'Canes vs. Flyers
Posted 4:02 PM ET | Comments 0
Here we are again folks... Hurricanes vs. Flyers...
It's remarkable to think that for all the trades between these two teams in the past, only Rod Brind'amour, Justin Williams, and Sami Kapanen remain.
Now, with all do respect to Kapanen, who has transformed his game and is an excellent player in his own right, looking back I would wager to say that Carolina got the better deal out of these.
But on to the game....
Last time these teams met Briere tore up the scoresheet with a flurry of goals leading Philadelphia to a 6-3 win.
Now, I have come to the conclusion that the reason for this is Carolina's style of play. The 'Canes play a wide open brand of hockey which puts alot of pressure on their defensemen to be solid and make few mistakes. The reasoning is that with the Hurricane's overpowering forecheck the defense shouldn't be pressured any further as most of the play should be in the opponents zone. However, this creates problems when facing a team with one or a few creative players as the Hurricanes do not adapt to their opponents. As a result, when the game plan gets thrown off the tracks, the defense doesn't react.
For tonights game what the 'Canes have to do is stick to what they are good at. I'm personally hoping to see Frantisek Kaberle sitting for tonight and Seidenberg taking his spot on the depth chart. Kaberle can be a good puck moving defenseman, but his defensive play has been sporatic at best.
Both teams are getting players in the line-up that can be difference makers with Steve Downie returning, or Joining the Flyers... (supposedly).... and Scott Walker returning to the Hurricanes.
In any case. Here's to what should be a good game. I'm calling a 4-2 Hurricanes victory tonight.
-elchrisco
It's remarkable to think that for all the trades between these two teams in the past, only Rod Brind'amour, Justin Williams, and Sami Kapanen remain.
Now, with all do respect to Kapanen, who has transformed his game and is an excellent player in his own right, looking back I would wager to say that Carolina got the better deal out of these.
But on to the game....
Last time these teams met Briere tore up the scoresheet with a flurry of goals leading Philadelphia to a 6-3 win.
Now, I have come to the conclusion that the reason for this is Carolina's style of play. The 'Canes play a wide open brand of hockey which puts alot of pressure on their defensemen to be solid and make few mistakes. The reasoning is that with the Hurricane's overpowering forecheck the defense shouldn't be pressured any further as most of the play should be in the opponents zone. However, this creates problems when facing a team with one or a few creative players as the Hurricanes do not adapt to their opponents. As a result, when the game plan gets thrown off the tracks, the defense doesn't react.
For tonights game what the 'Canes have to do is stick to what they are good at. I'm personally hoping to see Frantisek Kaberle sitting for tonight and Seidenberg taking his spot on the depth chart. Kaberle can be a good puck moving defenseman, but his defensive play has been sporatic at best.
Both teams are getting players in the line-up that can be difference makers with Steve Downie returning, or Joining the Flyers... (supposedly).... and Scott Walker returning to the Hurricanes.
In any case. Here's to what should be a good game. I'm calling a 4-2 Hurricanes victory tonight.
-elchrisco