The Hurricanes, winless in their last 10 games, are 30th in the NHL standings and the Toronto Maple Leafs 29th. So what kind of game will it be tonight at the RBC Center?
"9-8 tonight -- that's the prediction," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today after the morning skate. "They're trying to manufacture their goals the same way we are -- get as many pucks to the net as you can and drive the net. Unfortunately for both teams it just seems the bounces have just not been going.
"But clearly you can't look at these two records and say it's a matter of bounces. There's a reason where they're at. But I would expect a lot of scrums in front of the net, a lot of traffic in front of the net.
"I'm all for a 9-8'er. I'd like to come out on the right end."
The Canes (2-9-3) are 29th in the NHL in goals against and the Leafs 30th, so Maurice's prediction could be dead-on. But Carolina also is last in the league in penalties and tied for last in goals scored with the Nashville Predators after the Preds were shut out late Thursday night.
"It hasn't been any one thing other than the fact we're not scoring enough goals to take pressure off other areas of the game," Maurice said. "It has put a tremendous amount of pressure on our defense. We need to get that end going."
Canes forward Tuomo Ruutu said he expected a good, tight game with the Leafs (1-7-5) because "There will be two desperate teams are playing."
Many players use the word "desperate" but it applies with these two teams.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Or, it could go the other way
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 18:10 — caneshockeyfan0-0 with both teams o-fer on the PP.
Question: if both teams exhaust all their skaters in a shootout, would Ronnie Francis get a shot? That might be our best bet.
(Humor is the refuge of the depressed.)
Pathetic Canes
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 17:15 — LetsGoPittSince the Canes are so bad, can we get their Saturday nite TV games moved off fox and onto the local public access chanel? I would rather watch the FSN PAC-10 football games on Saturdays.
hair
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:16 — jejohn8we better play like our hair is on fire ... but of course if you think about it they might try to put out the fire with their sticks and that could get messy!!
anyway's
Go Canes!!!
Tentative Game Tonight
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:31 — gso_canes_fanThe start of the game tonight will be tentative with neither team wanting to make mistakes and maybe tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation so both teams getting a point or two. Sutter and Kessel will score in regulation.
I'll stick my neck out with
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:03 — ctillI'll stick my neck out with some Leafs trash talk.
Q: What do the Leafs and the Titanic have in common? A: They both look good until they hit the ice.
Q: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and whales have in common? A: They both get totally confused when surrounded by ice.
Q: Why are the Toronto Maple Leafs like Canada Post? A: They both wear uniforms and don't deliver! Q: Why doesn't Hamilton have an NHL team? A: Because then Toronto would want one.
Q: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Argonauts, and the Toronto Blue Jays all have in common -- besides being based in Toronto? A. None of them can play hockey.
Q: What do you call 30 millionaires around a TV watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs? A. The Toronto Maple Leafs.
Q: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and Billy Graham have in common? A. They both can make 20,000 people stand up and yell 'Jesus Christ'.
Q: How do you keep the Toronto Maple Leafs out of your yard? A. Put up a goal net.
Q: What do you call a Toronto Maple Leaf with a Stanley Cup ring? A. A thief.
Q: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and possums have in common? A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road.
Q: How many Toronto Maple Leafs does it take to win a Stanley Cup? A. Nobody knows ... and we may never find out.
Ha ha
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:35 — wxray1I'm rolling on the floor, trying to catch my breath.
TYPICAL MAURICE
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:00 — CharlotteCaniacMore talk of "bounces", etc. 9-8, eh Paul? Guess with all that job security you have the luxury of making light of the fact that you coach the most embarrasing team in the league.
He gets it from JR!
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:32 — wxray1JR (earlier blog post) is talking about bounces too.
Banish this word! It is bogus! You make your own bounces. I am tired of this.
gee what a
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 12:48 — esteban1949Sad "term" to use...but i will admit it does describe how the players may feel. But as a fan, i don't feel that...i feel "anxious" but then again, I'm NOT a player either, as i can get up and walk out...where they can't...hmmm...a paradox in the making ??
Thanks Chip
Go canes !! lets go and "rake" some Leafs tonight !!
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 12:37 — WAStoutUs score 9 (or 8) goals? I did not know if I should laugh or cry at that statement from Mo.
Guess our rookies will both have Hat Tricks tonight.
I too had
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 12:53 — esteban1949a good laugh, but we must NOT forget that there is nothing( mathamatically speaking now) but air ( and the other team) from keeping somebody on either team from doing that is there ?? personally i'm hoping it's our team who does it !! Enjoy the afternoon...and the Game if you are going...
Go Canes !!