The Carolina Hurricanes stay on the losing skid after a tough home loss to the Rangers. What will get this team back up: Optimism and youth.
This one hurt, let’s not kid ourselves. The Canes have been red hot at home, especially with Petr Mrazek in goal. Last night was not considered a red hot game by any means. So what gives?
Let’s take a step back and observe what we have seen in the last couple of games. We have been Jordan Martinook-less and Erik Haula-less the past few games. With out Martinook, our twitter feeds have not been as happy and entertaining. And with out Haula, the screening of the net has been non existent.
We need some guys to step up and take over these rolls as long as Haula and Martinook are not suited up in sweaters on game day.
To break this down in fantasy talk, we have some hits and sits this week.
START
We saw glimpses last night of Wallmark sitting net front and expect even more tonight. Wallmark is arguably the best face off-centerman the Canes have, he is very skilled at it. With play time increasing for all returners with a few call ups on the line up still, let’s look to Wallmark to fill the net front void.
Wallmark actually had about three great opportunities last night to get a deflection to fall but the puck luck was not with him. Expect the coaches to notice this potential to make some big time use out of Wallmark for the away and home with Ottawa.
Expect Wallmark to score and or have an assist tonight and really take care of that net front presence give you at least 2-4 fantasy points.
SIT:
56
Erik Haula F
Erick Haula started out this season with a pace to score a goal in every single game. Not a bad pace, could be better. He has cooled off a little, still being very active, especially in font of the net. But Haula has re-aggravated his knee he had repaired last year. With Haula out who will fill that net front presence?
Last night, not having that centerman in the crease screening and looking for the deflection killed us. Haula seems to be OK, not quite ready for contact, but should return soon:
#Canes head coach Rod Brind'Amour on Erik Haula: "He's day-to-day. He's got some lingering effects. It's his knee that's bothering him. We're just kind of precautionary, really, making sure he feels good before we get him back out there. ... Nothing structural, which is good."
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) November 6, 2019