GDT: Eastern Conference Final, Game 4 Canes @ Panthers 5/26 8:00
- Thread starter andyt
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Random Game 4 thoughts:
Nikishin's learning curve has been truly remarkable. Once he gets more comfortable in the offensive zone, he's clearly going to be a handful. On the other hand, if Morrow doesn't learn to stop chucking hopeful passes up the middle, he's not going to make the transition to the NHL anytime soon no matter how good he is with the puck on his stick.
Slavin had maybe his best game of the season last night. His Game Score was at or close to +4 and considering he doesn't really move the needle on offense very much, that's an absolutely remarkable number. Orlov also dug down and came up with a vintage effort. And with those two guys anchoring things, the Canes got a lot more stable in their defensive zone. Florida generated zone time, but the chances they got were hard earned and mostly pretty messy. Then the Canes did a much better job of being patient on their exits and making the extra pass. It was still tough sledding, but they finally found the processing speed they'd been lacking.
Likewise, the forwards on the forecheck were more patient in picking their spots to press hard. Carolina still got maybe half the turnovers they normally generate off the forecheck, but for the first time in the series they did manage to string together some changes in possession. Again, it was tough going but they did a better job of not getting frustrated and sticking to their spacing.
So, they passed the gut check and answered the bell. It's almost certainly too little, too late but at least they clawed back some of their dignity.
Nikishin's learning curve has been truly remarkable. Once he gets more comfortable in the offensive zone, he's clearly going to be a handful. On the other hand, if Morrow doesn't learn to stop chucking hopeful passes up the middle, he's not going to make the transition to the NHL anytime soon no matter how good he is with the puck on his stick.
Slavin had maybe his best game of the season last night. His Game Score was at or close to +4 and considering he doesn't really move the needle on offense very much, that's an absolutely remarkable number. Orlov also dug down and came up with a vintage effort. And with those two guys anchoring things, the Canes got a lot more stable in their defensive zone. Florida generated zone time, but the chances they got were hard earned and mostly pretty messy. Then the Canes did a much better job of being patient on their exits and making the extra pass. It was still tough sledding, but they finally found the processing speed they'd been lacking.
Likewise, the forwards on the forecheck were more patient in picking their spots to press hard. Carolina still got maybe half the turnovers they normally generate off the forecheck, but for the first time in the series they did manage to string together some changes in possession. Again, it was tough going but they did a better job of not getting frustrated and sticking to their spacing.
So, they passed the gut check and answered the bell. It's almost certainly too little, too late but at least they clawed back some of their dignity.
NoMich
Well-known member
Orlov was quite good last night and threw his body around when it called for.
Also, did y'all know that Shayne Gostisbehere is from South Florida and played youth hockey with the Junior Panthers? I did not know that except for when it's brought up every single damn time he touches the puck. It's right up there with "Jerome Bettis is from Detroit" during that Steelers Super Bowl game in Detroit.
Also, did y'all know that Shayne Gostisbehere is from South Florida and played youth hockey with the Junior Panthers? I did not know that except for when it's brought up every single damn time he touches the puck. It's right up there with "Jerome Bettis is from Detroit" during that Steelers Super Bowl game in Detroit.
CanadaCanes
Well-known member
It certainly would be a real shot of energy if Chatty could somehow find his way back into the lineup to bump Morrow out and stabilize the D core in game 5.
My biggest takeaway from last night was the Florida D pairs are out of sync with a noticeable dropoff with Mikkola out...he has arguably been their best D at times in this post season so when you have to bump Kulikov up to the second pair with Jones that's a dropoff for sure in the second pair and Balinskis certainly is no replacement for Mikkola in terms of what he provides. That second pair with Jones and Mikkola was great against Toronto and carried on nicely the same way the first three games of this series.
My biggest takeaway from last night was the Florida D pairs are out of sync with a noticeable dropoff with Mikkola out...he has arguably been their best D at times in this post season so when you have to bump Kulikov up to the second pair with Jones that's a dropoff for sure in the second pair and Balinskis certainly is no replacement for Mikkola in terms of what he provides. That second pair with Jones and Mikkola was great against Toronto and carried on nicely the same way the first three games of this series.
And that his Dad played Jai Alai? The guy has been in the league for over a decade. You'd think they'd have more than two quick facts.
It's just one game, but their D was more out of whack with Mikkola out than they were early in the series against Tampa when Ekblad was still suspended. Of course, Carolina was also MUCH more on the front foot on their forecheck last night. That's got something to do with it
HurryCanes
Well-known member
Whew. I stayed up all night trying to figure that out.
