Tougher conditions, tougher test
Feb 22, 2009
Happy Sunday! Kind of a weird day for yours truly. Spent some time this morning looking over this important situation staring the Canes in the face today, but then later will jet off to Dallas for a Stars/Sharks match up on Versus tomorrow. I'll be in the air for entire Canes body of work this afternoon, trust me it's an uneasy feeling.
The Hurricanes talk a great deal about grinding their way through a tough stretch of seven games in 11 days. It's true this is a grueling test but the home boys have no choice but to plow through and get this one today. The Hurricanes have put themselves back into the playoff mix with wins over the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning. With all do respect to those outfits including the Isles who shutout the Devils last night , today's game ratchets up in terms of the force from the other dressing room.
The Avalanche will bring more of a scoring threat. Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos, Ryan Smyth and Woytek Wolski all weapons to break the game open at any time. The Av's could receive a boost with the return of young star Paul Stastny. He has been out for considerable time with a broken forearm. He had a full RecZone work out yesterday and could be in the fold today or Tuesday night at Atlanta.
The forwards also sport an element of "grit" that the Canes have not seen since the Bruins left town on Tuesday. Forwards Ian Laperriere, Cody MacLeod and Cody McCormick bring size and board play the Canes did not see with the Isles nor the Bolts.
On defense the Canes will get a little break with John Michael Liles on the injured list. They still sport veterans Adam Foote, Scott Hannan and Jordan Leopold to make things considerably better then last last 12 "D" men they have confronted of late.
In goal it will be Andrew Raycroft who has jump started his career. he is 3-1-0 in his last four and has 12 wins on the season he has become the answer of late. Hats off to him. He has been a write off by many but since a mid December win in Detroit was a boost. Since then he has been an option and a good one for coach Tony Granato.
Finally, will the Av's make the playoffs. Probably not. This morning they sit six points below the cut line in the West. But they will be as urgent as they have been all season. This is the second game of a season long six game swing. They beat Washington 4-1 on Friday. they held Number 8 scoreless for the first time in eleven games. Let me know how it goes, I'll be at 37,000 feet. It will be tougher conditions and a tougher test but one the Canes can't afford to lose.
See ya !
