GDT: Thrash @ Canes (minus Svech)

[Borsig]

How was Pulju? Did he play with Aho?

Yes. Line has been Poolparty, Aho, Jarvis. He fanned on one last night and does seem to kind of be a little off balance but he isn't bad. The line has had decent, and had looks but has not scored since they were together.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Pulju has been snake bitten for a year now. Would be so important for him to get the monkey off his back fast.

It took JK a while to get established in the Canes framework and produce. Hoping for same for JP.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Right now, I see two issues with Jesse and the 2nd one of them can be "newness" to Carolina.

1) He's not as strong on the puck as you'd expect. He's big, skates well and likes to be physical, but loses the puck more than you'd expect in a battles on the boards even against smaller guys and/or does't come away cleanly with the puck. Not sure if if it's just balance, lower body strength, hands or what.

2) He makes plays that are "simple" plays even when they aren't necessarily the right play. He'll be behind the net and throw it in front even if nobody is there or there's too many players from the other team there vs. holding onto it to make a play. He'll rush a pass or shot, even if it's not there or he can't get much on it, etc. This could be that he's still running on adrenaline or not comfortable in the Canes system yet though, but the game needs to "slow down" for him so he can make the right play based on how things have progressed. Confidence might play a role.

He does a lot of other things fairly well though. Skates well, works hard along the boards, uses his body, works hard and is responsible defensively and has found some soft spots to get some decent shots off.

KK started off slowly as well so hopefully he gains confidence over time.

 

[Lempo]

KK all of a sudden becoming elite and a solid 2C would be a huge win, if nothing else to rub in Montreal fans' faces.

I thought rubbing in Montreal fans' faces was the sole reason we got him?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I thought rubbing in Montreal fans' faces was the sole reason we got him?

JP? Definitely

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Since Jan 1st:

Aho: 16G, 27P, +11. (17 ES points)
Necas: 10G, 26P, +4 (13 ES points)
Svech: 4G, 23P, +6 (18 ES points)
Kotkaniemi: 8G, 21P, +12 (15 ES points)
TT: 7G, 20P, +11 (12 ES points)
Jarvis: 7G, 14P, +11 (12 ES points)

KK's been playing better and pretty much pulling his weight since then. TT and Jarvis still need to get going more, although TT's been playing better. Need another player to step up as well with Svech out and would like to see Aho and Necas put it in another gear (if they have one).

I'd still like to see TT-Aho-Puljujarvi, although given how well TT-JK-Necas played last night, I don't see Rod changing that.

 

[zman77]

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Martinook hurt? We just called up recently acquired Dugan.

I guess thats a no on rees getting a chance

edit: capfriendly has deleted their call up notification. so its not happening, i guess. Not that it would have made sense he is ineligible.

 

[MadeUpName]

Counter point. Kane and Tank are not who they used to be and are below mid level scorers. Last year the Rags beat us in 7 with out of this world play by Sheshterkin against are back up goalies.

Counterpoint, counterpoint: Kane and Tank are who they used to be. They are both better scorers than any player on Carolina right now. Calling them "mid level scorers" is asinine. That is like calling Aho a "mid level" Center.

Shesterkin is a top-3 goalie in the world. Hoping that he will be easier to beat this go-around is not a wise strategy.

Conversely - Andersen has notoriously been a bad Playoff performer. Ask Toronto fans. I wouldn't rely on him to be the answer.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Counterpoint, counterpoint: Kane and Tank are who they used to be. They are both better scorers than any player on Carolina right now. Calling them "mid level scorers" is asinine. That is like calling Aho a "mid level" Center.

Shesterkin is a top-3 goalie in the world. Hoping that he will be easier to beat this go-around is not a wise strategy.

Conversely - Andersen has notoriously been a bad Playoff performer. Ask Toronto fans. I wouldn't rely on him to be the answer.

So you're saying we never stood a chance to begin with.

Seriously though, the East was always going to be a gauntlet no matter what moves we made or didn't make. Our goalies aren't as good as TB, NYR, NYI, BOS, etc..

Once in the playoffs though, anything can happen. I get the "doom" with Svech out, but I also can recognize that the team is still a good team that if things go right, can do well in the playoffs.

 

[zman77]

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Martinook hurt? We just called up recently acquired Dugan.

I guess thats a no on rees getting a chance

That’s gotta be a bit of a pissoff for guys already in the system.

 

[zman77]

 

[MadeUpName]

So you're saying we never stood a chance to begin with.

Seriously though, the East was always going to be a gauntlet no matter what moves we made or didn't make. Our goalies aren't as good as TB, NYR, NYI, BOS, etc..

I have said many times that NYR has 4-5 players that are more offensively talented than any player on Carolina and that it will take every bit of Brind'Amour-infusion in the team to overcome that.

That was before losing Svechnikov.

It isn't impossible to beat NYR. Like Dundon says, the Playoffs can be a coin flip. But given a 100 game series NYR would beat this team more than 50 every single iteration.

I get all the "rah rah, our sum is much greater than the parts!" sentiment. It is what it is. If Carolina lost Aho, Slavin, Staal and Necas to injury next game it would be equally true.

 

[Derailed75]

Counterpoint, counterpoint: Kane and Tank are who they used to be. They are both better scorers than any player on Carolina right now. Calling them "mid level scorers" is asinine. That is like calling Aho a "mid level" Center.

What? Neither are what they used to be, not even close. KoKo has the same amount if goals as Tank.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I have said many times that NYR has 4-5 players that are more offensively talented than any player on Carolina and that it will take every bit of Brind'Amour-infusion in the team to overcome that.

I've said the same all season, but there's a difference between saying that and some of what has been said on this board the last couple of days.

That was before losing Svechnikov.

It isn't impossible to beat NYR. Like Dundon says, the Playoffs can be a coin flip. But given a 100 game series NYR would beat this team more than 50 every single iteration.

Yep. Playoffs are a bit of a crap shoot.

I get all the "rah rah, our sum is much greater than the parts!" sentiment. It is what it is. If Carolina lost Aho, Slavin, Staal and Necas to injury next game it would be equally true.

Very few, if any are saying "rah, rah". There's no doubt losing Svech hurts and everybody acknowledges that. There's no doubt it makes our playoff chances more difficult as well. But there's a difference between "We're still a very good team with a more difficult road in front of us" vs. "It's now a wasted season and we don't have a chance" and "let's now call up a bunch of prospects and focus on roster development", etc.. I think that's what the "doomerism" comment was aimed at, but since I didn't make it, I can't be sure.

It's 100% fair to say an already daunting task (going deep in the east) got harder without Svech. It's also fair to say the team is still a good team that can do some damage if things break right for them. Will it happen? Probably not but I'm not willing to just throw in the towel on the season either.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Did someone already post this from last game? Lolololol

lol wtf what a dumb post even after they beat us we were still ahead of them.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Shesterkin is a top-3 goalie in the world.

lol not this year, not even close

 

[raynman]

Martinook hurt? We just called up recently acquired Dugan.

I guess thats a no on rees getting a chance

edit: capfriendly has deleted their call up notification. so its not happening, i guess. Not that it would have made sense he is ineligible.

Was wondering this morning if any dinged up guys get more rest than usual down the stretch seeing as they’re going to need everyone at their best/healthiest going into the playoffs.

 

[Stickpucker]

It is an excellent team. That lost their best shooter and their second best shooter to injuries. It is not scandalous to say that this team is worse than the team that went into the Playoffs last year. The team that lost to NYR who didn't have Tarasenko + Kane.

Carolina's chances took a massive hit with Svechnikov's injury. That is not doomerism. That is basic logic.

Counter point...how many wookies did we have last season?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

LOL

 

[robbieberns]

I’m not much of a sports historian, but I think the team that won the Cup in ‘06 also lost their top line power forward in March.

 

[Stickpucker]

Shesterkin is a top-3 goalie in the world. Hoping that he will be easier to beat this go-around is not a wise strategy.

Conversely - Andersen has notoriously been a bad Playoff performer. Ask Toronto fans. I wouldn't rely on him to be the answer.

Just do what Kreider does and repeatedly skate full speed into Shesterkin until he yields.

 

[Stickpucker]

I have said many times that NYR has 4-5 players that are more offensively talented than any player on Carolina and that it will take every bit of Brind'Amour-infusion in the team to overcome that.

That was before losing Svechnikov.

It isn't impossible to beat NYR. Like Dundon says, the Playoffs can be a coin flip. But given a 100 game series NYR would beat this team more than 50 every single iteration.

I get all the "rah rah, our sum is much greater than the parts!" sentiment. It is what it is. If Carolina lost Aho, Slavin, Staal and Necas to injury next game it would be equally true.

 

[Derailed75]

I have said many times that NYR has 4-5 players that are more offensively talented than any player on Carolina and that it will take every bit of Brind'Amour-infusion in the team to overcome that.

That was before losing Svechnikov.

It isn't impossible to beat NYR. Like Dundon says, the Playoffs can be a coin flip. But given a 100 game series NYR would beat this team more than 50 every single iteration.

I get all the "rah rah, our sum is much greater than the parts!" sentiment. It is what it is. If Carolina lost Aho, Slavin, Staal and Necas to injury next game it would be equally true.

But that's just not true regardless of how often you say it. Zib is the only Ranger far and away out producing Aho, Necas, and Svech. Also the Canes are way more balanced having more guys at 10 plus goals and 2 of the Rags 10 plus scorers were traded for