GDT: Hurricanes VS Senators 11/24 5pm

[Discipline Daddy]

Jordan Staal is a beast at getting the puck up the boards. He unfortunately usually converts it into a low percentage scoring chance, but I think a lot of that is because he seems to always be the last guy out there for a shift, chipping it in deep for the next line. He also doesn't play with the most offensive talent. But I noticed Jordan Staal a lot today. Eric was great as well (much more noticeable, to be fair).

Faulk made some gaffs but he looked really smooth in the 2nd and 3rd. If you have to pin the success of this team on one person, it's either Justin Faulk or Cam Ward for my money. When they're playing confidently this team is just 1000x better.

And this is the first game in a long time in which we had a lead and actually played well. We outshot the Sens in the 3rd, despite owning the lead. I'm sure much of this is the forwards not collapsing every time the other team gets a shot off with Pete Dawg in net.

On the PP, the Senators really reminded me of our team. Not a ton of movement and trouble bringing the puck in the zone. However, even Ryan Murphy is no Karlsson.

And what is the deal with Ruutu? He actually looked really solid tonight. He was waaay faster than I've seen him in a while the past couple games.

 

[FlyingSquirrels]

I went to the game tonight and I have 1 thing to say: Thank God Muller has the cohones to scratch Gleason. This team is so much better with that stiff in the press box. Schedule maker helped us a bit too.

That is all.

 

[Unsustainable]

What a beaut

 

[gocanes88]

Canes win (in my presence).

Panthers win (seven in a row!).

Heels win (against all odds!).

DAY OF PERFECTION!!!

 

[HisIceness]

What a beaut

Just go right to the net and top shelf it baby!

 

[jeromeo87]

I think we can all see after this game and the last that the problem is not with Pitkanen being out of the lineup- it's just that the forwards need to bring it, which they finally did tonight.

Exactly, which makes you wonder why JR's focus is getting a puck-moving dman.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

Exactly, which makes you wonder why JR's focus is getting a puck-moving dman.

Because the defense is terrible at moving the puck? And haven't you been constantly making trade proposals for puck-moving defensemen?

Also, Ottawa is allowing 36 shots per game this season. They are a very bad defensive team. I don't think we should be judging the abilities of the Hurricanes based on this single game.

 

[jeromeo87]

Because the defense is terrible at moving the puck? And haven't you been constantly making trade proposals for puck-moving defensemen?

Also, Ottawa is allowing 36 shots per game this season. They are a very bad defensive team. I don't think we should be judging the abilities of the Hurricanes based on this single game.

I'm not saying Carolina doesn't need a puck-moving dman, I'm just wondering why that is what JR thinks Carolina needs more than anything else.

 

[What the Faulk]

They have the forward personnel to not be completely abysmal like they are. Too many people suck at once.

 

[TheOllieC]

What a beaut

That is honestly such a sick goal

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Carolinas Identity - were you at the game? Almost positive I saw you on the Jumbotron a couple of times...including during the Kiss Cam.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

The beauty of that Lindholm goal is he realized (before he got the puck!) he had a two-on-one with Skinner because Methot decided to play "chase the puck" with Staal.

Lindholm quickly attacks the net with Skinner waiting beside the net, which is why Cowen is forced to sit there and let Lindholm attack. Otherwise its an easy tap in goal for Skinner.

Great play.

 

[Frank Booth239*]

I've sat on the glass 5 or 6 times and the only player who ever made eye contact with me was Spezza....like half a dozen times. It was creepy.

Crawford from the Blackhawks likes to give me the dreamy stare. Did it a few weeks back during the shootout loss.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Carolinas Identity - were you at the game? Almost positive I saw you on the Jumbotron a couple of times...including during the Kiss Cam.

Wish I was back in State, but sadly I'm still trapped up here in Siberia

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I wasn't able to get back in time to make the game, so watched it on DVR. In the past, I've been critical of Ward because he had a tendency to make a great save, followed up by allowing a softy and hasn't "stolen" many games for the Canes. Even though the skaters played very well and the Canes eventually out shot the Sens, I feel Ward stole this game for the Canes. If he doesn't make that save on Greening, it's a 2-0 deficit and at that point, I could see them either giving up, or taking way too many chances defensively to try to score. I don't see them coming back from a 2-0 deficit.

Granted, he gave up a bad rebound which put him in the spot to have to make that save, but still, he kept the puck out of the net which is all that counts. You could see the Canes sort of wake up when that happened. Good to see some guys come out of their shell a bit this game, but I need to see this for more than 1 game so the key is if they can build on it.

Oh yeah, updated tracking (I know, small sample size, different opponents, etc..):

Record with Gleason: 0-6-1; GF/GA = -14
Record without Gleason: 9-4-4; GF/GA = -4

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Wish I was back in State, but sadly I'm still trapped up here in Siberia

In that case, sir, you've got yourself a doppelganger.

 

[RodTheBawd]

"Scratch Gleason! We're better with Harrison!"

20 seconds in, Harrison flops around missing his assignment resulting in a goal

....*crickets*....

Offense comes to life and scores 3 goals, Ward stands on his head

"SEE HOW MUCH BETTER WE ARE WITHOUT GLEASON IN THE LINEUP"

The guy has struggled a bit coming off a head injury, put the pitchforks down. Same lot of you screaming about Ruutu, who has steadily been getting better and better each game

(awaits the apologists and excuses)

 

[What the Faulk]

I've been tracking Gleason's record in/out of the lineup too, but it should be noted that the teams he's played against are a combined 104-44-15 and are 2, 5, 7, 10, 11(x2), and 20 in goals scored.

 

[bluedevil58*]

Ruutu was out an extended period of time and just came off major surgery. Gleason had a pre-season to get into gear. The guy has not just sucked recently but has also sucked the last 3 years...

 

[Novacane]

Ruutu was out an extended period of time and just came off major surgery. Gleason had a pre-season to get into gear. The guy has not just sucked recently but has also sucked the last 3 years...

Except Gleason got injured in the preseason.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I wonder if having a ruptured ear drum could be causing Gleason's already questionable balance to suffer? Though to be fair I don't think his play has been as God awful as some seem to think.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I wonder if having a ruptured ear drum could be causing Gleason's already questionable balance to suffer?

That would be a fair assumption. The ear drum is the balance organ, so any injury affecting it would be a direct blow to one's ability to play hockey at 100%.

 

[geehaad]

I was in the Gleason > Harrison camp before he came back from injury, but now I see little difference between the two. Both good and bad.

 

[caniac315]

If Eric Staal was back to his powerhouse ways last night the way the media is making it out to be, I guess I missed it. So he got an empty net goal. Big deal. The times I saw him on the ice he seemed like his same lazy self, not seeming too bothered to do much but take up space.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

"Scratch Gleason! We're better with Harrison!"

20 seconds in, Harrison flops around missing his assignment resulting in a goal

....*crickets*....

Offense comes to life and scores 3 goals, Ward stands on his head

"SEE HOW MUCH BETTER WE ARE WITHOUT GLEASON IN THE LINEUP"

The guy has struggled a bit coming off a head injury, put the pitchforks down. Same lot of you screaming about Ruutu, who has steadily been getting better and better each game

(awaits the apologists and excuses)

Knew I could get you to respond.

Seriously though, neither Harrison nor Gleason have played particularly well. If you think Gleason has, then I don't know what to say as we see the game differently. The fact that the coach made him a healthy scratch should tell you what he thinks as well, so this isn't some fan based assessment. He isn't the only one struggling, but he's the highest paid defenseman who right now, can't hold down a bottom pairing role.