One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The Carolina Hurricanes, in what was probably the most important game of a starcrossed year so far, carried a 1-0 lead into the third period tonight, after a tight checking, evenly matched 40 minutes of hockey. Carolina came into the game having won 5 of 7. The Thrashers came in having lost 4 straight and 6 of 10. The Canes' record so far this year when carrying a lead into the third period? 21-0. Carolina was the only team in the NHL yet to lose a game when leading after 2. The keyword in that last sentence - WAS.

The two teams fought hard for every inch of ice through two periods, with Rod Brind'Amour's second period goal (his 3rd in the last 2 games) staking the Cane's to a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, Carolina played tonight's third period much like they have played the first period all to often this season. The result - a frustrating, crushing defeat.

Atlanta 3
Carolina 1

A few things that made my stomach churn about tonight's game, and that also seem to serve as a microcosm of the Cane's season so far:

1) Special Teams win tight games. The Cane's were 0-4 on the power play, including a pivotal 43 seconds of 5 on 3 in the third period when they could have salted the game away. To top it all off, they gave up a flukey short handed goal that gave Atlanta life in the third.

2) You've got to want it - and I'm talking to you in particular Eric Staal. On the Thrashers first goal, goalie Johan Hedberg cleared the puck out of his own zone with the Thrashers shorthanded. Marian Hossa skated hard to follow the puck into the Canes zone while Staal just seemed meander back from his position on the point, watching Hossa skate by him. Hossa corraled the puck in the corner and since Staal was still not on him, and showed no real interest in checking him at all, Marian simply through the puck at the net along the goaline. The puck somehow found a hole between Ward's pad and the crease, bouncing off his right skate and his stick. Just like that the game was tied. I watched the replay several times, and Staal's lack of effort was simply disgusting. It was a fluke goal that Ward probably stops 99 times out of a hundred, but the fact of the matter is that Hossa should have never have gotten the shot off. At the very least Staal should have been there on the check, and probably should've beaten him to the puck in the first place. A lazy, lazy play. And truth be told I probably would not have noticed if it were the first time Staal had seemed to be dogging it on this night. Not the sort of effort you need from your "star" in a big game. "The biggest game of the year".

3) Lazy passes in the neutral zone - Ray Whitney played hard all night and had a beautiful assist to Rod Brind'Amour on the Cane's only goal, but his lazy pass in the neutral zone during a Thrashers line change (what!?! - get the puck deep, don't try to get fancy!) led to Ilya Kovalchuk's wide open breakaway for the Thrasher's game winning goal.

4) Weak defense along the board - Denis Seidenberg, playing his first game in several weeks, gave away the puck not once, but twice behind his own goal, and then was beaten in front of the net By Eric Boulton (all on one play!) for the Thrasher's final goal in the final minutes. Boulton has two goals this season, both coming against Carolina, and both on plays where Carolina defensemen should have been given assists. The Cane's defense seemed to wilt a bit in the third. This despite dressing 8 defensemen for the game.

5) Cam Ward played well enought to win for most of the game, yet that effort is wasted once again. Hossa's goal was a complete fluke (and as stated before, would have never even gotten to the net with a little hustle from Staal), and Ward basically had no chance on Kovalchuk's breakaway. The third goal came on Siedenberg's giveaway to Boulton right in front of the net. Ward made several amazing saves, including 3 on one on short-handed breakaway early in the third to preserve the Cane's lead.

6) Erik Cole was a late scratch, missing his 4th out of the last 5 games. Cory Stillman remains on the shelf as well.

I'm trying to stay optimistic, but this one is tough to handle. The inconsistency is disappointing. Especially considering the stakes. This was a 4 point game. This is one we needed.

The Cane's now hold on to the 8th spot in the east by just 1 point over Toronto and the Islanders. They fall to 4 points of out of the top spot in the Southeast division, with Atlanta and Tampa Bay tied at the top. Tampa Bay hold the tie breaker at the moment with one more win.

As it has been all season long...One step forward, two steps back.

I'm trying to keep hope a live, but the frustration level is rising.
Nonetheless, I'll be up in the rafters for the Philly game on Thursday.
Let's go Canes. (Please?)

-m