Gearing up for game two of a back to back with the Islanders, the Carolina Hurricanes head back to Raleigh
Man, I have the weirdest sense of deja vu writing this article. It’s like I woke up from a dream where the Carolina Hurricanes scored eight goals, on the road no less. That can’t be true, can it? You’re telling me that the same team that lost twice to the Colorado Avalanche, beat a playoff contending team in their own arena.
And it was broadcast on national television? And Ray Ferraro called out Cam Ward for being a horrible goaltender as well? I mean I know we live in an #alternativefacts world these days, but this is bordering on fantasy.
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Yes, it’s hard to believe, but all these things happened last night in the Carolina Hurricanes domination of the New York Islanders at Barclays Center. Just look at the past scores between the two teams: 7-4, 5-4, and 8-4.
Each team is going through goaltenders like Kleenex and it’s just a matter of time before the next one snaps and does something really crazy like actually making a save or two. Has anybody
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told these goalies to do that recently? I can’t really remember, to be honest. But onward to the future and the effervescent and ever present Game Day Thoughts.
Game Day Thoughts
- Another loss to the Carolina Hurricanes by the Islanders in regulation means the Islanders’ season most likely will be over. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have games in hand and better point position.
- Also, don’t rule out the surging Tampa Bay Lightning who with their win over the New York Rangers last night are now tied with the Islanders for one point out of the last playoff spot in the East.
- Will Canes fans continue to enjoy the offensive spectacles seen in the past between these two teams this season? I said last time that the Islanders would clamp down and play highly defensive hockey as they were desperate for points. And I’ll repeat myself. The second game in as many nights will leave both teams exhausted and unable to continue the explosive scoring. Make sure to @ me when Jay McClement scores a hat trick tomorrow.
- Lucas Wallmark had a good night in his first game in the NHL. A +4 Corsi differential with close to 10 minutes ice time not bad. Especially seeing as how Wallmark and Stempniak had the next best Corsi on the team after Justin Faulk and Matt Tennyson. Now if he can get through game two without a serious injury we may be on to something.
- Seriously can Ron Francis expect to have a fanbase next year if he lets Cam Ward come back? Getting called out on national television has to be the final straw for Ward and this franchise. I get that maybe signing Cam Ward was some sort of secret stealth tank move so you don’t have to tell your fans you want to lose, but it isn’t necessary. We’re all on board with the steady growth to playoff contention as long as there will be some actual growth. The first sign of growth comes with improving the worst goaltending in the league. It’s such a low hanging fruit that even Jim Benning could fix it. Or at least come out and tell us that you believe one of our prospects will be playing in 2018. But enough of trying to sell us Cam Ward as a starting goaltender, because quite frankly it has become insulting. I know you’re a smart man Ron Francis and this isn’t a difficult problem. Fix it.