New Half, Same Team

Carolina Hurricanes' Scott Walker (24) scraps with New York Rangers' Marc Staal (18) and Sean Avery, as Rangers' Jaromir Jagr (68), of the Czech Republic, battles with Carolina Hurricanes' Tim Gleason (42) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.

I am about done with this team. They play a team that is awful in there defensive zone, they give a solid effort, but they can not score. You know going in vs. Carolina they will have 2-3 odd man rushes a period as they are an unreal transition team, but as a trade off you will likely have just as many if not more transition rushes as they attack all game and get caught.

Well that is exactly what happened, except Carolina had maybe 5 break-ins and odd man rushes and scored on 3 of them. Henrik can not be blamed as the goals were all one odd man rushes/breakaways but we needed the king to make 3 spectacular saves and he could not. The problem with this team yet again was the PP was awful, except for the first one, and when they got chances they either missed the net (one by Tyutin was so bad it created a 2-1 the other way leading to a Carolina goal) or Ward was there.

Quick Notes:

Refs---wow are the refs getting worse as the season goes on? Gomez drilled from behind, and I mean drilled, no call. Avery had every right to go after the Carolina player and we get a man disadvantage. I mean give one Carolina guy 2 minutes in that scrum to even it up, especially with the missed call. Much props to Jagr for dropping the gloves (he did not fight) but, he was the first one in to help Avery.

Then Orr levels a Carolina player which should have been a penalty (hit from behind, it was open ice but it was from behind). A Carolina player jumps Orr and they fight. Well of course they will give an instigator to Carolina correct…..no of course not. I am in no way blaming the refs for this lose but man they were awful. Do not even get me started on the Jagr dive call, that is just wrong, I have no idea what Jagr did to the refs but he is the most disrespected superstar I have ever seen.

GOAT OF THE GAME:

Offense- Until they start scoring on PP’s and on shots right in front of the net, they are the downfall of this team. I mean Carolina, as stated above, is one of the worst defensive teams in the league and Rangers score 1 goal.

Offense does not start to bury it’s chances this team will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.