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GDT: Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Canes v. Vegas 6/11 8:00

A

andyt

Canes Moderator
Staff member
A chance to move 1 win away.

RBA again played it coy when asked who was starting in goal tonight. They’re skating this morning at 10:30 so we’ll see, although he could just mess with us and put Jorge in the starter’s crease.

Hart has been bad on the other side and Torts has a Cup winning goalie on the bench. But Hart is “his guy” so he’ll probably give up 4+ again.

ABC for TV, Mike and Tripp on radio, Forslund on national radio.
 
The TSN crew I watched last night says there's zero chance Freddy was given a days rest, and not suited up as a backup. They aren't buying the story. But they also didn't speculate on an injury. More along the lines of "Bussi is better, and they are protecting Freddy's feelings" kind of thing. Don't buy that either. You have to play the guy who you think will make the most saves. Bussi will start tonight, but the only question is who will be the backup?
 
Torts kinda, sorta got pressed on Hart by the press but the generation of hockey media that would cut through Tortorella’s BS during a media scrum are largely retired … or dead in the case of Larry Brooks … whereas everybody apparently feels safe asking Brind’Amour the same question over and over and over again.

Doesn’t matter, really. I can’t recall a Cup Final that was less about goaltending. Neither team is built on great goaltending so neither team really bats an eye when they don’t get it. Nah, this one has been about surges as both teams ride multiple waves during each game and nobody ever really feels in control for more than a couple of shifts. Even in holding the Knights to no goals in the decisive 3rd period on Tuesday night, it never really felt like Carolina was in control. Likewise, Vegas can’t hold a lead either and have had real issues holding their vaunted zone shape in the D Zone. The reason this series has seemed so wild is that both teams have put the other under tremendous levels of pressure … and both teams have cracked at times.

So, down to a best of three, with no idea whether or not either team is actually capable of grabbing a game by its neck, much less the series. I’m out of prescriptions for the Canes, but if they could figure out how to get closed out on Theodore in the O Zone a bit more consistently that would help. Not sure there’s any fix for the kind of heater that Marner is on. Those two are driving the vast majority of Vegas’ offense, so pick one to chip and get busy with it. On offense, I’d suggest sticking with at least trying to get the transition game going. It isn’t really working, but it IS stretching the defense and putting miles on those legs. Also, turnovers in the O Zone were an issue in Games 3 and 4. I know Vegas loves to tempt you into trying risky cross ice passes, but knock it off. Grind them down or shoot it. Pretty passes are for the power play.
 
Howden is also on a heater but Howden is not having the game impact Marner is having even with all the goals. Marner's impact on these games has been on par with Pronger's in 2006.
 
The big difference between the Canes' goaltending situation and Vegas' is that Bussi was the best goalie the Canes had through most of the regular season. Adain Hill was the worst goalie Vegas had during the regular season.

Now if you want to counterargue that Adin Hill has won the Stanley Cup, I will allow it!
 
I wonder if Carolina resorted to the same level of tossing elbows at heads, well behind the play, after whistles, etc as teams like Vegas do, if they'd get called for it every single time? I'd hammer Marner. I think he'd wilt after a few big hits. He has before. And for the love of all that is holy, someone, anyone, quit letting Stone get breakaways. He's about as fast as molasses flowing uphill in January. He's making y'all look bad.
 
TheBigKahuna said:
I wonder if Carolina resorted to the same level of tossing elbows at heads, well behind the play, after whistles, etc as teams like Vegas do, if they'd get called for it every single time? I'd hammer Marner. I think he'd wilt after a few big hits. He has before. And for the love of all that is holy, someone, anyone, quit letting Stone get breakaways. He's about as fast as molasses flowing uphill in January. He's making y'all look bad.
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Honestly? This Final has been about as free from that stuff as any in recent memory. There’s always some nonsense, but VERY little compared to the average year. So, no. The Hurricanes aren’t going to suddenly start gooning it up.

Oh, and Stone’s breakways are why I keep harping on getting the gap closed on Theodore. Pretty much all those passes come from him, if they aren’t alley-oop flips.
 
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