Laviolette to stick with new line
TORONTO -- Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said the line of Tuomo Ruutu, Dwight Helminen and Chad LaRose would remain intact tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Why tamper with success?
"We're going to leave that line together for now and I'm just going to keep an eye on it," he said today. "They generated half of our even-strength chances the other night. I'm going to leave it for now but we'll see where it goes."
The three each produced a goal and an assist Sunday as the Canes rallied to beat the Leafs 6-4 at the RBC Center. Laviolette turned used the line combination out of necessity when back-to-back power plays in the second period sapped the energy of some of the top line players.
Center Matt Cullen, who missed Sunday's game with a groin injury, still is "day to day," the coach said.
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
I understand, but...
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 16:29 — Shawn (not verified)I sorta understand where Laviolette's coming from, no retaliation-type penalties or taking cheap shots yourself. But at sometime, you have to MAKE every other team in the National Hockey League know that cheap shots, and shots to the head (clean or not, Rutuu's hit an excellent example) will not be tolerated. If the NHL won't do anything about it, then the team HAS TO.
Don Cherry
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 15:29 — JustListenenalso gripes about the instigator rule ... as many of us aso do ...
Laviolette had a "no fight" policy in 05/06 but not this year. If you were at the game Sunday (or watched on TV) you would have noticed that Gleason did challenge a couple of Leafs when the Canes needed spark ... but the Leafs declined ... and Gleason was warned by the Refs that he was pushing for a roughing penalty
The Canes need a tough player that has enough skill to command plenty of ice time. Brookbank is willing but is slightly deficient in skills. Walker fit that role ... but with his hand in a cast he will have to avoid punching opponents, at least for a while
Walker & Cast - To JustListenen
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 16:10 — esteban1949as a kid i got suspended for putting a steel support brace on the top side of my cast and i'd backhand a goon from the other team...but it took the refs 3 months for them to catch on...and when they did...Bam...they lowered the boom on me...was gone for the rest of the season too...but when i did go after a goon...i was like Gleason does today...only when i had too...
Go Canes !
Odd line Plus
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 15:17 — esteban1949As a team, the coach has nothing to lose but to try and give them another shot. But if there is going to be any cheap shots tossed...then there would be a standing order ( if I was behind the bench) " take no prisoners" but give as good as you get! Als o found out the Joe Jenson is back for the Rats and Casey Borer is working out on the stationary bike as part of getting ready to return to the ice.
Go Canes !
One tough line
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:30 — scomilGreat line - Ruutu watches over his little buddies. Did anyone hear Don Cherry's comment about the Canes on the Canadian broadcast Saturday? I didn't but I heard that he said that Laviolette's orders to not take retribution on opposing players who make cheap shots makes all Canes sitting ducks and is a big reason for many of our injuries. I'm glad it was said - something does need to be done about it soon. I don't think that Tom Rowe would put up with it, if he were the head coach.
amen!
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 16:45 — caniac1026 (not verified)amen!
Petey needs to stick with
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:22 — Anonymous (not verified)Petey needs to stick with each line for more than one game. The lines need time to gel and it seems like he changes things every game...sometimes every shift.