Noting Monday practice
Patrick Eaves, who missed the Tampa Bay game with an upper-body injury, was at practice today at the RBC Center and Canes coach Paul Maurice said he expects the forward to play Tuesday against New Jersey.
"As long as he wakes up tomorrow OK," Maurice said. "It's muscular, so if it doesn't spasm or tighten up over the course of the day, he'll play." ...
Justin Williams continued to work on Rod Brind'Amour's line. Maurice took a look at the line Saturday during the Tampa Bay game, liked what he saw and kept rolling it out.
"I don't like to move guys around too, too much, but at the same time we'll give it a run for a while," Maurice said
Scott Walker, who has been on the Brind'Amour line, has moved to Matt Cullen's line and Maurice liked the energy and grit of that line against Tampa Bay.
Chip Alexander
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
Rushing Eaves...
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 15:09 — JRmustGoIs that such a good idea? I mean, this guy seems to get hurt every other game. Thank God the coaches finally got a clue and moved him to the 4th line.
eaves
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 15:08 — guppyman45maurice says "as long as wakes tomorrow...". damn, the boy has been asleep since he got here. so i dont see any adantage to having him awake or asleep.
Brind'Amour Line
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 14:26 — abramsdougUltimately, I believe a Whitney/Cullen/Williams line and a LaRose/Brind'Amour/Walker line would be the best utilization of Brind'Amour's skill sets and would enhance scoring on the Whitney/Cullen/Williams line. Sooner or later Brind'Amour will need to move to the third line -- either this season or next season. He still has plenty of hockey left in him; and the sooner that change gets made the better it will be for Brind'Amour and the team long-term. Having all four lines a threat to score is great for the team. Equalizing the ice team for the second and third lines would also benefit the team.
abramsdoug, your proposal
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 16:02 — DB005502abramsdoug, your proposal makes alot of sense.
Having LaRose teamed with Brind'Amour & Walker adds speed that should provide more space for Rob & Scott to grind/push.
Adding Cullen to Whitney & Williams likewise adds speed & the increased space for two potential sharp shotters with a guy that looks for rebounds in close.
I hope this happens.
Williams/Walker
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 11:26 — lightthelampThis may answer the question: http://hurricanes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=DepthChartPage&dcid=12
This was implemented in the first period of the last game, and discussed between Forslund/Tracy/Maurice during the first break, and Mo said he was trying it out and would see how it goes...
And that was a quick change to the original post there Chip...