Canes Fall in Shootout, 3-2
The Hurricanes had some good moments and some bad last night. They ended up earning a point in a place where points are hard to come by, (for most teams), and lost to the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2 in a shootout.
It was a close game all the way. Carolina took the lead about mid-way through the first period on a blast from the point by Anton Babchuk while on the powerplay. It was the first powerplay goal for the team in five games and the first goal of the year for the defenseman.
Montreal was able to tie the score shortly afterwards though. Ray Whitney lost control of the puck attempting to cross the blueline and Alex Kovalev was all over it. The veteran Russian sniper took his time and was faking a pass, but ended up sneaking the puck past Cam Ward on the short side.
The Hurricanes had some undisciplined moments and took too many penalties. Evidence of this was near the end of the first period when Matt Cullen and Tim Gleason were both in the box, giving the Habs a 5 on 3 advantage. The team did a commendable job of killing the penalties until with just 11 seconds left in the period, Dennis Seidenberg was called for covering the puck in the crease and the refs awarded Montreal a penalty shot.
The call was a bit questionable and was hard to track on video, and Peter Laviolette complained heavily about it when the period was over. Alex Tanguay buried the penalty shot giving the Habs a 2-1 lead going into the first break.
That made two games in a row the Hurricanes committed that unusual, but costly mistake.
Speaking of closing your hand on the puck while in the crease, later in the game it appeared that a Montreal player helped out Carey Price on a play when he actually shoveled a puck with his hand out of the crease. The replay looked much more obvious than the earlier call against the Canes, but the refs never saw it, there was no call, and no penalty shot was awarded.
The second period was a scoreless, fairly even back and forth affair.
Just 40 seconds into the third period, the Hurricanes tied the score on a nice hustle play by Matt Cullen. Dennis Seidenberg put the puck on net and the rebound came out at a sharp angle. Cullen was still able to make the play, poking in the puck past Price.
Carolina probably outplayed Montreal in that last period and were even able to draw a couple of penalties, but they were unable to take advantage and the game ended up tied.
The overtime period was again pretty even until with just about two minutes left, Eric Staal was knocked down in the corner by Mike Komisarek. Staal was then called for tripping the defenseman and was sent to the box, while chirping to the officials the whole way. The replay again was inconclusive, but the call was made.
One more time the Canes penalty kill was up to the task, and the overtime period ended in a tie.
During the shootout, the Carolina snipers didn’t look very good on their attempts. Matt Cullen made some nice moves, but was stopped pretty easily. It looked like Eric Staal shot the puck right into Price’s leg pad, and then Ray Whitney missed the net.
Cam Ward was able to stop Tomas Plekanec, but Saku Koivu opened up the goalie’s legs and slipped the puck through the five-hole for the game-winner.
All in all, it was a very competitive game and coach Laviolette said afterwards that he was very pleased with the effort.
But the team hurt themselves again by taking too many penalties. Even though the penalty killers did a good job of killing them, it takes away from the offensive flow and prevents the team from scoring. Also, if the Canes could have taken advantage of one of those two (and a half), powerplay opportunities in the third period, they could have won this game in regulation.
Still, it was a good game, they earned a point, and they probably won’t complain.
The good stuff-
The effort looked more consistent throughout the game. The coach was happier with it, so that says something.
They were able to out-shoot the Habs in each regulation period and ended up with a 33-25 advantage.
The penalty kill looked good and Cam Ward made some excellent saves.
They limited their turnovers and were able to get the puck out of their zone much better than most games this year. They only had six giveaways in the game.
The bad stuff-
Even though they scored early, the powerplay still seemed a bit ragged and predictable. They would continually just skate to center ice and dump the puck in, quite often to the exact same spot. Even though they were able to get the puck past Price, a Montreal player was usually able to beat the Canes to it and clear it back out. That play seemed to happen over and over again.
They need to cut down on the penalties.
As in year’s past, they did not look good on the shootout. For a small, skilled team, it’s hard to understand why Carolina continually has trouble scoring in those situations.
The questionable stuff-
I know that Samsonov didn’t play well in Montreal, but did the fans have to boo him everytime he touched the puck?
The officiating. Enough said about that.
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 
neaux | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I’d never seen a game so ugly. It looked like neither team really wanted the puck. It also seemed Montreal could have racked up the points on us on many occasions, but couldn’t hit the side of a barn.
Justin Walther | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I’ll have to disagree Neaux. For the first time all year, it looked like the canes wanted the puck more than the other team. For most of the game…especially in the first period, the canes made exiting their zone trivial. 3 quick passes and they’d be flying up the other end. I thought they looked much better than they have all year.
Speaking of racking up points, the canes had quite a few chances to do the same. Why does Bayda take a slapshot from 10ft away when an accurate wrister would suffice? He was all alone practically on top of the crease after a sick pass from I think Cullen.
The canes have gotten a total of 10 out of 16 points so far this year. Not too shabby despite being on the road for most of it. At this point, I’m optimistic.
–Justin
Cory | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
The tough part to swallow about this loss is both Montreal goals happened b/c of mental errors. On the first Whitney’s clearing attempt led to an odd-man rush. Then Ward got caught cheating right, anticipating a pass. You simply can’t leave Kovalev any holes on the short side when his angle is that extreme. You let your d-man take away the pass and you hug the post.
And then there was the Seidenberg play that resulted in the penalty shot. A tough one to take.
Anyway, if they can take at least a point — two would be better — vs. St. Louis tomorrow, you have to consider the road trip a success.
Fred | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
Tons of penalties last night but the Canes should have received a penalty shot also. The call on Staal in OT was way borderline. The penalty on Ruutu in the 2nd for a slash was borderline.
I was watching the French feed (what did they call the shootout “Ties De Barrage?”). The Canes did play tons better than against the Pens. However, they looked like crap on the “Barrage” and you can almost give up the extra point when the Canes get to the shootout.
TylerA | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
picked up points in 4 outta 5 straight road games this early in the year……..i think any team would be happy with that. I thought the boys played a great game. Our attempts at the “Barrage” were really really week, I mean jeez maybe deke a little, staal just shot it right at him!?
Sunny | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I thought the Canes looked really good at the start of the game & most of the 1st period, they were really skating. But they got sloppy as the night went on, although the PK on that 5 on 3 was great. I couldn’t believe it when the penalty for covering the puck happened. 2 games in a row, what are the chances? It is really too bad the shootout is such a struggle. Except Staal, why not try some new people? Mix it up & see what happens. Overall a shame the Canes couldn’t get a win because the Habs had the weakest game I’ve seen them play all year.
Fred, “tirs de barrage” is how you say shootout. I agree for the Canes it is MERDE!
Exit716 | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
You don’t think Samsonov should have been booed?
That little piece of garbage whined and bitched and complained about his ice time one month into his contract. He cried to his agent and was a distraction and an unproductive little sideshow act that ruined the entire season. He’s a piece of garbage that should have been banished to the KHL, not given another large contract to float through. Enjoy the next two and half years of SFA from Sammy. He’s got his money. He won’t produce. And if you bench him he’ll bring in his agent from Boston to bitch to Rutherford. Good Riddance.
wylde4canes | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
Exit,
I did not see his efforts last night, and apparently they were not the best, but overall this year he has been buzzing. He has had his trouble finishing, but he has been consistently going for the net, not just floating. He’ll find his stride, and when the levy breaks it will break big time.
Mateo | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I think Exit was talking about when Sammy was in Montreal. Up there the frenchies have a problem w/ anyone who doesn’t score 1,459 goals per game… Very demanding those french….
repenttokyo | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
not everyone in Quebec is French - just almost everyone
Mateo | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I tried my best to watch the game in French last night… but I just couldn’t do it.
Now… I can sit and watch an entire soccer game in Spanish and love it to death (it may help that I understand some spanish)….
I tried really hard though… I really did!
Ended up turning on the radio feed…
repenttokyo | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
The only good part of the RDS broadcasts are ‘ET LE BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!’, which is way better than ‘he shoots he scores’. But eventually you get tired of hearing ‘QUEL ARRET CAREY PRICE!’ over and over.