Game Thread ..... @ Toronto, 1/12/10

[Canesluver]

I'm sure it'll never happen, but it'd be great to see a 3-game winning streak, right? I mean-- where have the hockey gods been? Sleeping? I mean how could they see fit to allow us to start 2010 with a 3-1 record?

They'll wake at any minute..... :smoke: Then, again-- maybe they don't have Center Ice, since that's what you'll need to see this game. Fox Sports not broadcasting this one.... so we might just slip under their radar and they'll give us another pass. :beatup:

Puck-drop at 7:00PM

LET'S GO 'CANES!!

[KaniacFever]

Tlusty returns. Maybe he'll get to show Burkie why he should have been given a chance with the big boys :D

[livinthedream]

While not exactly on-topic for this thread, expect the Air Canada Centre to be abuzz over this one:

Cujo to retire Tuesday (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=513210)

Goaltender Curtis Joseph will announce his retirement from the NHL at a press conference at Toronto's Air Canada Centre Tuesday according to reports.

And speaking of Air Canada, boys are en route (http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA7033).

[caveman]

For fun, the math:

Per Zorak (http://zorak.best.vwh.net/nhl/) the Eastern Conference playoffs might be made with as few as 86 points. With 33 points in 44 games so far, we'd need to pick up 53 points in our remaining 38 games, or a winning percentage of about 0.700, a 114-point season pace.

Well ... from Feb 19th to April 7th last year we played a 17-3-2 stretch ...

And you know, if we sweep the last two games we have vs. projected 8th place Ottawa ... and we have an awful big helping of games against fellow out-of-the-playoffs teams (Atlanta, Tampa, Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Islanders, Montreal) ...

How in the world is it possible to get pulled back into a dead last team over halfway through the season?

[livinthedream]

How in the world is it possible to get pulled back into a dead last team over halfway through the season?

As my seven-year-old likes to say... it's all about the loooooove.

[wa10]

For fun, the math:

Per Zorak (http://zorak.best.vwh.net/nhl/) the Eastern Conference playoffs might be made with as few as 86 points.

This: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Southeast/Hurricanes.html seems to agree that the number will be quite a bit lower than the last 3 years. 'Canes have a 27.2% chance of making the playoffs with 86 points. Looks like 88 points should be the target (61.7% of making playoffs). That really changes my magic number. 12 more losses and 85 will be the maximum attainable points (11 losses = 87 points max).

Guess the East is really struggling against the West this year.

[NCCaniac42]

Wasn't Pittsburgh in last place around Christmas last year.. ??? Or was it Thanksgiving. I don't remember.

[wa10]

Wasn't Pittsburgh in last place around Christmas last year.. ??? Or was it Thanksgiving. I don't remember.

Looks like around week 20 (February maybe), Pitt was well out of a playoff position. Looks like maybe 32% to make playoffs week 20? Maybe last place in their division. http://www.sportsclubstats.com/2008-2009/NHL/Eastern/Atlantic/Penguins.html

Similar slow start 2007-08: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/2007-2008/NHL/Eastern/Atlantic/Penguins.html

and 2006-07: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/2006-2007/NHL/Eastern/Atlantic/Penguins.html

[goalie33]

Well ... from Feb 19th to April 7th last year we played a 17-3-2 stretch ...

So you're saying we should fire the coach, right?

[Fernando da Silva]

For fun, the math:

Per Zorak (http://zorak.best.vwh.net/nhl/) the Eastern Conference playoffs might be made with as few as 86 points. With 33 points in 44 games so far, we'd need to pick up 53 points in our remaining 38 games, or a winning percentage of about 0.700, a 114-point season pace.

Well ... from Feb 19th to April 7th last year we played a 17-3-2 stretch ...

And you know, if we sweep the last two games we have vs. projected 8th place Ottawa ... and we have an awful big helping of games against fellow out-of-the-playoffs teams (Atlanta, Tampa, Edmonton, Florida, Toronto, Islanders, Montreal) ...

How in the world is it possible to get pulled back into a dead last team over halfway through the season?

We got a number near 114 in 2006, not?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'm sure it'll never happen, but it'd be great to see a 3-game winning streak, right? I mean-- where have the hockey gods been? Sleeping? I mean how could they see fit to allow us to start 2010 with a 3-1 record?

They'll wake at any minute..... :smoke:

No, I think letting us suffer like this just to see them turn it around in January, still barely miss the playoffs, AND not get a top 3 pick is just about par for the course as far as punishment from the hockey gods goes.



How in the world is it possible to get pulled back into a dead last team over halfway through the season?

I don't know.....what color were the pills you took this morning? :D

[wa10]

We got a number near 114 in 2006, not?

112 (which is near 114). So we'd have to play a little better than we did that year. And that's to get to 86 points which might not even make the playoffs anyway so realistically we should play Detroit 2006 hockey (124 points). That should get us around 90, just to be safe.

[caveman]

No, I think letting us suffer like this just to see them turn it around in January, still barely miss the playoffs, AND not get a top 3 pick is just about par for the course as far as punishment from the hockey gods goes.



I don't know.....what color were the pills you took this morning? :D

You're as usual dead on with both points. And I confess to orange generic brand Dayquil of some kind...

To get 53 points in our remaining 38 games, some records:

26-11-1
27-10-1
28-9-1
...

25-9-3
25-7-5
25-5-7
...

24-8-5
23-7-7
22-6-9
...

Why am I doing this? Last night's Nyquil must not have worn off...

[superdave]

Is this a "must lose" game?

[Kahz]

Wasn't Pittsburgh in last place around Christmas last year.. ??? Or was it Thanksgiving. I don't remember.They were 20-19-4 on January 12 of last year. They fired Therrien on February 15 when they were 27-25-5 and two points out of a playoff spot. Quite different from our situation.

Is this a "must lose" game?Absolutely. Nothing will be gained by winning this game other than brief elation, which will certainly be long since forgotten when we get to the draft and get a player like Andrew Ladd instead of someone like Alexander Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin.

[livinthedream]

Well, I'm not one to be pessimistic, but if you're going to have to lose some games anyway, might as well lose the ones on the road when there's no local TV coverage. Just sayin.

And I personally have no complaints about the outcome of the Andrew Ladd draft pick.

[andyt]

Well, I'm not one to be pessimistic, but if you're going to have to lose some games anyway, might as well lose the ones on the road when there's no local TV coverage. Just sayin.

And I personally have no complaints about the outcome of the Andrew Ladd draft pick.

Not to sidetrack this too much, but anyone who complains about that pick (even before the trade) needs to go back and look at the CSS rankings. Ladd was the top rated NA forward that year. He and Cam Barker went neck and neck for top NA skater. So taking him at #4 wasn't a huge risk.

[nccanes]

I think the original post about Ladd was simply that if you drop out of the top 2, it has the potential to drop waaaaay off in potential and talent.

No one is going to argue that having Malkin or Ovechkin (or players of that caliber) > than Ladd or Ruutu.

Thus, finishing 29th or 30th is far more valuable than finishing 25th or 26th.

[KaniacFever]

Thus, finishing 29th or 30th is far more valuable than finishing 25th or 26th.

Bingo. We ain't making the playoffs. For enduring this season, I want a top 3 pick. Anything less than will be a disappointment. Especially since the talent drops at #4.

Guess i'll have to pick up the stream on this one since we don't have centre ice.

[Kahz]

Not to sidetrack this too much, but anyone who complains about that pick (even before the trade) needs to go back and look at the CSS rankings. Ladd was the top rated NA forward that year. He and Cam Barker went neck and neck for top NA skater. So taking him at #4 wasn't a huge risk.I wasn't trying to complain about the pick. Even with hindsight, I'd still take Ladd over all but maybe ten players drafted in the first round that year. I was just saying that we would have been better off if we had gotten #1 or #2 overall. Even if Ladd had met his potential, he still wouldn't have been close to what Malkin or Ovechkin are.

[Canesluver]

I hope they keep playing as hard as they can. I wouldn't root for a team that wants to tank.

[c-girl]

Same here. Plus I don't think the team is ready to throw in the towel. As long as they believe it, I think I'll go along for the ride.

[superdave]

Is this a "must lose" game?

To answer my own question...sure it is. It's a 4 point game for us against another bottom dweller. Just like playing a division team when you are in the hunt, but just the opposite.

[SoCalcaniac]

Getting back to the game and the subject of losing/tanking, etc; For those of you not getting LGC tweets; James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail wrote an interesting Battle of the Basement blog entry (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/leafs-canes-renew-battle-of-basement/article1428716/)this afternoon and spoke with Aaron Ward. Always quoteable that Aaron:

The naysayers, of course, will point out that it would likely benefit the 'Canes more to come up short and improve their potential draft pick come June, but defenceman Aaron Ward said the word “tank” isn't a topic of conversation despite his team's woeful 13-24-7 start.

“When someone comes and spends their money on a ticket to watch us play, we owe them more than a lacklustre effort,” Ward said.

Ward added that life hasn't exactly been easy in Raleigh with the team filling the role of league doormat all season. Unlike the Leafs, Carolina came into this season with high expectations after making the Eastern Conference finals last May but has since struggled with injuries to star players and poor play from veterans like Rod Brind'Amour.

“It's been tough on a player,” said Ward, who has struggled to a minus-14 rating in 43 games since returning to the Hurricanes<nobr id="itxt_nobr_5_0" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: rgb(0, 31, 94);"></nobr> (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/leafs-canes-renew-battle-of-basement/article1428716/#) via trade in the off-season. “You laugh about the media attention you get in Toronto and you can't compare it to Carolina, but there's a level of criticism being launched by fans and it's pretty vocal. It gets back to us as players.

“We were supposed to be a team that was competing at the upper level of the league for a playoff spot, and it hasn't come to fruition. We have to accept the blame.

“Our expectations were pretty high, from management on down to coaches to players, we came into the season thinking that as a team that went to the conference finals, if you're adding components to an already existing solid core, the expectations are there. And when you don't just lay an egg you lay a chicken farm full of eggs over October, November, December – blame has to be assessed and I can understand the level of frustration in Raleigh.”

[NCCaniac42]

Guess i'll have to pick up the stream on this one since we don't have centre ice.

Where is the link to the streaming online???

[livinthedream]

Try this:

http://www.atdhe.net/11671/watch-carolina-hurricanes-vs-toronto-maple-leafs

Main site if that one doesn't work:

http://www.atdhe.net/

[SoCalcaniac]

Center Ice peeps - I love that we now get the Rogers Sportsnet HD feed for TO games. I'm wondering when the rest of the Canadian team feeds will be in HD. (or that whole MSG no HD that has yet to be resolved. :crazy:)

[nccanes]

LOVE the "whole chicken farm full of eggs" comment! :lol:

And interesting comment about how the fan unhappiness is making it's way to the players...

[SouthernHockeyChick]

^ LMAO, me too.

[SoCalcaniac]

Yeah E- That was particularly of interest when I read it. I figured others would think so too. I think our org/players are far more sensitive to "what the fans" say or think than most. I know it's pro sports and they all pay attention- but I do think the Canes "track" stuff a little more.

I got a good chuckle from AWard's chicken/eggs comment. He has not lost his humor or wit. :lol:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I also think when you get called a loser by someone in Philly or Boston....well, what else is new.

When it happens here...with our history...it probably cuts a bit more.

That's what you get for showing us what a winner looks like.

[livinthedream]

Another feed for those not on CI:

http://www.justin.tv/theblanetwork#r=j0wK11U

[nccanes]

what a shock -- all the streamed sites are blocked by my office firewall (yes, still sitting at my desk). :lol:

Guess it's Chuck for now...

[goalie33]

Beauty from Staal on the PP!

[livinthedream]

Nice move Staaly!!!!!!!!!!

[KaniacFever]

Now I see why the Leafs PK is sitting at 68% :lol:

Yay for Staaly :nanner:

[Canesluver]

Thanks for the link! I think this is the first time I've actually ever gotten one to work. :lol:

[FinFan]

Congrats to Joni for his 200th career point! And the Fins have the assists on both goals. GO CANES!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Is it just me or does it sound like a large portion of their crowd is just moaning....or mooing....or something. :crazy:

[goalie33]

Has Cam been getting secret lessons from Irbe? He's gotten really good at the sweep check.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

OK, why don't you guys just go on in the locker room and leave Cam out there by himself for the last 20 seconds or so. :crazy:

[FinFan]

Is it just me or does it sound like a large portion of their crowd is just moaning....or mooing....or something. :crazy:

Maybe mooing? After all, that's what opponents do to State.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

DAMMIT WHY DID THE POND HOCKEY GUYS HAVE TO BE WEARING LEAFS JERSEYS?!?!? :sick:

[KaniacFever]

It is just me or does it seem like the leafs have been on a PP for this whole 3rd so far

[livinthedream]

ThankS God for Cam Ward.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

^ No.Lie.

Dwyer!!

[caveman]

Thanks goodness for thick metal post/crossbar.

[livinthedream]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Patty Dwyer!

Joni with three assists. Jiri gets one too! Breaks the Finn monopoly on assists tonight.

[caveman]

Raymond... c'mon killers.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Damn it Whitney. Did he turn 38 during the intermission?!? ;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Nope, Whit's still 37!:lol:

With an assist to Cam!


Three wins straight when we've gotten out-shot like mad. So a) It's all about Cam Ward and/or b) Mo's freaking "just shoot the puck" strategy is bullsh*t.

And just when I'm ready to throw Pitkanen off a cliff he comes up with 3 assists. Jerk.

[caveman]

Well, Whitney seals the deal! Sweet. Though have to go back, this was a 4-point game and all that. :)

[livinthedream]

I'll take that as redemption for the hook.

[ontheglass]

Holy crap 3 in a row... I was getting used to "one in a row" every four or five games. I like 2010 so far. They are threatening EDM for 29th.

[livinthedream]

We're 4-1 in 2010.

[FinFan]

Woohoo!!! Another road win! Now to take this to Detroit!

(and the Pack just beat FSU, too! Great night to not be in the RBC!:lol:)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Wings got shutout by the Isles 6-0 tonight. I bet they'll be in a great mood Thursday.

[Canesluver]

Wow!! Can y'all actually believe we have a streak going??!!
:nanner:

Damn it Whitney. Did he turn 38 during the intermission?!? ;) ..... Nope, Whit's still 37! :lol:

Yeah... but it was just an empty-netter .... that don't count for nuthin' ;)

[KaniacFever]

We're 4-1 in 2010.

Anyway we can rewind this 2010 record to the start of the season?

[SoCalcaniac]

And just when I'm ready to throw Pitkanen off a cliff he comes up with 3 assists. Jerk.

:lol::lol: I was about to throttle him early in the game, then he turns around and starts being the other Joni. ;)

Dear Cam, please keep doing what you're doing- but I'm sorry your boys just seem to wanna leave you hanging out to dry. Love, Socal. :kiss:

One of the guys in the second "pond hockey in Raleigh photos" is our ticket rep Matt Horton.

This was not pretty, but it's a win and it counts. Great job by Dwyer with the tip in.

The Wings got lit up. Holy cow.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Tell your ticket rep I said to put a damn Canes jersey on next time!! :lol:

[caveman]

Heh. 13 points out of 8th with 2 games in hand...

[DSCanesfan]

Tell your ticket rep I said to put a damn Canes jersey on next time!! :lol:


I'll give him heck. He comes out to our tailgate almost every game.

[Canesluver]

Gee, Wally! That'd be swell!

[ontheboards]

Tell your ticket rep I said to put a damn Canes jersey on next time!! :lol:
I thought that was Brian Slais-- was it???

[SoCalcaniac]

There were two guys in the pic OTB, Matt Horton was one and the other guy I recognize but don't know his name.

[Canesluver]

I thought I recognized Brian Slais, too (he's my rep)

[NCCaniac42]

Yep, Matt and Brian were the two guys in the other photo.. and believe me when I say I will give them both Hell for not wearing Canes sweaters!!!

[puck_it]

wheres this photo?

[SoCalcaniac]

wheres this photo?


It was on the Rogers Sportsnet broadcast. They were showing fans on "ponds" skating in NC.

[nccanes]

Where was the pond? I presume not in the triangle :lol:

My Mom is in the mtns (southern ones, so it's even colder elsewhere in western NC) and she just emailed that today was the first day it went above freezing since Xmas.

[livinthedream]

At least one was reported to be in Greensboro from what I recall, but I was only half paying attention.

[SoCalcaniac]

Yep, one said Raleigh (the pic of the Laffs fans) and the pic with the ticket reps said Greensboro.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

There was one pic from Raleigh and one from Greensboro.
Did ya'll not get a tweet sometime yesterday saying they heard there was pond hockey going on in Raleigh and to send them pictures?

I don't see it on the Twitter page now, though. I have to turn my phone off while I'm at work so every afternoon I get 20ish tweets all at the same time. That seems to screw with the system. Maybe that's why I got one that isn't on the page?

Form nhl_canes I got this: "We've heard there's been some poond hockey lately in NC. Post photos to our Facebook page and you could be on TV."

I didn't see them on the Facebook page in a quick look.

[puck_it]

if its the "pond" hockey i know of, theres a group that rents the ice over on the fayetteville street mall.

[nccanes]

Is that real ice or that plastic stuff that was at N Hills?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

These guys were on what looked like an actual pond surrounded by trees and stuff.

[livinthedream]

The Canes have two Facebook sites, one is their official Facebook page, which is here (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=724315286), and the other is a Facebook Fan page. Honestly not sure what the difference is between the two, and not sure if you can get to the site I linked without having a Facebook account or "friending" the Canes page, but some of the pond hockey pictures have been posted there. I'm pretty sure this is the page that synchs with the tweets.

And SHC I got that tweet as well but couldn't find it on either of the Facebook sites (did find a picture of mine that someone posted without permission though, sigh... )

[puck_it]

These guys were on what looked like an actual pond surrounded by trees and stuff.

i saw the one on the FB page. the guys i know that do the one on down town call it "pond" ... awesome that there's real pond hockey

[puck_it]

Is that real ice or that plastic stuff that was at N Hills?

far as i know, real.

[Darkwing]

far as i know, real.

it's real -granted..it was tiny, but it was real.

[c-girl]

The one downtown is right outside my office building so I walk by it all the time. The ice is real but Darkwing is right - it's very small. I can't imagine anybody really playing hockey on it. Messing around with a stick and puck maybe but not a real game.

[Greensboro Hurricanes]

<div><object width="480" height="365"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/xbuxxn&related=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/xbuxxn&related=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="365" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbuxxn_hurricanes-maple-leafs-highlights-1_sport">Hurricanes - Maple Leafs Highlights (1/12/10)</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/gatecitycanes">gatecitycanes</a>. - <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/us/channel/sport">Check out more sports and extreme sports videos.</a></i></div>

[FinFan]

Man, TomK's skate pass was a beauty. And Ray's open netter counts. He had a defender in his face. Nice shot! And Dwyer's got a great eye. I didn't even see the puck going off his stick.

Okay, so if it's Jahni Pitkanen, do they say Tahrahntah? :lol:

[e2ipiand1]

Depends on what part of Canada they're from.:lol: