Flyers 3, Hurricanes 1

The more I watch the more I think the progress this season is not a coaching issue. I think it is a Jim Rutherford issue. This team is just too small/weak overall. When Lavi lets them have it between periods and they come back out with a snarl someone usually gets hurt. Mr. Rutherford did a super job anticipating what type of team would work post-lockout but he didn't keep his eyes and mind open as the small, quick teams that the Canes and Buffalo had post lockout quickly were devoured by bigger yet still fast teams like the Ducks in the next couple of years. This team held fast to small and quick. Now I like Staal. We have seen what he can do when healthy, which by the way he is absolutely not right now. But look at the 2003 draft and see the type of rugged player the team could have drafted. Staal is tall and lanky, but not a rugged type of player. Eric Cole was always hurt. He had to play harder than his body would allow to be effective. And so on.
Some of this can't be blamed on even Mr Rutherford. He is GM of a small market team. He simply doesn't have the money to spend a stronger players with skills. I am okay with that. This IS a small market and I don't blame Mr Karmanos for holding to a budget. Also look at the Canes records, they make the playoffs or usually just miss the playoffs. When you draft in the middle of the round all the players with size/strength and skill are gone. Had the Canes just decided to rebuild the fear would be losing its footing in this non-traditional hockey market. They had to bring in what they could to try and keep making the playoffs.
There is no easy fix either. You can't just tell the GM to go get this guy or that guy. You have to have a willing dance partner and a player someone wants that you can give up.
Now where the GM does get blame is by not drafting well when the good picks do come along, and by not seeing the writing on the wall and getting the team bigger over the course of the years after the Cup was won. Over the course of a few seasons it is much easier to re-tool than in the middle of one season.
This team has skill, and it has speed, and it has a few good rugged players. But based on the overall size/ strength of this club they don't have enough skill and speed to make up for the lack of strength. Can coaching find a system that will accommodate this roster and find some success? Maybe. If you think so than you'll blame coaching. I'm not sure coaching is the issue.

Was at the game last night and came away with a few observations:

1) What a woeful first period. How can this continue to be such a problem? There was one 5 or 6 minute stretch where the Canes seemingly did not have possession in their own end...AT ALL. It was like half court hockey. Ugh. My only kudos for that first period go to Cam Ward, who was stellar in keeping us in the game when we did not deserve to be, and to Chad LaRose and Ryan Bayda who, though they only got around 4 mins of ice time each, seemed to be the only players on the ice actually interested in playing a hockey game on the NHL level. Brookbank fought, sure, but it didn't seem to do anything to light a fire under his teammates.

2) As much as I hate to say it, Rod Brind A'mour is doing absolutely nothing to help this hockey team right now. And if he can't win faceoffs, he's got nothing to offer. I made a point to watch him closely on the ice all night - no jump, easily pushed off the puck, and at one point he lost 5 straight faceoffs. At the end of the game, with out goalie pulled, he lost 3 straight faceoffs. Minus 2 for the game. Rod has always been one who leads by example, and right now he's seemingly has nothing to give on the ice.

3) Staal was obviously injured early in the game, and though he gutted it out, and did not play particularly poorly, he did not really stand out either. 3 shots on goal in almost 20 minutes of ice time. You need more than that from your best player. If he is hurt, if Brind A'Mour is hurting, we should just sit them down for a game or two in hopes that they get their legs back. Sure, it might put us as a disadvantage, but we are 3-6 over our last 9 with them on the ice. How much worse can it get? Ok. Don't answer that.

4) I thought Ray Whitney played a solid game. He tried to bring energy and physicality (which is not his game btw, but someone has to do it). At least you noticed when he was on the ice, which is more than you can say about most of the other forwards not names LaRose or Bayda. Felt like Ruutu was mostly a non factor last night, which was surprising.

5) Scott Walker's injury really hurt us. Had to break up the lines again and scramble for combinations. Hope it's nothing serious.

6) I'm pretty sure that Carle's goal came on the 3 on 3 Chip, not 4 on 4. Brind A'Mour and Richard came out of the box after he scored.

5) Was pretty neat to see a 3 on 3 though. Cannot remember the last time I've seen that, outside of the rookie all star game.

Overall, very bummed about the loss. About the string of loses. About the overall effort. Not sure what the remedy is.
Just hope that they come up with something soon.

Go Canes.

Happy Thanskgiving.

-m

This no morning skate philosophy needs to be dumped. Every 1st period is just a lackluster effort. We can play our hearts out in the second but by the time the third rolls around it's too much of an uphill battle. Something needs to be done about these slow starts.

Not much left to say about this team, but here's a good topic for Monday's "debate."

"Who is playing worse, Rod Brind'Amour or Eric Staal?"

Discuss.

can Anyone here, and yes Chip you too are included tell "we the fans" or even show us Fans a reason to fill the seats or to keep coming towant to fill what seats we who have them, to even want & desire to even show up ? The only things that have NOT been tried let alone done are : Putting Stormie in a bikini,the cheerleaders in nuns habits, benching what players who don't put out consistantly, or replacing the coach,getting a proven or center who can preform as we need him too...Gee i wonder If Bobby Orr Inc...has any ideas...cause JR and Mr. K sure are silent, and Forslund & Tracy aren't, at least tripp is combing his hair better huh ? And don't worry about cooking any turkey for Thanksgiving, because we had enough from lastnight didn't we ? Maybe the Rats will do better or put on a better show that the canes did...maybe... Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!! Go Stormie !

"They got opportunities and we got nothing. That was the reason tonight. We were just not playing the game with any heart in the first period. The other team wanted to win badly and we did not."

Heart in the FIRST period????? How about all season pal!!!

When are we going to change this thing up? We keep trotting out the same guys 4-6 times per game and we get nothing 5-on-4 or, heaven forbid, 5-on-3. It's time to shake it up. Put four forwards out like last year. Put Francis in charge of that unit. Put LaRose out there - he's got more even-strength goals than anyone on the team. I don't know the answer, but I know that Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. We don't need Einstein, just a little coaching.

Can we PLEASE fire Lavi BEFORE it's too late??????

Yes he won us a cup but what has he done for us lately????

Heck, my kid's 6-year old hockey coach would do a better job....give him a call....he gives minutes to kids who actually try and contribute!!!! He actually knows that you can play in the CENTER of the ice too! Not just cycle and dump-n-chase all night.

Whatever....no more money from me pal. I'll stick with going to B-ball and the Panthers....go back to Hartford.