Smells Like Teen Spirit - Senators 5, Hurricanes 1
The game smelled like something all right last night, but it sure wasn’t teen spirit. The Senators dominated the Hurricanes all game long, right from the opening face off. There’s nothing much to analyze. There’s not much else to report. About 4-5 players in white showed up to play last night, and one of them was a guy who was picked up on waivers last week. It’s a sad state of affairs for Carolina.
To switch things up a bit, I’m just going to throw out some random mini-rants and thoughts….
- The Canes have now lost 4 in a row and 8 of their last 10. They have allowed 19 goals against in the past 4 games.
- Did I hear Rod Brind’Amour correctly during the pregame interview when he said that he didn’t think that they were playing that badly and kind of shrugged his shoulders? Or perhaps he said that they weren’t “far off”? I think maybe that interview and that attitude explains exactly what’s wrong. If the team’s captain and leader is that far out of touch with reality or doesn’t care anymore, then what is anyone else going to do?
- The game opened badly with the Senators practically living in the Hurricanes zone. Bret Hedican took 2 penalties in about 2 minutes time wrapped around a Ray Whitney penalty, giving the opposition two 5 on 3 chances in a row. Of course they scored on the second, making it 1-0.
- It seemed like the Sens had more shots on goal and opportunities when they were short-handed than the Canes did when they were on the powerplay.
- Ottawa scored 3 consecutive goals in less than two and a half minutes in the 2nd period. Can you spell “q-u-i-t-t-e-r-s”?
- It seemed like the team was a step slow all night, (especially the defense.)
- Not to dump on Trevor Letowski all the time, but dude…just once try not breaking your stick or falling down when you have an open shot.
- I actually felt sorry for Cam Ward. Have you ever seen so many odd man rushes or break-aways? It seems like every game the Canes allow a ton of them. The Sens had time and space all night long.
Apparently Jim Rutherford’s well publicized rant fell on deaf ears as far as the team was concerned. Maybe they want a major trade or a shake up?
I’m starting to see some rumblings out there about firing the coach. If some of the team is complacent because they already won the Cup, can you pin all of that on the coach?
If the team tuned him out, then they tuned him out the very first week after winning the Cup because this team has pretty much played the same for the past 2 seasons. There’s been very little passion, urgency, or emotion. Does he get the blame for last year as well?
I’m not sure I’m ready to throw Peter Laviolette under the bus just yet. While I have criticized him from time to time because I think everyone deserves some blame for the current mess and he surely hasn’t been perfect with his decision making, you could blame Jim Rutherford just as easily, couldn’t you?
Rutherford is the one who gave out so many no-trade contracts, and he is stuck with them right now. He’s the one who tempted fate by sticking with this old, slow defensive crew which everyone knew would be questionable this season.
Is Laviolette more to blame, or is Rutherford? More deep thoughts at lunchtime. TGIF!
Nirvana
About the Author: Bubba is a hockey fan/citizen journalist who has always wanted to be a sportswriter and is pursuing his dream. He also writes a Hurricanes blog for 
Nathan | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
I knew we were in trouble when it had been 1-0 for a few minutes and we hadn’t done anything to answer. The one goal I can’t pin on our lack of execution/effort was the second tally. It was a terrible blown call when Brindy caught a high stick to the face and because he was out of the play for a few seconds, it was as good as a power play against our miserable penalty kill for all intents and purposes. That being said, these guys are supposed to be professionals. They should be expected to shake it off, show some grit and intestinal fortitude and keep working, but they did nothing of the sort. They completely collapsed and basically decided upon a forfeit when faced with a little adversity. It stings even more when I think that they were without their two best players and we still couldn’t muster anything. Letowski blows. Gleason, although he can make some solid plays at times, is a liability. Hedican has nothing left… aside from a few costly penalty minutes each time out. Brind’Amour plays like an old guy nowadays. Ladd is virtually non-existent nine out of ten games. Obviously Jeff Hamilton just isn’t working out all that well since he was a healthy scratch last night. If I can say something positive about anyone, it’d be that LaRose brings the effort every night and I can definitely appreciate that. He may not be the most skilled guy, but at least he always appears to be trying to make something happen. I could go on and on and on. I need to start up my own blog, though.
magnolia_mer | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
No one can lay this one at Cam’s feet. This was awful. We skated with zero confidence, we were out of position, we took stupid penalties, we missed passes and we let one blown call decide the entire game. We resemble nothing of our former champion selves. Ottawa is coming off a Cup year and they’re number one in the conference! Why are we so damn fragile???
Mark H | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
Another pathetic attempt by the Canes! I haven’t decided whether I should give the forwards a pass or not but the defense is horrible. They take too many penalties that can’t be killed. It reminds me of the Sean Hill days where he would take stupid penalties but our PK was better then and we got away with it. Lets keep Borer, Hedican and Wesley. Why is it that our best D-man is the oldest D-man? We’ll let Hedican and Wesley retire at the season’s end. Trade Stillman along with whoever (Ladd) will get us another team’s #1 or #2 D-man now, which by default would make him the #1 in Carolina. Hello Schneider or Beauchemin from the Ducks. I guess that we are stuck with Wallin with his NTC. Bench Kaberle maybe waive. Trade either Gleason or Commodore, both should generate some interest.
Forwards later.
Mark from Lubbock, TX
Bubba | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
That high stick no call was brutal and definitely cost a goal. But the Sens lost Alfredsson and didn’t miss a beat. The Canes just can’t handle any adversity right now.
rollcage | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
Is there a definitive list of all of the Canes players who have a no movement clause?
Ugh … they just reassigned Borer to Albany. How about sending Kaberle instead!?!
John | Jan 18, 2008 | Reply
Cory Stillman, CAR - NTC
Scott Walker, CAR - NTC
Niclas Wallin, CAR - NTC
…that’s according to http://www.nhlscap.com/no_trade.htm#list
Bubba | Jan 19, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the link John.