Will a healthy Gleason hurt us or help us?

[Sens1Canes2]

Faulk and Sekera are a good pair. anyhow, three big games coming up. the "still early" is ticking away and they need to get it together and start scoring. some optimism from the Isles game. not sure how this layoff is going to affect them but at least some of the injuries can heal.

"still early is ticking away" - I don't understand, are the latest results not satisfactory? Good game vs. Chicago, wins on the road against TO and NYI...all with a few key guys either out (Gleason) or just making their way back in (Ruutu).

What am I missing?

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

"still early is ticking away" - I don't understand, are the latest results not satisfactory? Good game vs. Chicago, wins on the road against TO and NYI...all with a few key guys either out (Gleason) or just making their way back in (Ruutu).

What am I missing?

Can't speak for rocky, but I am a bit concerned that we let the Islanders back into the game after taking a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period. Our goal differential is still an overall minus (only team currently in a playoff spot with that distinction) at -2. So there is some cause for concern.

On the other hand, coming back from 2-0 holes in the third against Chicago and Toronto gives hope for the optimist within us.

 

[Ole Gil]

Rocky is right. Playing at a 100 pt pace against a collection of the leagues best (and philly) isn't going to get it done if they want to make the playoffs.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Rocky is right. Playing at a 100 pt pace against a collection of the leagues best (and philly) isn't going to get it done if they want to make the playoffs.

Agreed, if they keep coming back from deficits, and holding leads like they are now, look forward to another lottery pick.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Can't speak for rocky, but I am a bit concerned that we let the Islanders back into the game after taking a 4-1 lead with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period. Our goal differential is still an overall minus (only team currently in a playoff spot with that distinction) at -2. So there is some cause for concern.

On the other hand, coming back from 2-0 holes in the third against Chicago and Toronto gives hope for the optimist within us.

I would say the slow starts concern me a little, but conversely they've shown the ability to dig deep and come back in third periods. That's something that seems to be a lot different than past years.

Also, giving up two goals against a frenetic Isles team in the third period isn't the end of the world.

Bottom line, I think I've seen many more good things from this team so far than bad. And, the first line hasn't really clicked save for one game. I am encouraged.

 

[rocky7]

playing like they have been without more offense is not sustainable. however, as I said, the last game offers cause to be somewhat optimistic. and, you have to be able to beat good teams. hanging with them doesn't cut it IMO (depends what you're expectations are I suppose).

while Ward has played well he hasn't shown a true consistency in front of a mediocre defense yet and Khudobin is hurt for maybe another two weeks. noone knows how it will affect his play when he returns. there's more but whatever................

 

[Mr Whipple]

The Isles scoring goals I attribute more to the Canes falling back from their offensive game into a defensive game. We've upgraded the D from the past, but it still isn't a shutdown D that can play that type of game.

What I'd rather see is the Canes go into a cycle game in the offensive zone and burn the clock playing keep away. Do what they do best, just without shooting the puck every chance they get and hold onto it instead. If the other team goes after the puck aggressively opening up the front of the net then make them pay for it.

But maybe that's just me?

 

[raynman]

...while Ward has played well he hasn't shown a true consistency in front of a mediocre defense yet and Khudobin is hurt for maybe another two weeks. noone knows how it will affect his play when he returns. there's more but whatever................

If anything the team effort, team defense and goal scoring haven't been consistent.

 

[rocky7]

If anything the team effort, team defense and goal scoring haven't been consistent.

I agree about the team defense and team offense. different system. I figure the effort has been there though.

 

[raynman]

I agree about the team defense and team offense. different system. I figure the effort has been there though.

Should've clarified. They haven't consistently put forth a full game effort.

 

[geehaad]

Ruutu has been a nice addition to the lineup already, despite coming off from 2 hip surgeries and the mystery preseason injury. He's drawn penalties, lives in front of the goalie, and has been a physical player along the boards.

I'm not a Ruutu bagger, but I can't disagree more...so far, at least. I believe his penalties taken/drawn ratio is still in the red...he has 6 PIMs, and they weren't acts of aggression, either. Physicality? By reputation, maybe, but I haven't seen much actual physical play so far. What I have seen, however, is a complete lack of puck skill. I might go so far as to say that he has been *killing* his line, especially when he was on Staal's line...so much so that Muller benched him in that game, altogether. I realize that you're essentially saying "don't trade Ruutu", which I agree with, but I think your assessment of his play so far is way off.

The Isles scoring goals I attribute more to the Canes falling back from their offensive game into a defensive game.

What allowed the Isles to come back in that game were penalties that put the league's 5th-best power play on the ice again and again. Officially, they only got 2 PP goals, but the third happened 2 seconds after Faulk's penalty expired. You could make the argument that this was from offensive pressure from the Isles, but what put the puck in the back of the net were avoidable penalties (thank you Jeff Skinner). The Hurricanes have an unsettling history of allowing goals within 10 seconds of an expiring power play.

And while I'm on the subject of penalties taken...what is it with this team's highest paid forwards and taking penalties in the offensive zone??? Staal (for ****'s sake, AGAIN), Semin, Skinner, Ruutu...cut it the **** out already.

 

[Mr Whipple]

What allowed the Isles to come back in that game were penalties that put the league's 5th-best power play on the ice again and again.

Yes, but why did they get those penalties?

Answer? See what I said. When you try playing a system you simply cannot, you tend to take a bunch of penalties.

 

[WWAD]

Gleason/Faulk was a very effective top pairing last year. If not Gleason, who are you people planning on sending out night after night against top lines if Faulk or Sekera go down? I like Ron Hainsey, but he's not exactly dominating play against the 2nd lines.

And Ruutu has been a nice addition to the lineup already, despite coming off from 2 hip surgeries and the mystery preseason injury. He's drawn penalties, lives in front of the goalie, and has been a physical player along the boards. Dvorak is fine, but Ruutu ups the skill level significantly on that 3rd line, and gives us a solid 4th with Dvorak and Bowman.

Why would we give up two things that are important to the team for Linus Omark, who passed through waivers without anyone batting an eye, and a KHL guy.

Half our current D lineup has gone through waivers without anyone batting an eye. Omark would fit right in.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Sekera no, Faulk no, Hainsey no, Murphy no, Harrison no (not in 4 years anyway). What is your point.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yes, but why did they get those penalties?

Because they aren't being smart? These penalties aren't just occurring late in the game when the team goes into a defensive mode, and these penalties for these players aren't unique to this season either.

 

[Ole Gil]

I'm not a Ruutu bagger, but I can't disagree more...so far, at least. I believe his penalties taken/drawn ratio is still in the red...he has 6 PIMs, and they weren't acts of aggression, either. Physicality? By reputation, maybe, but I haven't seen much actual physical play so far. What I have seen, however, is a complete lack of puck skill. I might go so far as to say that he has been *killing* his line, especially when he was on Staal's line...so much so that Muller benched him in that game, altogether. I realize that you're essentially saying "don't trade Ruutu", which I agree with, but I think your assessment of his play so far is way off.

Game 1: Drew 3 penalties playing on 4th line? (one against was a questionable diving call I think)
Game 2: 6 hits, 3 blocked shots, assist. (pretty cross-ice saucer to semin)
Game 3: Hot trash
Game 4: an assist on the Skinner goal

It's mostly subjective recollection though for the rest of the details. I definitely see him being slower, and a bit out of sync. But I see him as much better on the boards and willing to park himself in front of the net more than others. And in the end, I think offensively, he's just looks more skilled in the way he moves with and without the puck in terms of generating offense.

But he's competing with Dvorak and Bowman, so the bar isn't set too high.

In the end, definitely see your side of the argument. And without rewatching games, I'm just mostly guessing based on what I remember.

 

[Ole Gil]

Re team penalties, they're just getting too aggressive in the offensive zone. Every time you try to lift a stick, or get body position, or make a stick on stick play, hooking/holding/slashing come into the equation. Some of the players getting off to slow starts probably has them trying too hard to make something happen.

It's a tough balance to strike when you rely on a solid forecheck to create turnovers.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Sekera no, Faulk no, Hainsey no, Murphy no, Harrison no (not in 4 years anyway). What is your point.

Wait 2 out of 7 isn't half?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Semin's penalties are almost always a matter of being too aggressive on the forecheck. It drives me a little crazy sometimes, but in the big picture I accept it as part of his game. We knew this was an issue when we acquired him. I'd rather he continue to be that aggressive, and have to kill the odd penalty, than have him back off and float.

Eric Staal leads the league in tripping penalties. No, seriously: http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/player/_/stat/minor-penalties/sort/trippingPenalties
He's also one of the most-penalized forwards who isn't doing it by virtue of roughing minors. It seems to happen most often when he's engaged along the boards and starts trying to wedge people off the puck with his stick. As a veteran player he simply needs to be smarter than that.

Skinner is still prone to taking stupid, selfish penalties like the one late in the 1st that got the Islanders back in the game. Those are the ones that piss me off the most because they have nothing to do with effort and everything to do with a guy picking the wrong time and place to take a shot at someone. I'd imagine (and hope) that we will see that part of his game change gradually as he ages.

 

[DaveG]

You and I disagree entirely on that penalty that Skinner took in the Isles game. We were rolling at that point and looking to do more damage on that cycle, Carkner was looking to take a run at him, Skinner saw it coming and nailed him instead. Reminiscent of the hit that Oshie put on a CC player in college in that regard. It may have cost us by letting the Isles get back in the game, but I'd rather an opponent get back in the game in one game then have him take a hit like that and be out for 2 to 4 weeks and be ineffective the next couple months when he does return as usually happens.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

as long as skinner is sticking up for himself and not getting lit up every other game, i have no problem with him taking those penalties

 

[rocky7]

The Isles scoring goals I attribute more to the Canes falling back from their offensive game into a defensive game. We've upgraded the D from the past, but it still isn't a shutdown D that can play that type of game.

What I'd rather see is the Canes go into a cycle game in the offensive zone and burn the clock playing keep away. Do what they do best, just without shooting the puck every chance they get and hold onto it instead. If the other team goes after the puck aggressively opening up the front of the net then make them pay for it.

But maybe that's just me?

agreed. when was the last time you saw the top line maintain possession entering the zone, set up and cycle this season? IMO Muller is not playing these guys to their abilities. soon as they lose possession which is rapidly now, they all quickly back out and go into a defensive mode of team defense, 5 guys back and allow the opponent in. they end up getting bottled up in their zone. then exhausted to go on the offense. entirely different system that Muller installed in his camp. of course defense is important but scoring wins games.

with the top line scoring and with the addition of the current secondary scoring, this team could go very deep. the Hurricanes have as much talent as the vast majority of other teams in the league. it's not so much that they have been doing well, as it is the other teams in the METRO have started poorly. there is no way they maintain their standing playing this way. and I don't want to hear the but,...but, Semin, Staal, and Tlusty (three of the best players in the league who have learned multiple systems) aren't executing. bs. they are playing Muller's system to a tee.

IMO.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

You should say that in every single thread. Oh wait....

 

[tarheelhockey]

You and I disagree entirely on that penalty that Skinner took in the Isles game. We were rolling at that point and looking to do more damage on that cycle, Carkner was looking to take a run at him, Skinner saw it coming and nailed him instead. Reminiscent of the hit that Oshie put on a CC player in college in that regard. It may have cost us by letting the Isles get back in the game, but I'd rather an opponent get back in the game in one game then have him take a hit like that and be out for 2 to 4 weeks and be ineffective the next couple months when he does return as usually happens.

Or he could step into the check legally, not get KO'ed and not let the other team back in the game.

There shouldn't be an either/or dynamic between surviving the game and winning it.

 

[rocky7]

it's possible that Skinner just reacted. he's probably very conscious of being cranked and is learning how to protect himself. his game is going through alot of change. I figure he's doing pretty well all things considered.