The fine line
Dec 29, 2008
Hello everyone. It's been crazy of late. Holidays and all, a crazy Hurricane schedule with road games and today heading off to St Louis for the Devils and Blues on Versus. Watching the Canes and tape of the team's I'm covering tomorrow one point continues to resonate throughout the world's greatest league. The cliche of the "fine line" between winning and losing pops up all the time. For the Hurricanes it will be their mission in the games that remain on the docket as we roll into 2009.
The Hurricanes deserve a great deal of credit for turning the team game around. They employ a style now that is sound and has been met with some success. Many of the defensive breakdowns that hampered the club in the early going have been taken care of. The Hurricanes are competing, defending and grinding their way through most games. But, being a a position to win and winning is the real trick in today's NHL. Under the new coach, the Canes are 5-4-3. It's a respectable record considering the schedule they have had to endure as we close the books on '08. It will take more. They some how have to put it all together and take advantage of a schedule that beginning on Wednesday could work in their favor. This will be a long haul. For the Canes to make a move and advance back and stay in a playoff position maybe a few "little" things will need to be in place to get the Canes on the right side of the "line."...
For starters, the Canes might need to find a way to get Justin Williams more into the offensive mix. Williams has been extremely gritty in his effort to return way ahead of schedule from his Achilles heel problem. He has returned and with each game his timing has improved. It's time now for him to jump into a role where he can get "top six forward" minutes. He has shown some flashes. Playing on a line with Matt Cullen and Chad LaRose has been OK, but maybe the time has come for his role to be increased. In many of their games the Canes have been in a position to win. In some they have closed the door, in others they have not had enough. Saturday night is a perfect example. It was a fine effort by the boys dressed in black, but it boiled down to one mistake and it was game over. That is a tough way to play every game. By putting a potential game breaker on a top two line maybe the Canes can get a little more offense. Then when the team is limiting opponents to two or three goals against and keeping shots down, the emergence of a second scoring line is important. Rod Brind'Amour, Ray Whitney and Williams have a history in might be time to write some more.
Oh, the power play. We have bemoaning this thing all season. Playing the way the Canes are, this area of the game will be a difference maker. It's plenty easier to play a lock down game with an effective power play. Again, on Saturday they had there chances but to no avail when it counted. It's imperative that it come around. Tight games will be decided with this intangible. It appears the Canes will not be a five-on-five explosive team so it's the 5 on 4 or better game that could help them get to "paydirt."
Goal tending. There can be no give in this department. For the most part, it has been true. Earlier in the season it was the goaltenders who were stealing games. Now the Canes are in this "keep it close" mode, so it can't waiver. Based on the schedule, Cam Ward will get a chance to get his "number one goalkeeping" shoes on. He's been arguably the team's best player of late. Michael Leighton will get a chance too but it's his game that needs to turn up just a notch to solidify this position. There will be many one goal games down the stretch. That last line needs to be on the mark every night.
Lastly, the Canes have been grinding through most of the previous eleven. For many, it's not a trait you would use to describe this group. But as Eric Staal told us last week, "there is a better commitment" to a fundamental game that has given the Canes a reason to believe. At some point toughness and size will come into play. The Canes play a "team tough" game but have been doing it without the presence of a tough guy. In this corner I would say the opponents might start testing this dimension of their game. At some point, Wade Brookbank will step out of the shadows and the Hurricanes might have to add another part with some size in their forward mix. Grinding hockey for four months can be done but you have to be equipped to play that game.
It's going to be thrilling with what remains on the schedule. The Canes will push hard for what they want as a team. They have laid a foundation now they need to cross the line. Folks, it's a fine line in the game today. The HAVE to win the games they should. If they do, they will cross the line they want to and play after the 82nd effort.
Be good!
