Wednesday, it must be San Jose
Feb 4, 2009
Wednesday, it must be San Jose
We sit here in Vancouver as the Canes prepare to workout in preparation for tomorrow's date with the best the league has to offer. As the Hurricanes descend on the Silicon Valley they have an opportunity to get out a measuring stick and continue to define their season. Unfortunately they have put themselves in a position to somehow extrapolate a point out of the Shark Tank to make this trip a success. The problem here is that it should never be the case. The Canes had a chance to secure one point and get out of dodge and go to a place where the opponents have only won two games in regulation needing to just try an squeak out a win. Now it's imperative that they pull of an upset to jump into Phoenix in a position to make it a successful run. But you know it could be tough lesson for the Canes, who hopefully will not look back at last night's missed opportunity.
It will take a much better start tomorrow against a San Jose team that was defeated by Chicago on Saturday night. Shark coach Todd McLellan has worked his team hard all week reminded them of just how far they have to go if they plan on playing in mid June. The Canes for whatever reason were not ready to play in the defensive zone last night. Offensively they did generate chances on Luongo early and that was good put they were slow, and at times soft down low which led to Vancouver's first two goals. Cam Ward could have once again pulled off a miracle as he has been doing and at best the Hurricanes would have been scoreless. He too was not as sharp as he has been. The coach pointed to a team that appeared as if it was lagged out over the travel in the first and maybe that was true as the Hurricanes skated better and played better as the game wore on. After doing a great job to tie the game, again it was soft play down low that led to the wrap-a-rounder by Mats Sundin who may have been run out of town if he did not play the way he did. Once again, the Hurricanes were asked to react. They did, as Staal was the beneficiary of a great pass from Ray Whitney and the game was tied. That's when the agony starts. Through some officiating injustices and missed chances it boiled down to the end and an inexcusable mishap which led to a shorthanded goal by Alex Burrows.
Now they move on to San Jose. Is this a game the Canes are suppose to win? Probably not. But what choice do they have. We have said all along that this trip would define them as a group. Last night's quasi effort, which had good moments and terrible miscues will not cut it. San Jose will be out to set the tempo early. Down low they be the best team in the NHL. Their skilled guys have size and they wear out teams in back of the goal. High end players, Ward, Staal, and Pitkanen need to be sharper. Is this time to change the line-up? Is it time for Nic Wallin and Wade Brookbank to jump in. This is a building were the Hurricanes may need some physical back up.
It's unfortunate that the Canes have to redefine their game against arguably the best team in hockey. But that's the reality. They have relinquished their playoff position and now have to scramble back. There is no room for another won that "got away".
The Canes lost their sharpness in Vancouver and now must have to recapture it two hours South in the Sierra Nevada's. If not, the one that got away i n Vancouver will sting for a long time.
Cheers !
