Game Thread ..... vs. Atlanta, 1/16/10

[Canesluver]

Time for some divisional games. This one is starting an hour later than normal-- probably because of the b-ball game earlier in the day.

No local TV coverage.

Puck-drop at 8:00PM

LET'S GO 'CANES!!

[caveman]

Get right back on the "W" horse. None of this losing streak stuff.

[e2ipiand1]

I'm having dinner at the Arena Club prior to the game, so at least the evening will have a good start.

All I'm asking for is a good game and no stupid mistakes leading to goals for the other team.

[livinthedream]

Some early scoop on some AHL swaps per puckdrops on twitter:

puckdrops: Time to swap out a couple of Rats. Jerome Samson goes down, Drayson Bowman gets his first callup. He'll make his NHL debut tomorrow vs ATL.

[nccanes]

Wow!

We have tix for this game but were thinking of letting the kids have them....maybe not.

[caniac97]

Get right back on the "W" horse. None of this losing streak stuff.

What about our number 1 draft pick? Wouldn't wins negate that?

[livinthedream]

Now official per ch.com (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513719&navid=DL|CAR|home) (and about a half dozen more tweets from the usual sources):

Canes Recall Drayson Bowman from Albany
Jerome Samson reassigned to AHL’s River Rats
Friday, 01.15.2010 / 10:55 AM / News
By Ken Preston

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has recalled left wing Drayson Bowman from the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). Rutherford also announced that forward Jerome Samson has been reassigned to Albany.

This marks the first NHL recall for the 20-year-old Bowman. Born in Grand Rapids, MI, but raised in Littleton, CO, Bowman has scored eight goals, and notched seven assists (15 points) in 26 games with Albany in his first professional season. Prior to turning professional, Bowman (6’1”, 190lbs.) played four full seasons with Spokane of the Western Hockey League, scoring 130 goals and earning 112 assists in 265 regular-season games with the Chiefs. He was the leading goal scorer on Spokane’s 2008 Memorial Cup-winning team, and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team. The Hurricanes drafted Bowman in the third round, 72nd overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

[KaniacFever]

Some early scoop on some AHL swaps per puckdrops on twitter:

nhl_canes finally reporting the swap.

I'm very excited to see Bowman. But then again, he'll likely only get 4 minutes.

[FinFan]

This is great and all, but why? Is JR trying to get everyone some big league experience so he can swap out the entire team next year?

[caveman]

Interesting. Samson has played well in his chances I think, I wonder if it's more a "we don't want extended periods of you playing 4 minutes a game up here" thing than a "you're not playing well" kind of thing.

[nccanes]

What about our number 1 draft pick? Wouldn't wins negate that?

Negate that? By winning 1 home game in front the home fans? Don't think so. As someone projected awhile back, they could go .500 and still end up with as few points as the Islanders last year.

[Convert]

My biggest issue with bringing up Bowman (or keeping Boychuk here for that matter) is if they are stuck on the 4th line.

They should be projected to be 1st or 2nd line guys, so at a minimum, they need to be on the 3rd line to really get a meaningful look at them.

Bring up more Dwyers if we need fourth line guys---then if they produce (like he has) let them move up to 3rd for some games/spots.

[KaniacFever]

This is great and all, but why? Is JR trying to get everyone some big league experience so he can swap out the entire team next year?

Interesting. Samson has played well in his chances I think, I wonder if it's more a "we don't want extended periods of you playing 4 minutes a game up here" thing than a "you're not playing well" kind of thing.


JR said earlier that they would be swamping the kids in and out of the line up so they can see where they are in their development. I'm sure its no reflection that Samson has played bad, just we need to see someone else.

Although, I'm surprised it wasn't Boychuk. He's one guy I think needs minutes to further is development and he's not getting that here.

[caveman]

Screw that. We're 15 points out of the playoffs (7th place, even) with 2 games in hand, baby! With one of the softer strengths of schedule to go and 36 games to catch 'em.

[nccanes]

My biggest issue with bringing up Bowman (or keeping Boychuk here for that matter) is if they are stuck on the 4th line.

They should be projected to be 1st or 2nd line guys, so at a minimum, they need to be on the 3rd line to really get a meaningful look at them.

Bring up more Dwyers if we need fourth line guys---then if they produce (like he has) let them move up to 3rd for some games/spots.

Who knows. He might end up on the PP or something. I don't see a problem with giving all the young guys a shot at being in the NHL lockerroom and on the NHL ice and see what the big show is all about. If Cole/Larose/Samsonov ever get healthy, he'll be shuttled back to Albany quick enough.

[FinFan]

BTW, according to the Thrashers' website, the game will be on SportSouth. Since I don't live in Raleigh, I don't know if your cable carries SPSO, but I have it. Yes, I have to listen to the Atlanta guys, but I can turn them down and turn up Chuck if I need to. :)

[SoCalcaniac]

Or if you have Center Ice it'll be the same feed. I think Sports South is part of the "local" package for those in the southeast, so people who don't have CI should check it out. I seem to recall a former neighbor of ours stumbling on the fact that they got it from their provider. So it's worth a try to make sure.

I hope Bowman at least gets top 6 minutes in his debut. (heck top 9 would be fine too) my issue, like Convert's is that do they really get a "look" at a kid when he's playing 6 minutes? I get the swap out, welcome to the show dealio that's happening here, but I'd like to see this particular kid for more than a couple of shifts.

Since The Coach isn't playing Boychuk very much, I am surprised he wasn't the guy to go back to ALB. I personally like what I've seen from Samson. he seems like he could be a solid 3-4 line contributor in the next year.

[Convert]

Since The Coach isn't playing Boychuk very much, I am surprised he wasn't the guy to go back to ALB. I personally like what I've seen from Samson. he seems like he could be a solid 3-4 line contributor in the next year.


Exactly, if Bowman is gonna play 4th line and you just want to give him a taste, send down Boychuk and let him go back to playing top 6 minutes in the AHL. Keep looking at Samson as a 3rd/4th liner for next year by playing him in exactly that role.

[livinthedream]

I'm not at practice today, but according to Chip most of the regulars are sitting and the youngsters (Jiri, Zach) and injured players (Cole, Corvo, Chad, Sergei) are skating, along with the Captain.

[FinFan]

This just in... (per @nhl_canes)

Maurice said he liked Samson's game, wanted to make sure he was getting to play more minutes per game. Full comments: http://carhur.com/474

Okay, what about Boychuck?

[Alicia]

IMO, Boychuk needs more development time in Albany.

[BlueLine]

I certainly agree that Boychuk needs more development time. To me, he was getting pushed around an awful lot (and far more that Samson was.) If either of those two were to be stuck with 4 - 6 minutes of 4th line duty, I think Samson would do a better job of it (and let Boychuk go ahead and get more ice time developing in Albany).

This is further proof that JR and MO aren't reading my mind when making decisions.

IMO, Boychuk needs more development time in Albany.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Who knows. He might end up on the PP or something.

Did Mo get fired?;)

[puck_it]

Screw that. We're 15 points out of the playoffs (7th place, even) with 2 games in hand, baby! With one of the softer strengths of schedule to go and 36 games to catch 'em.

yeah, sure. pass the pipe.

[caniac369]

I'm really starting to have flashbacks of spring 2003... and 2004... and 2007... we are living ground hog day!!

[goalie33]

I swear to god, if we finish 10th...:mad:

[SoCalcaniac]

Yeah G33, I feel & hear your pain. I was thinking about it last night when the Laffs lost again and in spectacular fashion; and then I saw EDM's schedule for the next several games (CHI, SJ, etc) and how our stab at last place is becoming less of a "certainty". ;) I don't want us to tank, I really don't; but given the horrid start of this season and all that has gone along with it, finishing in 10th somehow won't make me feel good.

It's game day ya'll. Enough of this fret stuff; time to enjoy the game tonight. We're out running errands and enjoying the fact that it's actually "warming" up but just saw a tweet from the Canes; We've got an NHL debut tonight which to me is always exciting for the fans and a player. Branecky says five members of Bowman's family will be in the house. (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513850&navid=DL%7CCAR%7Chome)

This is reminding me so much of the oh-so-memory filled 02-03 season and all those kids we called up for their NHL Debuts. I'm forgetting now how many there were--- but do ya'll remmeber Brad DeFauw?

[e2ipiand1]

I actually have a list of the debut dates for the Hurricanes' players.
Here are the ones for the 2002-03 season:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 152pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 53pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2596" width=71><COL style="WIDTH: 99pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4827" width=132><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 53pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 width=71 align=right>10/11/2002</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; WIDTH: 99pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64 width=132>Jesse Boulerice</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>11/5/2002</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Harold Druken</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>11/7/2002</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Jan Hlavac</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>12/15/2002</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Tomas Malec</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>1/17/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Jeff Heerema</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>2/9/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Pavel Brendl</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>2/14/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Ryan Bayda</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>2/26/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Bruno St. Jacques</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>2/26/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Michael Zigomanis</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>2/26/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Tomas Kurka</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>3/10/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Brad DeFauw</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>3/12/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Patrick DesRochers</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>3/12/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Radim Vrbata</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>3/18/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Damian Surma</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl65 height=17 align=right>3/22/2003</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: windowtext; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 0.5pt solid" class=xl64>Mike Watt</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[nccanes]

Great list!!

And I do remeber Defauw socal, I seem to recall some back story, maybe with an ill family member.

My fave from that season was Damien Surma, with fantastic shot of his mom/sister when he scored in his debut...they were awesome. And then he hurts himself on the celebration...and that was it.

We saw him on the Everblades in later years when they beat the CLT Checkers to advance to the ECHL Kelly Cup championships. The kids were getting a few autographs after the game and I told him that we loved his goal for the Canes in his debut. He kind of stopped mid autograph and just looked up and beamed thinking about it...and simply said "that was so great".

[andyt]

And Bowman will be wearing #21.

Brad DeFauw was supposed to make the 01-02 team but came down with mono, IIRC.

Besides Surma hurting himself celebrating, my other memory from the 02-03 team is Tomas Kurka shuttling back and forth between Raleigh and Lowell because both teams had injury problems.

Edited to add...Chip blogged the lines from practice

Whitney/Cullen/Staal
Tlusty/Sutter/Jokinen
Bowman/Brindy/TomKo
Boychuk/Yelle/Dwyer

Boychuk on the 4th line. He's probably headed back to Albany when Samsonov is ready to go.

[SoCalcaniac]

Thanks for that LIST e2i! and E, I had Damian Surma on the brain but could only see that baby face and kinda curly hair (?) in my head, and was too daggone lazy to look up that 02-03 roster. :lol: I remember the mom and sis thing and him getting hurt on celebration.

Didn't DeFauw's sister have some form or lymphoma or something? and then he had an illness too. It's all getting murky. I just remember how huge that guy was.

I recall Kurka on the Lowell shuttle back and forth. I recall he was a little guy, but he had some wheels.

OMG who could forget Tomas Malec and his wild mop of curls and HOT temper??? (excuse me ya'll while I spend the day reminiscing, lolol) Harold Druken. GOOD LORD.

I'm partial to the Bayda/Ziggy/St. Jacques troika as they became part of the the whole Lowell bunch during the lockout and that gives me good memories of the NHL season that never happened.

Thanks for posting that list. Who could ever forget that year? Here's to young Drayson getting a goal in front of his peeps.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

So, why would you move Tlusty up and TomK down?

[KaniacFever]

So, why would you move Tlusty up and TomK down?

Coach Mo's thought process

Maurice mentioned that he had high hopes for Tlusty and Sutter’s line with Jussi Jokinen in particular.

“Tlusty and Sutter are our streaking guys, they’ve got some points now and they’re playing well,” he said. “Jussi can find those guys and make things happen.”


Sucks for TomK, especially since he's been our best player lately. Thanks for bringing 100%, but now you gotta play with Brindy again.

[Alicia]

Thanks for bringing 100%, but now you gotta play with Brindy again.Sucks to be TK...

[livinthedream]

Tlusty/Sutter/Jokinen

Not that I expect the lines to stick for any appreciable length of time :lol:, but I for one am VERY excited to see what these three can do on the ice together.

[SoCalcaniac]

So, why would you move Tlusty up and TomK down?

:ticked::ticked:

No comment. I saw the tweet and just thought WTF.

I'd much prefer to see a line of Bowman/Sutter/Boychuk, but that's asking for a lot.

[superdave]

Whitney/Cullen/Staal
Tlusty/Sutter/Jokinen
Bowman/Brindy/TomKo
Boychuk/Yelle/Dwyer


Look Ma, 2 4th lines.

[Kahz]

Don't see the big issue with Tlusty moving up and Kostopoulos down. Tlusty has 5 points in 8 games with us this season, Kostopoulos 10 points in 46 games. Tlusty is a potential Top 6 forward, while Kostopoulos is a career 4th liner who can fill in a the third line in a pinch. His recent play has been nice, but there is no long-term potential there.

I'd be upset if Mo was keeping Kosto in the Top 6 while all of the kids played in the bottom 6. The line was Jokinen-Sutter-Kostopoulos in recent games. If that and the first line were kept together, then you'd see all of the kids playing with either Yelle or Brind'amour and we'd be complaining about that instead.

[livinthedream]

I won't take credit for having an original thought, this one was plagiarized from elsewhere but it made sense to me.

Moving Tlusty up and TKO down may be about Kostopoulos giving Drayson Bowman some extra protection as he comes up to play against NHL speed, size and intensity (it was pointed out that Colby Armstrong is on Atlanta's third line which I would have to in my limited hockey knowledge admit might be a bit of a mis-match for young Drayson).

And who knows, perhaps Drayson's first shift on Brindy's line will be as successful as Samson's was.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Don't see the big issue with Tlusty moving up and Kostopoulos down. Tlusty has 5 points in 8 games with us this season, Kostopoulos 10 points in 46 games. Four of those points in his past 6 games, scoring a goal every other game. Why mess with him when he's producing?


I'd be upset if Mo was keeping Kosto in the Top 6 while all of the kids played in the bottom 6. The line was Jokinen-Sutter-Kostopoulos in recent games. If that and the first line were kept together, then you'd see all of the kids playing with either Yelle or Brind'amour and we'd be complaining about that instead.I wouldn't. Boychuk needs more development and can go back down anytime, IMO (I'd have kept Samson up here over him), I've not been blown away by Tlusty (unless you count when I've been blown away by bone-headed turnovers), and Bowman is still playing with Brindy in this scenario so, can't see what could make me ***** more......unless he moved Brindy into the top 6.


I guess I'm still of the attitude that I'd like to see them try to win the home games rather than try to develop the kids in them. And lately, TomK with Sutter and Jokinen has helped us win.

I think you let the guys playing the best play where they play the best and give them the ice-time. Current coaching hasn't done that all year and still isn't, IMO.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

And I thought Tlusty had been here 10 games?

[livinthedream]

He's played in 10 NHL games this season - 8 for us and 2 for the Leafs.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Gotcha, thanks! I had been looked at everyone's numbers the other day and just saw 10. It feels like they've all been here longer. :lol:

[livinthedream]

LOL I saw the 10 games too and I was like really no way he's been here that long. :lol:

For some reason I had in my mind he'd played last year in Toronto but not this year.

[Caniac4life]

Saturday night hockey not televised locally. I guess we know where we stand.

FSN sucks @ss!, and it's not even an ACC game their showing instead.... FSCarolinas my @ss.

Will be good to at least "hear" Bowman's debute.


Go Thrashers!! I still want a top draft pick after this season's BS.

[Caniac4life]

Think moving Tlusty up and TKO down is just a "let's see" approach and not a knock on TKO's performance.

[sandstorm]

Gotta watch from home tonight because its my sons 16th b-day and he didn't want to go to the game. I'll be there Monday, though.

[topdown]

Anybody got an on-line feed? I'm striking out from the usual sources.

[toastmasterbone]

Comin' in fine right HERE (http://www.ndsportstalk.com/enter3.html) if you have Sopcast installed.

[puck_it]

Yeah G33, I feel & hear your pain. I was thinking about it last night when the Laffs lost again and in spectacular fashion; and then I saw EDM's schedule for the next several games (CHI, SJ, etc) and how our stab at last place is becoming less of a "certainty". ;) I don't want us to tank, I really don't; but given the horrid start of this season and all that has gone along with it, finishing in 10th somehow won't make me feel good.

It's game day ya'll. Enough of this fret stuff; time to enjoy the game tonight. We're out running errands and enjoying the fact that it's actually "warming" up but just saw a tweet from the Canes; We've got an NHL debut tonight which to me is always exciting for the fans and a player. Branecky says five members of Bowman's family will be in the house. (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513850&navid=DL%7CCAR%7Chome)

This is reminding me so much of the oh-so-memory filled 02-03 season and all those kids we called up for their NHL Debuts. I'm forgetting now how many there were--- but do ya'll remmeber Brad DeFauw?

i will be extremely frustrated at this season if we dont walk away with either taylor hall or tyler seguin... maybe cam fowler as a last resort.

other wise this season is a disaster.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Based on what I just saw, a top 2 pick is in NO WAY in jeopardy.

[puck_it]

i said that, then we tied it up... then my canes came back :)

at least the game was some what exciting for a brief period of time.

[SoCalcaniac]

Based on what I just saw, a top 2 pick is in NO WAY in jeopardy.

:lol: You said a mouthful.

Tonight was tough to watch. Because it was like Oct, November and most of this year all over again. I told SHC after the game it feels like the sheen of the whole River Rat invasion has fallen off.

The first Pitkanen penalty was brutal and uncalled for, and while the Staal miss on the PS was a turning point, Pavelec stopped him, and that's that; he's an NHL goalie, it happens. Staal has scored on PS's just like that before, Pavelec read the play and had him; end of story. Had we come out better and played better as a whole it would be a whole other thing.

What a drag coming all the way back and then Kovalchuk comes after not being all that noticeable-- and Aaron Ward is out there worrying about Enstrom and not Kovalchuk, and scores. That was just tough to watch.

My highlight, was seeing Bowman's family during warm ups; his family was taking in the arena, the ushers were getting them seated in 116; cameras at the ready, and as soon as Bowman comes out, his parents couldn't be more proud, camera's flashing and his mom couldn't stop watching him. Neat moment.

Well let's see what happens on Chad's bobble head night.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

What a drag coming all the way back and then Kovalchuk comes after not being all that noticeable-- and Aaron Ward is out there worrying about Enstrom and not Kovalchuk, and scores. That was just tough to watch.


LOL. I was blaming that one on the d-man who was standing STILL right in front of him and thought sticking his stick out and staring at him would be good enough to fend him off. That guy was wearing #25.

[superdave]

Stupid penalty to start the game. Chasing the puck around. Passes to nobody.

I'm not putting any more effort into this than the Canes did on the ice.

[SoCalcaniac]

LOL. I was blaming that one on the d-man who was standing STILL right in front of him and thought sticking his stick out and staring at him would be good enough to fend him off. That guy was wearing #25.

I was blaming him (all night long for everything), but saw #4 and I'm sticking with blaming him. :lol:;)

A funny that made me crack up on the postgame-- hearing Staal say Boris Valabik "isn't very bright" when he was being interviewed by Adam Gold in the locker room. Valabik is a moron, he's done some dumb stuff quite a few times. He seems to really hate #12, lol.

[KaniacFever]

I was blaming him (all night long for everything), but saw #4 and I'm sticking with blaming him. :lol:;)

Forslund blamed him too :laugh:

I loved his comment: Aaron Ward should have stood Kovalchuk up instead he goes to the wall for whatever reason :laugh:

[BrooklynCaniac]

A little late here but Brad Fast my personal favorite one day call up. I remember being in the stands when he scored his only goal in his only NHL game.

[Canesluver]

Game was disappointing, but did get to chat with my doctor for awhile over by the "robotic surgeon." That piece of equipment is his baby-- he's been going around to different hospitals in the tri-state area, teaching surgeons how to use it. :)

[nccanes]

Enjoyable small chunk in the 3rd, but that's about it. A few nice hits here and there I guess.

I know Pitkanen can't be faulted for every mistake given his amount of ice time and the offensive stuff he brings, but in the first period there were times that I thought Ray Whitney played more D than #25. We started calling him "that crazy Pitkanen" like you do about your crazy uncle and what he might do next.

JF addressed #12's "disaster" of a season - covering all the injuries and emotional strains, so I guess we just have to be resigned to that - it wasn't his best night last night. Interesting that JF's done with the Staal on the wing experiment.

Ron Hainsey pissed me off last night....I hate when a player is in the ear of the refs all night. Seemed he and Staal had a few words as well.

[livinthedream]

I didn't comment last night because by the time my pictures finished downloading and hogging all my laptop's memory I was tired and went to bed, and besides that I appear to be sick, and besides that I'm not sure what I'd comment on.

As usual I moved around the arena and had the good fortune to sit by someone who had a funny encounter with Lord Stanley's Cup in 2006 so that was fun.

It makes my heart hurt every time I question the decision to put Rod Brind'Amour out on the ice.

I thought Drayson was "okay", but I thought Zach Boychuk looked like a kid who was doing everything in his power not to get sent back to Albany.

Matt Cullen was very feisty.

And once again Team Finland shows they are f*cking nuts not to have Jussi on their roster.

[nccanes]

It makes my heart hurt every time I question the decision to put Rod Brind'Amour out on the ice.


Me too, but he did win 2 important faceoffs on that 5 on 3.

Then he acted like a great (if not harmless) decoy in front of the net. ;)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Ron Hainsey pissed me off last night....I hate when a player is in the ear of the refs all night. Seemed he and Staal had a few words as well.

Me too (and I love him). I kept thinking I had to be seeing things wrong and it had to be Valabik and not him that was pissing me off.

I thought Zach Boychuk looked like a kid who was doing everything in his power not to get sent back to Albany.


Didn't work....we just sent him down (http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513958).


I hate that, to me anyway, Tlusty is obviously teacher's pet (with Mo) because it's going to make me hate him.
That comment is just something that has been brewing (and bubbled over in the post game last night) and is un-related to the Boychuk send-down as I think I've already mentioned I'd have sent him down over Samson.

[nccanes]

What was the deal with Valabik as he went to the box. Was it Joni skating on the other side of the ref and Valabik kind faked like he was gonna take a swing or swipe at him? He seems like a grade A *******. Seems like ATL always has at least one of those. :lol:

[livinthedream]

Dang! I missed that, but you're right, it must have been Joni, because I do have a picture of the two of them kind of staring each other down right before that happened.

And I left my Blackberry in the car last night and just fetched it a couple of minutes ago. I think it's pretty obvious, but just in case it isn't, I'M NOT THE TWEETER. Just wanted to make that crystal clear.

[Greensboro Hurricanes]

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[andyt]

Dang! I missed that, but you're right, it must have been Joni, because I do have a picture of the two of them kind of staring each other down right before that happened.

And I left my Blackberry in the car last night and just fetched it a couple of minutes ago. I think it's pretty obvious, but just in case it isn't, I'M NOT THE TWEETER. Just wanted to make that crystal clear.

It was Joni and dumbass Chris Rooney who saw the whole thing saw fit to give Vilabik a lecture (which he likely didn't understand) as he sat in the box. It was worth an extra 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

[SoCalcaniac]

What was the deal with Valabik as he went to the box. Was it Joni skating on the other side of the ref and Valabik kind faked like he was gonna take a swing or swipe at him? He seems like a grade A *******. Seems like ATL always has at least one of those. :lol:

Yeah, I'm late to this, but that's Valabik. He has a hate-on for #12, (thus the Staal comment about him "not being very bright") and did you see where he pushed his stick to Joni's visor?

andyt, I was dumbfounded at Rooney trying to play soothing mama instead of giving him another penalty. Completely baffled.

He has been in some kind of altercation every time we play them. He has a bad temper and is basically a big oaf a**hole.