TORONTO — The Canes have won their last two games and three of the last four, which probably explains the laughter and smiles at today's morning skate at the Air Canada Centre.
The Maple Leafs, in contrast, have lost three in a row and five of six, which may explain the rather sullen, dour expressions at their skate.
How that will translate tonight when they play is anybody's guess. But while the Canes still are 30th and last in the league standings, they're now four points behind Edmonton and six behind the Leafs. They're 15 points out of playoff position in the East.
Asked by the Toronto media today if the Canes had enough talent to gear up make a run at the playoffs, coach Paul Maurice said, "Well, we think we do. We played some real fine hockey at the end of last year ... and I think we played the best hockey we were capable of playing.
"The fact of the matter is we can hold water and fight and compete right now, but we're going to have to get our bigger guys back to make that kind of push. Or, Cam Ward is going to have to do what he's been doing for the last couple of weeks and play as good as he's capable of playing.
"So the top two or three players at the top of your food chain have to be dominant players every night. Eric Staal has to. Cam Ward has to. And we need to keep those guys healthy."
Staal, who scored Sunday in the 4-1 win over Ottawa, said the Canes were "finding ways to lose" for too much of the first half of the season. But with Ward has his best in net, he said, the Canes have been able to get out of the rut and notch a few wins -- Carolina is 5-4-1 in the last 10 games.
"It's a huge hill for us to try and climb now," Staal said. "It's tough but we'll keep battling and hopefully it will get better."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
While i agree
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 14:08 — esteban1949in prinicpal with what AD said...but let's not forget that sadly more super star potential draft picks have a 50/50 chance of blowing up and not even making it...now and for the record Hall&Seguin are well growed & highly skilled players...but still there is nothing but air that will stop them from being flops...but i hope and pray for the Cane's sake I'm dead wrong in that assesment...
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
beg to differ
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 11:24 — Biff_BeersI don't agree with the notion that, if you aren't going to make the playoffs, you might as well aim for last place and secure a good draft pick. If the Canes are going to make it to the 2011 playoffs, they will have to learn to win as a team eventually, and the sooner the better. Recent history shows that the team that "earns" the top draft pick does not typically make it to the playoffs the next season. The last place team is always lousy, and one young hotshot is not enough to change that. I don't think the Canes are lousy, and I think they will play their way out of last place before the end of the season.
The Canes will have to go on a spectacular winning streak even to get close to the playoffs this season. That would be great, but it's really unlikely. A rosy scenario that is far more likely would be for the Canes to climb to 26th and win the draft lottery. The Blackhawks did that in 2007 and took Patrick Kane. While they narrowly missed the 2008 playoffs, they have been pretty good ever since. Winning the draft lottery from 26th place takes nothing but luck, and the Canes are due for some good luck.
Toronto
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 23:14 — CaniacGuyHey wait a minute!! Was that Chip reporting from TORONTO? OMG!!! With miracles like that, we might actually win 35 of the next 30 :-)
How nice to see ... have a safe trip home boys. Good story Chip.
Oh, and we won too! Hmmm ... I'm sensing a pattern here. When the FULL team goes to the game, we stand a much better chance.
Well, ya gotta remember...
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 19:19 — AllenH...that the players (and maybe even th' coach) aren't playing for the Hall/Seguin sweepstakes. They aren't going to tank in favor of the future, most know they won't even be here later. They could start playing as a team and get us up to 9th or 10th in the East.
As William Bendix usta say, "What a revoltin' development..." that would be!
Some (MANY) of the fans don't understand what the miseries of this season could mean for the future. If we finish dead last, 30th in the NHL, we are guaranteed a 1st or 2nd pick in the draft (no bottom 5 team can drop more than one place in the lottery). If we win our home games and lose those away, it would please most Caniacs and keep us where we need to be. Damn, I hate losing but it could mean an overall WIN!!!
Top #2 Pick
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 19:29 — abramsdougA top #2 pick in the 2010 Re-entry lottery would be a game changer for the Hurricanes. Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin would alter for years the landscape of the team and would give the Hurricanes the talent boost the team desperately needs.
The Hurricanes have more chance of winning the NC Lottery than getting into the Stanley Cup playoffs. A failed run that falls short is the worst of all possible alternatives. That being said, it is fun to watch the Hurricanes at the RBC with the Albany Rats up on the team; and it is fun and exciting watching them win home games.
I respectfully suggesst that many fans do appreciate what is at stake and why the point of the season is really to give younger players NHL experience (and hopefully to finish 30th in the process).
wait a minute (I agree w/GoShelf)
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 18:14 — hellfishHey, were at a point now where we need to finish behind Tor/Edm we need the best player available and finishing 10pts shy of the playoffs would be the worst position as bad as i hate it...get the 1st pick for a player that can play now like Tavares (Ny Islanders) this year falling out of the top 5 picks would put the Canes in a wait a year Player scenario....we need tallent for 2010 NOW!
It's reality
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 19:00 — GoShelfIt's tough to cheer for your team to lose, but when you look at what's at stake, it doesn't make any sense to go on a tear.
It is setting up just right!
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 15:55 — Hockeydad92a little second half pre and post all star surge is just what the caniac faithful ordered... Just build a little rah rah and finish this thing up around 10th in the east and 21st overall. That ought to net us a good mid first rounder that JR can trade away later for nothing while Toronto or whoever stays down can bring in the Taylor Halls of the draft next season to skate the pants off all the old fan favorites we resigned for one more kick at the can. The season ticket holders can grump and wonder what if as our aged and wounded warriors battle on during another injury riddled season as eastern team after eastern team get stronger via the draft. Look at the bright side, The Pens and the Caps will be old in like 10 years.....
Yes!
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 17:12 — imayagainknowantonPlus, a second-half surge will lead JR to overestimate the potential of the team YET AGAIN and do nothing in the offseason but re-sign fan favorites and maybe add a few grinders or talentless defensemen. We will then finish in 9th-10th place again and get a FUTURE 3RD LINE CENTER with the 15th overall pick!
No Kidding
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 16:41 — GoShelfThat would be appropriate. Keep in mind Toronto sent their 1st and 2nd round pick of 2010 to Boston for Phil Kessel.
Being realistic
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 15:23 — esteban1949the other teams in the east will do their best to stop the Canes anyway they can...but that's life isn't it ?
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
No Chance
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 15:08 — GoShelfThey'd have to win 26-30 of their last 38. Legace needs to play more, he gives us a legitimate chance to lose everynight.