Canes dynamic duos come up big
Feb 16, 2009
Tags: Hockey, Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes played with urgency and jam and all the little things that a desperate hockey team needs to win. In the 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres the Hurricanes leave Western New York with more than 2 points, the Canes leave with their best player Eric Staal turning in his grittiest effort. A lot has been written, talked, blogged about Staal not producing at a consistent level and much of it deserved. In Buffalo, Staal played like the player that was rewarded with a large off-season contract, scoring his 24th goal and notching two assists. But this can not be a one night show for umber 12, this has to be something that has to occur four out of five games. The way the league is set up today the best players have to be great every night, anything less than that and it is a struggle to win.
Cam Ward notched his tenth career shutout and it comes at a perfect time, Buffalo was without two top offensive players in Tomas Vanek and Paul Guastad, but still put 36 shots on the Canes goalie. Ward is a player that can carry Carolina and he will have to if the team hopes to make the playoffs, he will need to be in the zone that saw him win the Conn Smythe in the '06 playoffs. The goalie was solid tonight, fighting through screens and moving well post to post, but the one thing that Ward was tonight was focused. He will be counted on to be the man down the stretch, his play tonight earned that right.
It should come as no surprise that Chad LaRose is having a breakout season. Scoring his 13th goal last night he is on pace for 20 and has been one of the most consistent players all season for the Canes. Throw in the fact he and Matt Cullen have become penalty killing demons and the hockey club has a player to pick up the slack. LaRose is playing at a level to be a top six forward, with his energy and comitment it is time the Hurricanes rewarded him with that chance. Not to let his penalty killing fall through the cracks, the Cullen/LaRose combo was dynamite again. Frustrating Buffalo man advantage at almost every turn.
The real test for Carolina is this...can the team keep the intensity it played with tonight going forward? The top team in the Eastern conference Boston Bruins await the team on Tuesday, but then lesser opponents NY Islanders, Tampa Bay and Colorado follow. If Carolina wants to make the playoffs a long winning streak has to happen. Long winning streaks that takes the best players playing their best every night. For one night in Buffalo the stars aligned and played like stars, now they have to stay that way.
