Livin for the Moment
Nov 12, 2008
Livin for the Moment...
Well, here we are tied with the Washington Capitals for first place in the division. Reinforcements will be inserted from the injured list. This game will mark the return of Matt Cullen, Joni Pitkanen and Brandon Sutter. It's a night that could belong to Eric Staal. He's going through a rough stretch in terms of scoring and it's starting to affect other aspects of his game. But in situations like this we usually see number 12 take a "curtain call" when it's all said and done. The Canes have chance to reverse the two statements they made last week in our nation's capital. The 57 strong minutes which had them control the game and the 3 minutes of defensive collapse which led to the most sour loss of the season. Tonight, calls for superior performance from all. Based on the fact that did not happen on Sunday. The Hurricanes had a chance to get on a roll after efficiently putting away the Ottawa Senators on Friday. That didn't happen and now it's time to get back on track. Leaning on the schedule a bit the Canes have had time to refresh. One of the most important decisions is fact that Peter Laviolette is handing over the reigns to Michael Leighton. It's not any different than most coaches in the game today. In this league of much of the same, points are too critical no matter what time of the year. Parity lives in the circuit. He's "Livin for the Moment" and is calling 49 as his number.
Leighton, has played well. His 4-1 record is a testament to his own game and the fact that in some of those the Canes have played their best hockey. In his latest start he was solid making 22 saves in a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. One could make the case that it was Carolina's best defensive game of the season, but with that being said he made all the key saves at the right time. Especially down the stretch.
If you look at the other side tonight they have made a similar move. Jose Theodore was given a lucrative contract in the off season to be Washington's number one man. He has stumbled this season. He has played far worse than Cam Ward The NHL's reigning coach of the year Bruce Boudreau has pulled the trigger. Brent Johnson has been their goaltender over the last few. He was picked as the NHL's third star of the week and spearheaded another win on Monday night over Tampa Bay and Olaf Kolzig. In his last four, he is 3-0-1 allowing only six goals. His only loss came in OT last Tuesday at Ottawa where he stopped 42. Boudreau doesn't feel the need to justify management's signing of Theodore, doesn't mind being questioned everyday about his goaltenders, because it's working.
The Canes proved last year that winning in November is imperative. It's the time of the year when they play the majority of the games at home. It's a sequence in their schedule when they should be able to go on a winning streak. A stumble now would damage their statistical bottom line in April. So with that spirit in mind, Laviolette makes a bold decision. Cam Ward has played well. When the team hasn't been up to speed in front of him he has bailed them out, i.e. Long Island with 60 saves. But, Carolina's number one man has had his share of set backs, i.e. Edmonton and the Washington collapses. Sunday, I can't pin the blame on him but it's quite clear the man making the decisions does, that's his choice.
Should Leighton play the way he has all season he could take the ball and run. The Canes are poised to go on a run and the schedule is very favorable. If he does, when does Ward get a chance to right his ship ? Well, that question is not for this time. One look at the standings and you can see that the Hurricanes need it now. They are their coach Livin in for the Moment, and that moment has come.
ETC...Look for a player transaction today. With all three players returning the Canes are likely to send either Dwight Helminen or Patrick Dwyer back to Albany. It could be Helminen based on the fact that Dwyer is more suited for the right side on the fourth line and has been an effective penalty killer.
Cheers !
