The Carolina Hurricanes are playing their most consistent stretch of hockey in nearly two years. Tonight, they showed no signs of letting up in their first game on the road in sixteen days, as they knocked off the desperate Atlanta Thrashers by a 6-3 count. The homestanding goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, was chased out of the game during a commercial break midway through the second period, having yielded four goals on 22 shots. In all actuality, his play wasn't particularly bad, but the support in front of him was certainly lacking.
The Thrashers' D-men were sluggish and ill-checking, and had a great deal of difficulty slowing down the 'Canes offense, which has been ticking like a Swiss watch of late. The good guys outshot Atlanta 14-3 in the first period -- and 37-24 in total -- despite once again giving up the first goal of the game, to forward Chris Thorburn. This marked the sixth game consecutively where they have allowed the opponent to get on the scoreboard first.
Carolina responded by changing the tempo of the game, particularly on the offensive end, and scored the next four goals of the match. Scott Walker was the first scorer, and he added the only assist on the next goal, from his linemate Ryan Bayda. On that assisting play, Walker outhustled two Thrashers defensemen while all alone on a forecheck. His initial pass was blocked, but he cut in between four statuesque Atlanta players and put a pass on the tape of Bayda, whose one-timer was true. Joe Corvo lit the lamp next, with his third goal as a Hurricane coming on a backdoor feed from Sergei Samsonov early in the 2nd period on the man advantage. The nifty play prompted a "That's hockey, baby!" exclamation from commentator John Forslund. Eric Cole was the fourth man to add to the 'Canes total, on a hard slapshot from the far slot. His was the proverbial last straw, forcing Lehtonen to skate woefully to the bench and swap his mask for a baseball cap.
Johan Hedberg, the man who came in off the pine to spell Lehtonen, was solid in goal for his team, and allowed them a chance to climb back into the contest. The lone goal he allowed came on a controversial play, and an infuriating one for Thrashers' coach Don Waddell. The play happened early in the third period, on the heels of a Hurricanes power play. The puck was controlled near the crease by the Atlanta defense, and Garnet Exelby tucked it under Hedberg's big mitt, ready to accept a defensive-zone faceoff. For some inexplicable reason, the two referees refused to blow the whistle, even as the Hurricanes forwards began to jab at the glove of the Moose. After what seemed like an eternity, the puck finally squirted out of the webbing, and it led to a capitalizing goal by Eric Staal. Coach Waddell erupted on the bench, and was flirting with an early exit before he regained his composure. Even this Hurricanes fan can't imagine what the officials were thinking as they neglected to blow the whistle on an obvious frozen puck. Staal, meanwhile, took over the game in the final period, adding his 32nd and 33rd goals of the year, -- the latter coming with an empty net -- capping off another 3-point night for the young sensation.
Carolina defenseman Frantisek Kaberle has been a somewhat inconsistent performer for the majority of the year, though not as awful as some of the fans tell him he has been. Tonight, his effort was possibly the best of anyone on the ice. He factored in the first 'Canes goal, the equalizer, with a heady play at the point. After pinching in to keep a puck on the cycle, he made a nifty direction change and flicked a wrist shot in through traffic. Scott Walker poked at it on the way through, and the direction change was enough to allow it to pass over the shoulder of Lehtonen in goal. Kaberle had two more assists on the night, and was not on the ice for any of the Atlanta markers, making him +3 for the evening.
The thing that jumped out at me watching this game was, once again the play of the Walker/Aucoin/Bayda line. Since the injury to the captain, this line has been the most consistent-performing line, and are demonstrating chemistry that Marie Curie would be envious of. They generate a scoring chance nearly every time they hop over the boards together, and their offensive cycling is an absolute joy to watch. They chase down pucks, they assert themselves physically, they communicate constantly, and they seem to have a sixth sense for knowing each others' position on the ice at all times. If they can continue the level of play we have become accustomed to, they will prove invaluable during the playoffs.
Another matter of note is the 'Canes ability to play a more disciplined game than their opponents over the past few weeks. Tonight, they yielded just two Thrasher power plays, while earning seven of their own. In the past six games, Carolina has allowed just fifteen power plays, a crucial stat for a team that struggles so mightily on the penalty kill, worst in the league in fact.
The Thrashers remain nine points removed from a playoff spot, and without securing this divisional home win, their fate may well be sealed already. The Hurricanes retain their three point divisional lead over the Washington Capitals, who won their game tonight as well, and still hold one game in hand. Carolina will travel home this evening to join the Minnesota Wild for a showdown in the RBC Center tomorrow night at 7:00. The game will be broadcast on FSN South.
My 3 stars: S. Walker, F. Kaberle, E. Staal
The Thrashers' D-men were sluggish and ill-checking, and had a great deal of difficulty slowing down the 'Canes offense, which has been ticking like a Swiss watch of late. The good guys outshot Atlanta 14-3 in the first period -- and 37-24 in total -- despite once again giving up the first goal of the game, to forward Chris Thorburn. This marked the sixth game consecutively where they have allowed the opponent to get on the scoreboard first.
Carolina responded by changing the tempo of the game, particularly on the offensive end, and scored the next four goals of the match. Scott Walker was the first scorer, and he added the only assist on the next goal, from his linemate Ryan Bayda. On that assisting play, Walker outhustled two Thrashers defensemen while all alone on a forecheck. His initial pass was blocked, but he cut in between four statuesque Atlanta players and put a pass on the tape of Bayda, whose one-timer was true. Joe Corvo lit the lamp next, with his third goal as a Hurricane coming on a backdoor feed from Sergei Samsonov early in the 2nd period on the man advantage. The nifty play prompted a "That's hockey, baby!" exclamation from commentator John Forslund. Eric Cole was the fourth man to add to the 'Canes total, on a hard slapshot from the far slot. His was the proverbial last straw, forcing Lehtonen to skate woefully to the bench and swap his mask for a baseball cap.
Johan Hedberg, the man who came in off the pine to spell Lehtonen, was solid in goal for his team, and allowed them a chance to climb back into the contest. The lone goal he allowed came on a controversial play, and an infuriating one for Thrashers' coach Don Waddell. The play happened early in the third period, on the heels of a Hurricanes power play. The puck was controlled near the crease by the Atlanta defense, and Garnet Exelby tucked it under Hedberg's big mitt, ready to accept a defensive-zone faceoff. For some inexplicable reason, the two referees refused to blow the whistle, even as the Hurricanes forwards began to jab at the glove of the Moose. After what seemed like an eternity, the puck finally squirted out of the webbing, and it led to a capitalizing goal by Eric Staal. Coach Waddell erupted on the bench, and was flirting with an early exit before he regained his composure. Even this Hurricanes fan can't imagine what the officials were thinking as they neglected to blow the whistle on an obvious frozen puck. Staal, meanwhile, took over the game in the final period, adding his 32nd and 33rd goals of the year, -- the latter coming with an empty net -- capping off another 3-point night for the young sensation.
Carolina defenseman Frantisek Kaberle has been a somewhat inconsistent performer for the majority of the year, though not as awful as some of the fans tell him he has been. Tonight, his effort was possibly the best of anyone on the ice. He factored in the first 'Canes goal, the equalizer, with a heady play at the point. After pinching in to keep a puck on the cycle, he made a nifty direction change and flicked a wrist shot in through traffic. Scott Walker poked at it on the way through, and the direction change was enough to allow it to pass over the shoulder of Lehtonen in goal. Kaberle had two more assists on the night, and was not on the ice for any of the Atlanta markers, making him +3 for the evening.
The thing that jumped out at me watching this game was, once again the play of the Walker/Aucoin/Bayda line. Since the injury to the captain, this line has been the most consistent-performing line, and are demonstrating chemistry that Marie Curie would be envious of. They generate a scoring chance nearly every time they hop over the boards together, and their offensive cycling is an absolute joy to watch. They chase down pucks, they assert themselves physically, they communicate constantly, and they seem to have a sixth sense for knowing each others' position on the ice at all times. If they can continue the level of play we have become accustomed to, they will prove invaluable during the playoffs.
Another matter of note is the 'Canes ability to play a more disciplined game than their opponents over the past few weeks. Tonight, they yielded just two Thrasher power plays, while earning seven of their own. In the past six games, Carolina has allowed just fifteen power plays, a crucial stat for a team that struggles so mightily on the penalty kill, worst in the league in fact.
The Thrashers remain nine points removed from a playoff spot, and without securing this divisional home win, their fate may well be sealed already. The Hurricanes retain their three point divisional lead over the Washington Capitals, who won their game tonight as well, and still hold one game in hand. Carolina will travel home this evening to join the Minnesota Wild for a showdown in the RBC Center tomorrow night at 7:00. The game will be broadcast on FSN South.
My 3 stars: S. Walker, F. Kaberle, E. Staal
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