Canes goaltending coach Tom Barrasso made the suggestion, but it had nothing to do with Cam Ward.
What about putting winger Michael Ryan on Eric Staal's line, Barrasso said during the second intermission of Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Canes coach Paul Maurice liked the idea, made the switch and it paid off for a tying goal. Ryan took a pass from Staal and found defenseman Anton Babchuk for a one-timer from the point and a 1-1 tie, and the Canes went on to win 2-1 in a shootout.
"He was skating. Clearly he's got lots of jump right now," Maurice said of Ryan, a callup from the Albany River Rats.
And extra motivation Thursday. Ryan played 65 games for the Sabres the last two season before signing a free-agent contract with the Canes.
"It's his old team, so he's excited," Maurice said. "And it was the right time for him not to think about it. You start him there, he thinks about it all day -- he's playing with Eric Staal.
"We're down one. The pressure in some ways comes off a player like that. He's got good jump and he's rolling pretty good."
Ryan was all smiles after the game, clearly enjoying beating the Sabres. He has several buddies on the team and said he went out to eat with some of them Wednesday night.
"It was pretty hard-fought game, probably like a playoff game," Ryan said."I felt like I had a lot of energy. Obviously it's a team I used to play for. It didn't take a lot to get up for this game.
"It was an exciting 65 minutes and then the shootout. It was one of the most exciting games I've been involved in in a long time."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
He earned it
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 00:27 — JRs_FaultI think Ryan has been playing pretty well the last few games and was surprised, yet glad to seem him pop up on the Staal line. I stuck up for him here on the Ottawa post game thread, and Barasso has vindicated me ;^). I'm at a loss as to what it will take to get Staal going. (Please don't say Cole... Players of Staal's alleged stature make their linemates better, they shouldn't be so dependent on having a particular guy to play with).
Whitney Article
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 17:26 — GoShelfNHL.com has a nice article on Ray Whitney, if you have not seen it yet you should.
Wishes
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 16:34 — HockeydogI really wish this team would take a few chances with the line combos. Other than Cullen/Whitney/Larose nothing seems to have a real sense of chemistry. They have their sacred cows in Staal and ( too a lesser extent theses days) Brind'Amour, but others on the team are contributing more. Take the names off the sweaters and play the players where their contributions warrant. On the PP as well as even strength. Barrasso maybe gets this more than the bench bosses. Barrasso also has never been one to shy away from controversy or confrontation
so maybe he is able to think outside the box more than the rest.
good move
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 13:41 — mdavidhallIt was a good move, and great suggestion from Barasso, to put Ryan up on the first line in the third. He was obviously pumped for the game and was flying around the ice from the start. And that energy in the third was contagious. Definitely seemed to put a jump in Staal's stride (though I thought Eric was playing well throughout).
And I agree with Maurice's assessment that it might have been a bit much to ask him to move up there from the start of the game. Driving to the arena I heard Forslund mentioning that it could be Bayda or Ryan on the first line to replace Samsonov. I was pleasantly surprised to see Jokinen there for the opening faceoff.
But Ryan did a great job when called upon. Kudos to him.
-m
Hey Chip
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 12:57 — esteban1949With following teams listed on the standings as of this Morning:
Mont.61-GP & 71 Pnts
Florida-61-GP & 70 pnts
NYR 63-GP & 70 pnts.
Buffalo 62-GP & 69 pnts
Carolina 63-GP & 69 pnts
Mathamatically speaking...even if we were to win say 12 of the what ever is left ( 19 ?) of our games...we can still get left out of the play off can't we ??
If we're out now...
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 00:19 — JRs_FaultMathematically speaking, we're out of the playoffs now, and without games in hand, we could win ALL of our games and still be left out, eh?(schedule matchups notwithstanding)
Of course, thats why statisticians are often associated with, well let's just say deception.
We're tied for 8th, but give up a game in hand to Buff right now. But as I've said here before, Montreal and NYR have been playing really poorly (though Halak & Torts may start moving their respective teams in a different direction). I still don't put it past Florida to have another late season fade... seems they always make some noise in Feb/Mar (just usually it's that their knocking on the door instead of a couple points north of 8th). My prediction is that either the Penguins or the Rangers will end up out of it.
It will all come down to what impact trades have in the next 5 days. It looks like there may be a few more sellers now in the West than it looked like even a week ago, so it might get interesting.
Chip, Monday's debate BETTER have the words Trade Deadline in it! ;^)
From a MATHEMATICAL standpoint...
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 20:58 — MichaelProctonWe could go 14-4-1 and still miss the playoffs. Then again, we could also go 5-14-1 and still make it. Was turned on to this cool website the other day on here: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Southeast/Hurricanes.html
It pretty much shows all the mathematical possibilities, and updates daily with what your own play has done, and what the play of your team and others could do going forward for you.
Math
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 13:35 — mdavidhallIt's still a little bit early to bring up the math. Besides I HATE math. Haha.
But the fact of the matter is, as has been stated before, the Canes' schedule gets significantly more daunting as the calendar turns from February to March.
Over our last 19 games we have several huge matchups against the teams just in front of us or just behind us in the standings - Rangers (2), Panthers (1), Sabres (1) and Penguins (1). That's 5 two point games. Huge. We also have formidable games left against the Capitals (2) and Devils (2), not to mention a swing through the Western Conference that includes Calgary, Chicago and Dallas. As far as the teams left that we "should" beat - Ny Islanders (2), Lightning (1) and Senators (1). But we all know that the Sens are never an easy out for the Canes, and the Lightning would love nothing more than to throw a wrench into the works if it came to that.
10 of the Cane's final 19 games are on home ice, and 8 of their last 11.
There's a lot of hockey left to be played on the ice. Both for the Canes and for the teams they are competing with for a playoff spot. Might be a little early for the calculators. One thing's for sure, if the Canes do make the playoffs, against that schedule, they will have to be playing their best hockey of the season heading into Lord Stanley's big dance.
Go Canes!
-m
4 point games
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 16:01 — mdavidhallI meant to say "5 four point games" against Rangers, Panthers, Sabres and Penguins. Oops.
-m
To mdavidhall
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 14:51 — esteban1949Like you I too hate math, but and NOT trying to be "worry wort"...but i'd hate to set myself of failure or in the case "disappointment to have the canes do and have a mad rush...and still fall 2-3 points short even if they were to ( Lord Help us) win 12 of the 19...But as an old time Cubs fan...originally from Chicago...oh so long ago...I can and have said..." Maybe next year" ...
Thanks for the efforts sir...
Go canes !!
Barrasso= smart cookie
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 10:32 — HockeydogTom Barrasso is a very intelligent man who will be a head coach- and a good one- one day if he wants to go down that road. I say that not just because of last nights idea but because he is very impressive when he speaks, and carries a very intelligent, confident intensity about him. Now Mo had a very good point about not starting Ryan with the Staal line as well, especially against his former team. I feel that with Maurice, Francis, and Barrasso this club has some very good hockey men. One of the 3 needs to become GM.
too early...?
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 14:37 — jgrant641I know this is a topic for the post season, but i keep wondering what the coaching staff will look like this summer. Since Mo is a temp, and francis is a maybe (i still feel he won't take it full time), I wonder how Barrasso, Daniels, Rowe, and McCarthy fit into the head coaching plans, or potential anyways?
...too soon?
I am Johnnyg and I approved this message.
Coach Barrasso
Fri, 02/27/2009 - 09:02 — esteban1949The Canes Secret Weapon ? hey works for me...And i have to admit that and even though I am glad Ryan is playing in the Cane's Organization...I'd hate to see him playing say for Florida,Atlanta he'd be a hand full...as he is like Conboy & LRose...they never want or seem to go away...
Go Canes !!!