grows. I don’t think they are still trying to make him into a #2 center anymore but when he goes up against the other teams number 1 then his ice time is going to reflect that.


I don’t think the broadcast ever showed it directly so you didn’t miss much

KK's line versus Florida has been targeted at Bennett (which makes sense since he is Fl's most physical C...Q: is whether Maurice likes that matchup):

Aho:

Staal:

 

[VibesAlive]

That was my [being in the building] 10th consecutive ECF loss. 2 sweeps including Pittsburgh and
Boston.

I still have faith. Looking forward to winning game 5 at home to go up 3-2.

 

[Canes]

Wasn’t in a good space myself. Apologies for lashing back. Hope we’ll be good.

Yeah, its all good bro

I picked a good night to fall asleep early it seems. Otherwise I'd probably have been right in the middle of this lol. Glad cooler heads prevailed.

 

[WhiteTiger]

That was my [being in the building] 10th consecutive ECF loss. 2 sweeps including Pittsburgh and
Boston.

I still have faith. Looking forward to winning game 5 at home to go up 3-2.

10 straight ECF losses over 35 periods of hockey has to qualify as a form of cruel and unusual punishment. We really are due to for one of these games to go our way.

 

[ndp]

We need that kind of player desperately.

We need the kind of players who aren’t injury prone question marks when it comes to playing the majority of a season and the playoffs. Just like Patches, Bertuzzi ain’t worth a hill of beans in the press box, where he at some point will inevitably end up. Either that or treat those type of players with kid gloves, Anthony Duclair, Kucherov, so they’re guaranteed fresh and healthy when the playoffs do start.

I understand that injuries can happen to anyone at anytime but buying low on guys who haven’t played a full season in a while. Or are streaky producer’s even when they are healthy probably isn’t the best game plan when it comes to building long term sustained success.

 

[Stickpucker]

Talking about injury prone question marks it's kinda odd b/c usually Florida has some injury prone guys who have been really healthy.

Ekblad
Barkov
Bennett

 

[tarheelhockey]

That was a gut punch no lie, but let’s put it in perspective. After Svech went down , I had zero expectation we would be here. We are here and however unlikely we could still make this a series. It’s house money for me still and sometimes these guys really surprise me.

Good perspective here. Only one team gets to win its last game. Elimination is coming for everyone else, whether it’s a lottery team or a conference champion. Given the circumstances of the past few weeks this team has had a stellar April and May. The past two games ended badly but we’re talking about two absolute dogfight games against a white hot team. What we’re watching is damned good stuff.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

I'm still proud of this team. Beyond proud. Those were coinflip games, and I'll defend to the death that we actually outplayed Florida for most of game 2. Game 1, I'd say the same in regulation and perhaps OT #1.

Florida feels like a team of destiny. Getting Slavin's stick stuck in Burns's skates is like rolling snake eyes 10 times in a row level of unlucky. I've never seen that happen before, and it happens to occur on a penalty kill, and even still Staal is an inch away from taking that pass and clearing it.

Bob has made several superhuman saves. Yes, our goaltending has been excellent, but Florida has had to make several more high quality saves, and they have.

Also, the Cats are definitely getting away with playoff style physicality, as in doing a shit-ton of holding and hooking that gets uncalled. I literally said out loud last game that we need to haul down some guys near our net and see if it gets called, and minutes later Kotkaniemi gets called. I don't think we have the players to do as much hogtying as Florida has done, and if we did, I bet we'd get called for it more. It's that Boston mode of "We'll take one penalty and get away with nine more". Both teams are doing this some, but I think it's hard to argue Florida isn't doing it more.

I know this is complaining, but I do want to get it out. I'm a huge believer in this team. Even if we go out soon, I hope we keep playing with the tenacity they have shown so far.

 

[Daeavorn]

Im tired of complimenting bob. Gotta say. Im also tired of complaining about hot goaltenders.

 

[Lempo]

Im tired of complimenting bob. Gotta say. Im also tired of complaining about hot goaltenders.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Too many sausages?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Im tired of complimenting bob. Gotta say. Im also tired of complaining about hot goaltenders.

This is what the deep end of the playoffs feels like. Just about every team that makes the conference finals is riding a goaltending heater. Some years you get straight-up Halak'd or Giguere'd or Hasek'd and there's not a single thing you can do about it.

Bob posting a .971 across 10 periods on the road is pretty close to that level. He's made several saves that have reversed the W in these games.

 

[LakeLivin]

This is what the deep end of the playoffs feels like. Just about every team that makes the conference finals is riding a goaltending heater. Some years you get straight-up Halak'd or Giguere'd or Hasek'd and there's not a single thing you can do about it.

Bob posting a .971 across 10 periods on the road is pretty close to that level. He's made several saves that have reversed the W in these games.

Counterpoint: We want a Cup!!! Therefore, since the Canes lost both games against Bob so they should blow it up, starting with dismantling the Borg, replacing Brindy, and so on and so forth from the top of the roster right on down through the 4th line grinders! The only question should be: do we have to wait until we're actually out to start tearing it down?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Counterpoint: We want a Cup!!! Therefore, since the Canes lost both games against Bob so they should blow it up, starting with dismantling the Borg, replacing Brindy, and so on and so forth from the top of the roster right on down through the 4th line grinders! The only question should be: do we have to wait until we're actually out to start tearing it down?

The amazing thing is, if we lose these next couple of games there will 100% be people saying non-ironically that they should start over with a new core that can "get it done in the playoffs".

 

[Joe McGrath]

I can’t wait to hear about how this is all because they qualified Bear.