Cardiac Cane
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Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Thoughts: Moving on to Steel Town

By Matthew Barlowe

Feb 21, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan (33) watches the play against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan (33) watches the play against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Hurricanes take on one of the best teams in the league tonight

With a loss last night to the Dallas Stars, the Carolina Hurricanes try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  A thirteen game point streak snapped as the Hurricanes lost 3-1.  It was the Canes first loss in regulation since March 7th against the Colorado Avalanche.

The only thing left to do for the Hurricanes is to win as many games left on the schedule and pray for help from the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs.  It doesn’t get any easier either against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While the Penguins are having issues with injuries, and their recent record, 4-3-3, shows a team struggling, to think Pittsburgh isn’t a dangerous team would be a big mistake.  Even with the Penguins’ depth being tested, they still are able to ice some of the most offensively dangerous players in the league.   Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, these are some of the best goal scorers in the league.

The playoffs are likely out of the picture, but games like this are another test for the young Hurricanes.  Carolina needs to learn to win on the road, and their recent point streak shows things may be changing in that regard.  A win against the Penguins shows the Canes are better than they were to start the year. Improvement is the key even if Carolina doesn’t make the playoffs.

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Game Day Thoughts

  • The game against Dallas marked the first time the Carolina Hurricanes were held scoreless since February 19th against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The Canes need to get their scoring touch back if they want to win against the Penguins.  One good thing about Carolina this year is they seem to play up, or down, to the talent against them.
  • Right now the Penguins with 105 points are third in the Metropolitan Division. That’s right 105 points only gets a team third place in the Metro.  There is only one other 100 point team in the league right now and that’s the Chicago Blackhawks with 107.
  • By the end of the year, the Rangers should join the top of the Metro in the 100 point club as well.  The next closest division is the Central who will probably have two with Chicago and Minnesota.  Just one more piece of bad luck for the Hurricanes they got stuck in the toughest division in the NHL.
  • Eddie Lack was back on the bench against Dallas and Bill Peters said he remains an option.  While Ward played well against Dallas, the game tonight is a back to back and on the road.  Eddie Lack should get the nod, and we get to see if he can continue his streak of good play.
  • The Hurricanes playoff hopes may be almost dead, but the Charlotte Checkers’ dreams are still alive.  They sit in the last spot of the Central Division with a game in hand on the Cleveland Monsters.  The Checkers take on the Chicago Wolves who have already clinched their spot in the AHL playoffs.  Hopefully, at least one team will bring the post season to North Carolina this spring.
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