GAME DAY #68: Senators @ Hurricanes - 7:00 pm - Tuesday, March 8 2016

Even with Staal in New York, I still hate this team.

Hobiesens wrote:Hoffman was on in the last portion of the game and he doesn't come off. I'd love to know how long that last shift was. Cameron who has shown no confidence in him defensively, puts Hoffman out at a critical time, brutal.

Hoffman had the puck on his stick and didn't clear it. There was about a dozen seconds left, if he clears it all the way game's probably over. Mind you, a few others could have cleared it also.

Why do we put smith in the shootout? It's not like he has moves. He scores because he puts himself in the right place.
You want to put someone that has at least a bit of skills and hands.... At least pageau before smith? Urghhhh

Ah yes...the old stealing defeat from the jaws of victory type of game.

Ryan beat Ward but no the post. Zibanejad with post-post-in. And then all of a sudden Hammond couldn't stop anything.

Guys, it's over.

Win the next 14 and they'll have 98 points.

wprager wrote:Ryan beat Ward but no the post.  Zibanejad with post-post-in.  And then all of a sudden Hammond couldn't stop anything.

Guys, it's over.

If ryan's shot goes in, we win the game.  That said, the game never should have even gone to OT.  It's been over for some time and if anyone still has some hope, realize it's just not meant to be.  Luck is clearly not on our side.

Just to put things in perspective, if we could have salvaged a single point against Dallas and found a way to win in regulation tonight, we would be sitting 3 points out of a playoff spot. Now that's a waste.

When you waste so many opportunities, you don't deserve any playoffs.  It's simple.

Michallica wrote:

wprager wrote:Ryan beat Ward but no the post.  Zibanejad with post-post-in.  And then all of a sudden Hammond couldn't stop anything.

Guys, it's over.

If ryan's shot goes in, we win the game.  That said, the game never should have even gone to OT.  It's been over for some time and if anyone still has some hope, realize it's just not meant to be.  Luck is clearly not on our side.

Just to put things in perspective, if we could have salvaged a single point against Dallas and found a way to win in regulation tonight, we would be sitting 3 points out of a playoff spot.  Now that's a waste.

When you waste so many opportunities, you don't deserve any playoffs.  It's simple.

Considering that Carolina has thrown in the towel, and we went down to the last 2 minutes almost to beat the Marlies, and eve the Dallas game, they were missing two D-men. Whole season has been like this -- we lose games we should win easily.

wprager wrote:

Michallica wrote:

wprager wrote:Ryan beat Ward but no the post.  Zibanejad with post-post-in.  And then all of a sudden Hammond couldn't stop anything.

Guys, it's over.

If ryan's shot goes in, we win the game.  That said, the game never should have even gone to OT.  It's been over for some time and if anyone still has some hope, realize it's just not meant to be.  Luck is clearly not on our side.

Just to put things in perspective, if we could have salvaged a single point against Dallas and found a way to win in regulation tonight, we would be sitting 3 points out of a playoff spot.  Now that's a waste.

When you waste so many opportunities, you don't deserve any playoffs.  It's simple.

Considering that Carolina has thrown in the towel, and we went down to the last 2 minutes almost to beat the Marlies, and eve the Dallas game, they were missing two D-men.  Whole season has been like this -- we lose games we should win easily.  

Why should we be winning these games easily. We have a somewhat mediocre roster. Our best forward is only in his second year and we are playing without a top 6 centre. We are number 1 centre and a couple of years of growth from being a good (not great) team.

The Leafs game should have been a laugher. It wasn't. The Dallas game was winnable. This one we let a 2-0 lead disappear. 3-2 with 2 minutes to go and an open net. You can't miss those chances to either bury the goal or clear the puck. Winnable games, all of them and we manage 3 points. The very definition of mediocrity.

Canes are missing their top center, too (well, not that he was playing like a top center but still).

Diddle off with these points. Too late, Diddle off, I want a top 5 pick

SpezDispensed wrote:Diddle off with these points.  Too late, Diddle off, I want a top 5 pick

Unless we win the lottery I don't see that happening. This team is to good to be really bad and too bad to be good.

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:Diddle off with these points.  Too late, Diddle off, I want a top 5 pick

Unless we win the lottery I don't see that happening. This team is to good to be really bad and too bad to be good.

It's gonna be close unless we keep getting points.  

This team is close imo.  Now that we hot phaneuf,  we're a big top 6 forward away, preferably a c.

Maybe some D depth too.

Edit: close to being very good and a playoff team

F'in Carolina. Disclaimer: I didn't watch the game. I watched Bridge of Spies instead. It was pretty good, but I'm not sure why it got a best picture nomination.

I find it tough to tune in to games after having my dreams crushed.

tim1_2 wrote:F'in Carolina. Disclaimer: I didn't watch the game. I watched Bridge of Spies instead. It was pretty good, but I'm not sure why it got a best picture nomination.

I find it tough to tune in to games after having my dreams crushed.

If you're going to pass on a game, a Carolina matchup is probably your best bet by a country mile.

Going forward without the Cowen/Wiercioch saga and with Phaneuf here the full season, with Turris healthy and with CMac in the lineup, I think this team is as good as the top-three in the division. Remember that they were a point back of Detroit with a game in hand when Turris got injured.

Going forward, depth-wise, we know what we have in Dzingel, McCormick, Paul and Claesson. Add in White, who is, by all accounts, already better than all other forward prospects. Hopefullly Paul and White give us the depth we need at center.

Everyone keeps reminding me that Zibanejad is still only 22 and despite the flaws in his game is still improving, albeit very slowly. He's on pace for his best season point-wise, even if his goals total takes a tumble (at 14, he would need 6 in the next 14 games to reach the career high of 20). But it you look a little closer, he is actually on pace for 47 points, which is just one points more than last year. So is he still progressing or has he reached his ceiling? Hard to say. If they could use him as a piece in a trade for an upgrade at C then I'd be all for it; but if the upgrade takes Zibanejad *and* White, forget it -- I'd rather have Zibanejad and his 45-50 points *and* depth at center.

tim1_2 wrote:F'in Carolina. Disclaimer: I didn't watch the game. I watched Bridge of Spies instead. It was pretty good, but I'm not sure why it got a best picture nomination.

I find it tough to tune in to games after having my dreams crushed.

One of the few games I actually watched live. Until I wasn't watching anything. That's one of the problems with having a modem and router in one -- you reset the router to fix your wifi and you lose your TV. I've taken a day off to catch up on some errands, one of them will be a call to Bell. My 2 year contract was up in February and it's time to ask them what they are willing to do to keep me. I figure I could save $50/month just by switching to Rogers and Wind (and get faster internet, 10 tuner PVR and unlimited data on the mobile plan) so that's the starting point.

wprager wrote:Going forward without the Cowen/Wiercioch saga and with Phaneuf here the full season, with Turris healthy and with CMac in the lineup, I think this team is as good as the top-three in the division.  Remember that they were a point back of Detroit with a game in hand when Turris got injured.

Going forward, depth-wise, we know what we have in Dzingel, McCormick, Paul and Claesson.  Add in White, who is, by all accounts, already better than all other forward prospects.  Hopefullly Paul and White give us the depth we need at center.  

Everyone keeps reminding me that Zibanejad is still only 22 and despite the flaws in his game is still improving, albeit very slowly.  He's on pace for his best season point-wise, even if his goals total takes a tumble (at 14, he would need 6 in the next 14 games to reach the career high of 20).  But it you look a little closer, he is actually on pace for 47 points, which is just one points more than last year.  So is he still progressing or has he reached his ceiling?  Hard to say.  If they could use him as a piece in a trade for an upgrade at C then I'd be all for it; but if the upgrade takes Zibanejad *and* White, forget it -- I'd rather have Zibanejad and his 45-50 points *and* depth at center.

I think there's some work to do, but the foundation is built relatively well. Absolutely no veteran center may hurt the team and we have Hoffman as bait.

Regardless I'd say they need to get either an upgrade at c or another winger ala mac just in case he's not good to go.

After that...I think we're pretty competitive and I believe this was a blip on the radar this year