Let's Hear Those Predictions For Round 2

Who Wins The Series? How Many Games?

Devils in 6

Devils in 6

Devils are the better team on paper imo

Games not played on paper

Graves has looked brutal at times

How I would go tonight....11F, 7D

Tatar -- Hischier -- Mercer
Meier -- Hughes -- Palat
Sharangovich -- Haula -- Bratt
[empty] -- McLeod -- Bastian

Siegenthaler -- Hamilton
Hughes -- Marino
Bahl -- Severson
Graves

Schmid
Vanecek

(alternative...Graves sits, Lazar at 4LW)

The Canes look 10x better than the Rags

Series report card…

A: McLeod, Hischier, Haula, Marino
B: Hughes, Sieg, Lazar, Severson, Bahl, Bastian, Wood
C: Tatar, Mercer, Palat
D: Meier, Hamilton, Graves, Bratt

11x better

Every year, every time a team loses, their fans want their GM to go out and get more GRIT, toughness, size, thump, etc. Its bound to happen with us too if we get swept.

But I do not think physicality, grit, etc have anything to do with the $^*!show we have seen.

Our forwards are playing further down low in d-zone...it was clearly a strategy to start series. When we obtain possession, we need more time to exit the puck to allow our forwards to get up ice. But our dmen have been rushing passes through neutral zone, off target, or worse into a Carolina player. They should be holding to allow wingers to get north...but the forecheck hurries them. (personally, I would go back to more Hynes-like system...keep the center down low to help dmen buy time, let the wingers release)

Also, the toughness they need is mental toughness. Too much time spent on refs. And too easily deflated once down a goal or two.

Our savior Luke Hughes is IN for game 3

What are your thoughts on Nico, Jesper and Timo not scoring

I'm against it

Nico has played quite well all around. Not too worried about him.

Bratt has been out of it for the playoffs. He seems to hibernate every couple of months where he will go long stretches without having any impact. Then click, he comes alive. At the beginning last year, a benching did the trick. He could probably use the night off, but our days are numbered. Game 2 would have been the time/place.

Meier has been getting shots and playing heavy along the boards. But we still haven't seen his best rushing the puck (maybe he has been told that is not his job and leave the puck-handling to Nico, Jack, Tatar and Bratt). But he needs to be a little more selfish.

Mercer has also been silent. I think we should try to put him on defensive 'energy' line that can double the forechecking. Running three possession/transition lines will be tough.

Tatar -- Hischier -- Bratt (possession/transition)
Meier -- Hughes -- Palat (possession/transition)
Shara/Lazar -- Haula -- Mercer (forechecking/defensive)
Wood -- McLeod -- Bastian (forechecking)

Its time for Luke. My biggest worry is Hamilton and Graves, who have been awful...and hasty in their puck movement, which hasn't allowed our forwards to get to where they should be. Luke can handle the puck an extra half-second and allow forwards to stretch the ice a bit. I would do something like....

Siegenthaler -- Severson
Hughes -- Marino
Bahl -- Hamilton

...and use Dougie on Power Play.

Interesting….

TOI in game 3
Hughes 17:11
McLeod 17:11

Who would have thought?

Guys showed alot of heart today

I really hope Vanacek can get past whatever he is going through right now because at the end of the day he still did allow 4 goals, gotta clean that up man

Lets hope for a repeat of this on Tuesday

Oh and if anybody knows someone in or from the hurricanes forums, or maybe just a fan of the team pass them along this message to him...

Dear Jordan Staal

Ima shave you, you weirdass f'n werewolf

Imo Schmid should start game 4 (even though it will likely be Vitek)

What is up with Dougie? He has been outright terrible this series. Can’t even complete a basic pass.

He forgot what team he was on

Even-strength TOI/gp with last change (at home) vs NY Rangers

Hughes 20:22
Hischier 19:44
Bratt 18:24
Haula 18:15
Mercer 17:12
Palat 16:47
Meier 14:50
Tatar 14:42
McLeod 11:31
Bastian 8:07
Wood 6:37


Even-strength TOI/gp with last change (at home) vs Carolina

McLeod 16:59 (+5.28)
Bratt 15:38 (-2.46)
Hughes 15:06 (-5.16)
Meier 14:56 (+0.06)
Palat 14:36 (-2.11)
Hischier 13:59 (-5.45)
Mercer 13:15 (-3.57)
Bastian 13:01 (+4.54)
Wood 12:38 (+6.01)
Haula 12:21 (-5.54)
Tatar 9:42 (-5.00)


Ordered by change (+/-) from series to series

Wood +6.01
McLeod +5.28
Bastian +4.54
Meier +0.06
Palat -2.11
Bratt -2.46
Mercer -3.57
Tatar -5.00
Hughes -5.16
Hischier -5.45
Haula -5.54

We are getting a lot more of Wood, McLeod and Bastian....and a lot less of Hughes, Hischier.
Imagine has a lot to do with matchups and responding to opponent (ie, Staal on Hughes)

How do we feel about this?

Not sure how valid this source is…but if we sign Dumba over Severson, I would be vexed (unless it’s 1-2 year deal)

Oh, and I guess Hall is coming back….

Hughes with 3rd least amount of ice time today

He’s definitely injured

Phenomenal season
Canes were the better team
Our window is just opening