Outside forces can affect Canes playoff push
Feb 25, 2009
Tags: Hockey, Carolina Hurricanes
A few things to keep your eyes on outside of the Canes locker room that will impact the Eastern Conference playoff race.All of these found while scouring the web, thanks to those guys who put in the hard work and a couple questions via the text.
1. The Buffalo Sabres will be without goaltender Ryan Miller for an undefined period of time. The Sabres organization is mum on how long his ankle injury will keep him out of action. Miller has told Sabres radio beat reporter Paul Hamilton of WGR 550 that there is not much swelling in the ankle. The Sabres will turn to veteran back-up Patrick Lalime in the interim.
2. John Tortorella is back behind the bench. The man who led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup is on Broadway replacing Tom Renney behind the Rangers bench. The Rangers are 2-5-3 in their last ten games and just two points in front of the Canes for the 6th spot in the East. Tortorella replace Tom Renney and there is usually and initial jump to a team with a coaching change, the question is did the Rangers wait too long?
3. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester in Florida is a major chip this deadline. Florida can't afford to miss the playoffs and not be able to re-sign him but if the Panthers trade him away, it could disrupt the chemistry of a team looking to make the post season.
