Kate Shefte ·
12 Nov 2008, 10:02 PM ·
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Brandon Sutter (Gregg Forwerck, Carolina Hurricanes)
Brandon Sutter, Matt Cullen, and Joni Pitkanen all made surprising and simultaneous comebacks, giving the Hurricanes a line-up that was closer to normal than it has been on months. However, if this game was an indication of how their bolstered line-up is going to play, the ‘Canes are in deep trouble. If wunderkind Alexander Semin didn’t score it, he set it up, and the Hurricanes were crushed by a Southeast Division opponent in their second straight game.
“We’re only fooling ourselves if we think we’re playing the right way right now,” Scott Walker said after the game. “It’s not a matter of systems or design out there, you have to want to get back there, you have to want the puck. We’re just not getting it done, and it’s unacceptable.”
The Hurricanes are now missing only Patrick Eaves and Justin Williams from their ranks. The team couldn’t get anything going against the Capitals again and fell, 5-1, giving up the division lead and losing back-to-back games in regulation for the first time this season. Those who were hoping for a quick fix didn’t get it; the Hurricanes obviously need time to gel and adjust after being without these players for so long.
Aside from Brandon Sutter, who boosted the Hurricanes’ penalty kill, Laviolette said he didn’t “think anyone really stood out” from the injured players in their first game back.
With Carolina employing both of its defensemen on the rush and pushing too far into the offensive zone – yet again – Alexander Semin and Alexander Ovechkin slipped by on a two-on-one. Tim Gleason, stuck in the middle, went with the safer choice, attempting to sweep the puck off of NHL second leading scorer Semin. Gleason missed, and although Ovechkin is currently mired in a scoring slump, he hasn’t forgotten how to torture a Carolina goaltender. He forced Michael Leighton down and tossed the puck over his head effortlessly.
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Carolina Hurricanes, Hockey Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Brandon Sutter, Scott Walker, Washington Capitals
Kate Shefte ·
6 Nov 2008, 10:46 PM ·
Comment
Wow.
Just…wow.
The Hurricanes held a one-goal lead off a 3-on-1 Tuomo Ruutu goal with three minutes left in the game, and was assured of at least a point against the team that swiped the division lead out from under the ‘Canes last season. Alexander Semin (most unfortunate name in all of hockey? Quite possibly. And if you haven’t read his scathing criticism of superstar Sidney Crosby, check it out. Doesn’t he know that no one criticizes Crosby and lives to tell the tale?) scored with three minutes remaining to tie it up. Although the Hurricanes had been defensively sound throughout the game, they allowed Semin to sneak in with 11 seconds remaining and the left winger blasted a shot past Cam Ward. ‘Cane killer Alexander Ovechkin notched three assists, and Washington closed the gap on the division lead by two points. Washington has a game in hand.
Serving as the cherry on top of a devastating night, Semin’s follow-through struck Rod Brind’Amour in the face, and the captain limped off the ice, pouring blood. The play was entirely legal, and had no effect on the game-winning tally. The banged-up Brind’Amour will have to make a quick recovery and possibly find a face shield in order to log his customary 20-plus minutes against the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night.
This sudden collapse would not be so worrisome if the same thing had not happened a week ago against Edmonton, in which the Hurricanes surrendered another late lead. The Washington game proved to be a polar opposite of Tuesday night’s rematch against Toronto, in which the Hurricanes played a near-perfect first period and held on against an explosive Toronto offense to win in overtime. Aside from the recently-returned Scott Walker’s early goal, the ‘Canes failed to assert themselves in the first period, and instead relied on another strong game by their grinders. Ruutu and Walker provided the offense instead of All-Star hopefuls Brind’Amour, Eric Staal, and Whitney. Brind’Amour and Staal were held without points for the second straight game.
An otherwise good effort by the Hurricanes was wasted as they fell to the pesky Capitals, the team’s strongest contender for the Southeast Division title…and that invaluable guaranteed top-3 seed. The Hurricanes will have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow night at home, where they are 2-2, against the Ottawa Senators.
Carolina Hurricanes, Hockey Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, face injury, Rod Brind'Amour, Tuomo Ruutu, Washington Capitals
