RALEIGH – The Carolina Hurricanes got two regulars back in their lineup, but the result was the same.
The Tampa Bay Lightning never trailed in a 3-2 win, handing the Hurricanes their third-straight loss at the RBC Center Monday.
Nevermind that forward Chad LaRose, who joined forward Sergei Samsonov in returning to the lineup, tied the game in the third period after missing 17 games.
Or that LaRose won the game's third star.
Or that he and the Hurricanes had their chances to score.
It still wasn't enough.
All night, the Lightning had an answer.
Just over five minutes after LaRose's third period goal, Tampa Bay forward Martin St. Louis, earning the game's first star, broke away and passed over to forward Steve Downie, who caught Carolina goalie Cam Ward out of position for the game winner.
Ward, one win shy of tying the franchise wins record, kept the Hurricanes in the game after giving up a goal to Ryan Malone, who squeaked a backhander in between Ward's pads at 11:07 in the first period.
The Hurricanes power play, entering the game ranked 25th in the league, continued to struggle, despite a pair of power play goals from Jussi Jokinen in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta. On Monday, it was downright dysfunctional, going 0-for-4 for the night.
The Hurricanes, who played the Lightning about even in the first period, went into an offensive lull in the second period.
The Hurrricanes didn't wake out of it until late in the period, breaking into a flurry that saw forward Eric Staal fire wide on a good look off to the side of the net.
Moments later, the Hurricanes finally got past Tampa Bay goalie Antero Niittymaki. Staal attempted a wrap-around, and center Matt Cullen was there to put away the second rebound after forward Ray Whitney missed at 16:28.
But less than two minutes later, Carolina defenseman Niclas Wallin was called for interference, and Tampa Bay scored on the man advantage, with center Vincent LeCavalier collecting up a rebound and put it past Ward after a hard shot from Tampa Bay defenseman Andrej Meszaros for a 2-1 lead at 18:55 in the second.
The Hurricanes were out-shot 32 to 22, but were there to the end.
Ward is one win behind Arturs Irbe, who holds the franchise wins record at 130.
Javier Serna has covered sports for The News & Observer since 2007. He previously covered growth for the North Raleigh News, and sports at The Truth in Elkhart, Ind. E-mail
Comments
Travesty
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:46 — hockey101Last nights game was a travesty. They acted as if they didn't care who won or lost. After last nights performance I wonder if JR was on the phone today trying to make a trade. Looking at the bench last night Paul, Tom, and Ron were all dumbfounded. I still think Ron doesn't want to coach. He is better at player developement and recruiting. Why not try Glenn behind the bench. It couldn't hurt. Remember when Paul was brought back last year and at the news conference he said he was only going to tweak things a little, well now it looks like he has totally redone everything to the point nobody has any confidence and is totally lost out on the ice. If we are a .500 team by the end of Nov. and that including Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, Paul will be gone for sure. Attack the zone with speed and stop this dump and chase crap.
It's conceivable that
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:55 — ctillIt's conceivable that Detroit, Atlanta, and Tampa will all fail to make the playoffs. That's three consecutive losses (two at home!) against teams that the Canes must beat, if they want their season to improve.
This is the final and absolute "Game Over", if anyone really did believe that the Canes could salvage the season somehow. I notice that the Canes did not have practice today.
Only question is when the first trade will come. In 2006 the Canes acquired Doug Weight before the Olympic break, so I wouldn't be surprised to see an announcement within several weeks.
Hall vs Seguin
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:33 — GoShelfThey played against each other in the OHL yesterday. Seguin - 2 goals, 1 assist, and the win. Hall - 1 assist, loss. By most accounts both dominated and despite the stats it's hard to say who looked better. The Windsor Star has a couple of articles about the game, I'm sure Plymouth does as well. What I take from it is that the separation between Hall and Seguin is a lot closer than most people think.
Cheer up reaper!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:40 — Hockeydad92A Ward, Brindy and Wallin are just doing their job. Wards wrist shot on Cam was nice but if Cam lets that one in the general public cathes on to the plan so Aaron just makes a norris like shift out of Vinnys way so that he can mop it up, I think it was perfect! This all adds up to a #1 or #2 pick and much much more fairway time for Aaron Ward and Nic and Brindy and Cole etc. The young-ins can work on their game this summer while the old guard can finally take some time off, for good. JR get your check book ready to buy out the bulk of the 30 plus crowd, get PK sold on some discount tickets to put butts in the seats to watch the kids play and let Ronnie take the reigns next year
I can't conceive how
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:51 — abramsdougI can't conceive how any team would be able to run a fast, hard-hitting, exciting game with A. Ward, Wallin,and Brind'Amour on the ice. Add widespread injuries, and it is easy to see why this year has been challenging. Speaking for myself, I think the Albany Rats (now specifically Tlusty and Dwyer), Sutter, Ruutu (when healthy), Jokinen, Pitkanen, Staal, Cullen, Gleason, Whitney, Carson, and Alberts play hard and physically. LaRose was doing his "wild man on the ice" style of play. Samsonov didn't get very much time.
I try to isolate the times when the slow, old, and hopefully soon to be gone, players are on the ice and the team bogs down from the times when the core team is playing Hurricanes hockey. These are the cards we are dealt. I puzzle over the repeated use of Wallin, A. Ward, and Brind'Amour at critical junctures; but I am not discouraged about the system in place -- just I am weary of watching three players sink the team game after game and of seeing a power play in which the players are all skating out of sync with one another.
I've Been Robbed!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:14 — Reaper49As a season ticket holder, I honestly feel cheated, like I’ve been swindled by some snake oil salesman.
Losses I can deal with. A losing season I can deal with. It should result in a great, young player who can catapult right back into contention.
I cannot deal with this boring, unimaginative, emotionless garbage that Paul Maurice and this current team calls hockey. This is NOT hockey. Hockey is fast-paced, hard-hitting, emotional, and fun to watch. Watching this team is literally like watching ice melt.
I renewed my season tickets reluctantly this year, mostly because I clearly remember how awful, and painful, Paul Maurice hockey is. Well, they swindled me into thinking it would be different this go around. Shame on them and shame on me.
Totally agree with your
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:47 — ynotagainTotally agree with your Mo-hockey comments.
Shocking that he's still behind the bench and to hear JR and even PK talk about him remaining there. Tells us all that the beginning of next season will be boring hockey too.
We need to start a serious "MO GOTTA GO (again)" campaign.
I agree that it has become
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:11 — rmmeliI agree that it has become pretty boring to watch. If I am watching on TV I normally flip to a different Center Ice channel to remind myself how hockey should be played. There are usually some great games going on while Maurice tries to bore the opposition to submission.
Aaron Ward, Wallin and Brind'Amour -- too much dead weight
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 23:49 — abramsdougThree goals tonight. First goal: Cam Ward let in a very soft goal. Second Goal: Wallin and Aaron Ward were culprits. In fact, Aaron Ward almost scored a nice goal on Cam Ward -- missing only by a few inches. Third Goal: Wallin was the culprit.
Brind'Amour: so close and confused it is painful to watch. Once he was put on the bench and Jokinen centered the third line, all three lines played far better.
The team is simply not strong enough to overcome the drag factor of Wallin, Aaron Ward, and Brind'Amour. It is not that everybody else tonight was ready to be named MVP of the NHL, but the others played hard enough and well enough to win.
What is amazing is that Maurice/Francis/Rowe can't figure out how to keep Wallin, Aaron Ward, and Brind'Amour to only token, absolutely necessary minutes. They were able to hold down the minutes of the Albany Rats; so it seems feasible to essentially bench players who desire to sit on the pine.
Wallin/Ward AGAIN!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:50 — hellfishIt seems EVERY game that Wallin and Ward make "THE" mistake that costs the Canes the win and last night sure nuff ole' Nicky took a penalty and the Lightning scored AGAIN! Like i've said before Wallin's penalty's are backbreakers nearly EVERY time UNcanny it seems and this has went on for YEARS and still JR/MO will put him right back out there with A.Ward no less! and speaking of A.ward that little brain fart he had last night was crazy he hits the puck w/his stick on the 2nd clear and makes Cam make a nice save from scoring in our OWN net! and creates the rebound to let Downey(i think) get the easy goal...btw Rosey and Sammy played good ,but You really can't tell a difference between a "Rat heavy" lineup and our "veteran" lineup...and that dump and chase DOES'NT work when the other team is looking for it EVERY time! The Canes do this way to much. This is where the Canes miss Corvo BAD as a puck mover.
Plan
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 10:04 — GoShelfI think their plan is working out well - continue to lose games, but keep them close. It's clear at this point that if they put those three on the ice at pivotal times during the game it will yield a loss. It's nice to see Toronto winning some games, what's discerning is Edmonton's completely tanking, so we'll have to continue to work hard in losing games. I think the other sure fire way to lose is playing Cam Ward less, even with giving AWard, Brindy, and Wallin significant minutes it's still possible Cam will steal one, so we need to play Legace more - we have to keep pace with Edmonton.
Which one of three coaches
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 08:08 — rmmeliWhich one of three coaches decides to continue putting the deadweights out together? One at a time they could probably cope with but 2-3 at the same time....stupid
Puzzling Coaching Decisions on Lines
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 08:42 — abramsdougIt was even more dubious to have Aaron Ward, Wallin, and Brind'Amour all out together for the third Tampa Bay goal because (1) Wallin had already been undressed once by St. Louis; (2) Aaron Ward had almost scored on Cam Ward; (3) Brind'Amour was totally lost in his ten earlier shifts; (4) the Hurricanes had just scored to tie the game and the crowd was back into the game; and (5) the Hurricanes were at home and had the last change -- so it was a decision of intent rather than default.
Brind'Amour only had two shifts in the third period; and it was his second shift during which the rush occurred and the third goal. Brind'Amour took less than 33 seconds on the ice before Tampa Bay scored. That is failure personified.
good point. I guess they
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 09:38 — rmmeligood point. I guess they really are trying to lose as many games as possible.
I must check the fine print on my season tickets because I don't remember reading that the coaching staff reserve the right to lose as many games as possible
AD
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 06:10 — esteban1949Atleast Sutter,Dwyer,and Tlusty had the legs & smarts to go after who ever took the puck from them, and while it was good to Rosey back ( which i won't lie) Maybe a contioning stint (say a week) with the rats might help as Chad ,while good, seemed to be just a nano second off and i say this even though he scored a goal to help the cause...i still feel it was a 3 Out game the Canes played !And the other thing i didn't see very often was any net presence in from to the TB Net minder for a vast majority of the game. Even Sutter wasn't there as often as he normally is...and speaking of Dwyer..some think him a professional AHLer...like Kieth Acoin for the hershey bears..but Dwyer at least hit more people and covered the puck better than A.Ward and Wallin did ...c ya over at CC blog..
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !! Go Canes !!
Can he take Staal with him
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 08:05 — rmmeliCan he take Staal with him on a conditioning stint? Totally anonymous again. Lost on the wing.
Why would the coaching staff
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 02:43 — imayagainknowantonWhy would the coaching staff want to limit the minutes of the Taylor Hall Trio? The more those guys play, the better chance we have of losing. Edmonton has turned on the tank to full throttle, so we can't afford to lose any ground.
I'm getting very concerned
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:20 — ocolumnI'm getting very concerned about the Oilers. They appear to be far worse than we are and they play in the tougher conference. Our grip on last is tenuous, at best. We need Aaron Ward to step up and, every game, turn over at least one puck right in front of our open net. To beat Edmonton, we might have to lose out from here.
I went to check out the
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:49 — abramsdougI went to check out the Oilers' schedule last night after coming back from the game; and it does seem like the Hurricanes have to go on a long, long losing streak to keep their 30th in the league standing. The Oilers have a very difficult schedule and the Oilers are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep up their losing ways. It is going to be outright war in the race to the bottom. The good news is that either Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin will make a tremendous positive impact on the team. The other good news is sadly the 2009-2010 Hurricanes have found remarkably creative ways to lose games they had a chance to win. As long as Aaron Ward, Wallin, and Brind'Amour get their fair share of time on the ice, I am feeling very, very confident, the Hurricanes can draft Taylor Hall. Those three Hurricanes will not be denied as they trainwreck game after game.
Gimme a trade...please
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 23:36 — DesertCaniacI can't wait for next season...Go Canes!!!
Sigh- A 3 out game
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 22:51 — esteban1949Out hussled, Out muscled, Out played.
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
Ugh. If Cam Ward had not
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 22:42 — ctillUgh. If Cam Ward had not make some excellent saves, this game could have been 6-2. More of the same: weak on offense and lapses on defense.