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GDT: Canes v. Utah 2/8 1:00

A

andyt

Canes Moderator
Staff member
The last game before a much needed 2 week break. For them and us.

The Canes look to snap a 3 game losing streak, in which they’ve only managed to score 3 goals, one of which was with an extra attacker against the Wild. The power play stinks, not just to our eyes but to the coach too. Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic didn’t help. But we’re back home, and the Canes lead the Eastern Conference with 20 home wins. They cancelled practice yesterday and won’t skate today, so we’ll have to wait for RBAs pre-game media scrum for lineups. It should be Kochetkov in goal.

Utah started the season on fire, then cooled off for a bit. But they’re 5-3-2 in their last 10, have won 2 straight in OT and climbed above NHL .500. They’re 5th in the Central and 4th in the Wild Card, 6 points behind Vancouver. Dylan Guenther leads with 19 goals, including both OT winners in their last 2. Clayton Keller is right behind him at 18 and they have 4 others with at least 10 goals. Keller has 39 assists. Karel Vejmelka has started 30 games in goal, he’s at 2.46/.910. We should see him today, backup Connor Ingram played on Thursday. Utah is 26th in goals per game and 14th in goals against. They’re 15th on the PP and 6th on the PK, something a struggling Canes PP doesn’t need to see.

Red jerseys today. FanDuel for TV.
 
Utah has started to play like they're familiar with the game lately. The results are more in keeping with the talent level than either their red hot start or the frigid period that followed. It's a quality team that plays a pretty stout brand of hockey and are far from the easy out they often were in soul sucking Phoenix. Carolina, of course, is reeling ... and setting loose all the demons of their insecure fan base in the process. If ever a team needed a win in an otherwise fairly meaningless game, it's the Canes.
 
Let's hope we win this one today - otherwise we'll have two weeks stewing about how badly things are going. Over the break, maybe the team and its fans can spend some quality time with their therapists or priests to exorcise whatever demons are in their heads before the season resumes.
 
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ThinIce said:
Let's hope we win this one today - otherwise we'll have two weeks stewing about how badly things are going. Over the break, maybe the team and its fans can spend some quality time with their therapists or priests to exorcise whatever demon is in their heads before the season resumes.
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Just win baby, it cures all ills!!!
 
Kochetkov confirmed. RBA says there are still a couple of question marks up front. When asked about Aho and Rantanen he said “we’ll see”. All 7 dmen will warm up.
 
jeffbear said:
... and setting loose all the demons of their insecure fan base in the process.
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That’s only accurate if you lump in all the fans frustrated with the progression of this team in the insecure group.

This team has the exact same issues they have had for the last several years - since Williams left at least.

They climbed to their current level (let’s call it playoff team level) that year with RBA and Willie) and have pretty much plateaued. They improved talent wise since then but have extended periods of awfulness. Great teams don’t do that. They don’t look like a team that fixed any of the issues that lead to their playoff exits the last couple years. They look like a team that is likely to be shut down by a good team in the playoffs.

Maybe the latest move will help with that but early results don’t indicate that. Would be much more positive if Rantanan had hit the ground running. Or if there was any whisper in the press that the Canes are likely to extend him instead of all the media saying that’s unlikely - which means little of nothing but…

Team is playing like crap
Traded valuable resources for Rants
Those resources are tearing it up
Rants is not
Media doubts we’ll sign him
Not a peep that we might be able to sign him
Power play blows chunks
PK showing recent signs of vincibility like they were exposed in the playoffs.

Find a recent positive…

Here’s a couple

They traded for a great player that could theoretically be a solution for them.

They’re sick and it’s hurting them.

So

Not really insecurity. They’re going to make the playoffs. That’s not the goal though. This team is capable of playing dominating hockey with their roster again this season but again they don’t do that consistently.
 
Today’s officials

Referees:
Frederick L’Ecuyer #17, Jon McIsaac #2

Linesmen:
Matt MacPherson #83, Julien Fournier #56

The Canes are 2-1 with Wake Forest Freddie this year but 10-4 in the last 2 years. They’re 1-1 with McIssac but 12-1 in the last 2 years.
 
I mean, if the shoe fits. And also, if the shoe doesn't fit.

But either way, I'm feeling all sorts of insecure vibes from all across the fan base right now. And yes, I consider this a quite immature and insecure fan base. Not pointing any fingers at any specific people, but I think the older heads know I'm right.
 
jeffbear said:
I mean, if the shoe fits. And also, if the shoe doesn't fit.

But either way, I'm feeling all sorts of insecure vibes from all across the fan base right now. And yes, I consider this a quite immature and insecure fan base. Not pointing any fingers at any specific people, but I think the older heads know I'm right.
Click to expand...
The insecure vibes are everywhere for sure and most of it comes from expecting instant results from that trade…the reality is they have not been a great team since Thanksgiving and the great start has kinda sugarcoated things a bit in the points total. If any team needs a break it’s this one, but you can certainly feel the insecurity creeping in from everywhere and how on earth this team is the second best odds to win the Cup right now seems a bit off if you base it on how they are playing for the past several weeks.
 
cmaleski2 said:
Don't see Rantanen taking warmups.
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Yeah he looked like he could barely stand in the last two minutes on Thursday night after getting hit with that friendly fire. This begs the question…if you’re hurt and not able to play for your team this weekend, is it a great idea to play in a couple days for Finland or take the two weeks rest to recover? Crosby appears to be out of the tournament now.
 
Without Moose it’s a 11/7 game.

Jarvis - Aho - Blake
Robinson - Kotkaniemi - Hall
Svechnikov - Staal - Martinook
Jaaska - Roslovic

Slavin - Burns
Orlov - Chatfield
Gostisbehere - Walker
Morrow
 
Lather, rinse, repeat
The rollercoaster ride that’s koochie and a historically awful PP

Come on boys, let’s get it going

Addendum: apologies but I forgot to add another Orlov eff up to my list
 
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