Matt Ross: Game 3: Cats vs Jerks

Matt, Hello.

Should be a good one tonight. Expectation is Mrazek will get the start to try and bounce back from a pretty ugly performance against Tampa.

Not really any one player to watch for on the Raleigh squad, though it's worth noting that they've won 3 games and Sebastian Aho has yet to record even a single point.

Canes will be pushing out a similar swarming five man unit to last year, focused on steering opponents into little traps all over the ice and turning the puck over. Dump and chase won't work. You're going to need forwards to stay in supporting positions and work the puck up the ice methodically to break this one down.

Should be a good one!

Matt, Hello.

Should be a good one tonight. Expectation is Mrazek will get the start to try and bounce back from a pretty ugly performance against Tampa.

Not really any one player to watch for on the Raleigh squad, though it's worth noting that they've won 3 games and Sebastian Aho has yet to record even a single point.

Canes will be pushing out a similar swarming five man unit to last year, focused on steering opponents into little traps all over the ice and turning the puck over. Dump and chase won't work. You're going to need forwards to stay in supporting positions and work the puck up the ice methodically to break this one down.

Should be a good one!
- BINGO!

Hey BINGO! Thanks for chiming in - always appreciate your insight!

Interesting about Aho. I hadn’t relaized that.

Awesome breakdown of the Canes game plan/attack. It makes me a little nervous that they might be able to get the Panthers defense to turn the puck over (even more so) with the “little traps all over the ice” that you speak of. We’ll see what scheme Q puts together to combat the Canes plan...

Excited for this game!

Hey BINGO! Thanks for chiming in - always appreciate your insight!

Interesting about Aho. I hadn’t relaized that.

Awesome breakdown of the Canes game plan/attack. It makes me a little nervous that they might be able to get the Panthers defense to turn the puck over (even more so) with the “little traps all over the ice” that you speak of. We’ll see what scheme Q puts together to combat the Canes plan...

Excited for this game!
- Matt Ross

It's what they did against Tampa that frustrated them so much. Rather than the Lightning forwards working as a unit to try and break it down, they started pushing with individual efforts and the Canes just choked them off.

Key is to attack as a unit and make sure you don't hand Carolina the puck because once you do it takes a while to get it back.

It's what they did against Tampa that frustrated them so much. Rather than the Lightning forwards working as a unit to try and break it down, they started pushing with individual efforts and the Canes just choked them off.

Key is to attack as a unit and make sure you don't hand Carolina the puck because once you do it takes a while to get it back.
- BINGO!

Canes are a good possession team.

Looking forward to the game tonight.

Interesting stat about the Hurricanes' 3 opponents all had 96 or more points last year. I'd like to point out that the Panthers played even in 2 games so far and their opponents had 128 points last year.

So far, Q has had 4 balanced lines. I have a feeling tonight is the night to feature the Barkov line. They're ready for a breakout performance. With Bob in net and some signs of defensive structural improvements, I think we'll have a pretty good game on our hands.

Go Panthers!

Looking forward to the game tonight.

Interesting stat about the Hurricanes' 3 opponents all had 96 or more points last year. I'd like to point out that the Panthers played even in 2 games so far and their opponents had 128 points last year.

So far, Q has had 4 balanced lines. I have a feeling tonight is the night to feature the Barkov line. They're ready for a breakout performance. With Bob in net and some signs of defensive structural improvements, I think we'll have a pretty good game on our hands.

Go Panthers!
- JimboCoppertone

Right there with you on the Barky line, Jimbo. I think the defense has looked better through the two games, too.

Welp. i was wrong already.

Reimer in the starter's crease at the morning skate.

Lineup tonight:

Nino Niedereiter - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Staal - Brock McGinn
Ryan Dzingle - Erik Haula - Martin Necas
Warren Foegele - Lucas Wallmark - Jordan Martinook

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Joel Edmundson - Brett Pesce
Jake Gardiner - Haydn Fleury

James Reimer
Petr Mrazek

Watch, Reims gonna shut 'em out, lololol.

Watch, Reims gonna shut 'em out, lololol.
- Ratsreign

Haha. Well, I'm sure he'll be playing with a little extra tonight.

Welp. i was wrong already.

Reimer in the starter's crease at the morning skate.

Lineup tonight:

Nino Niedereiter - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Staal - Brock McGinn
Ryan Dzingle - Erik Haula - Martin Necas
Warren Foegele - Lucas Wallmark - Jordan Martinook

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Joel Edmundson - Brett Pesce
Jake Gardiner - Haydn Fleury

James Reimer
Petr Mrazek
- BINGO!

Makes me even more pumped for the game

This save by Bob almost brought the house down....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O10xPfCkoyY
He made another stellar save early in the second.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W3KKkooGegI

This save by Bob almost brought the house down....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O10xPfCkoyY
He made another stellar save early in the second.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W3KKkooGegI
- Ratsreign

He’s very strong at moving left to right and has great anticipation.

Haha. Well, I'm sure he'll be playing with a little extra tonight.
- Matt Ross

If they can put enough pressure on to get Reims scrambling & flopping on his belly, they'll be alright.

Erin Brown Twitter
#Canes Brind’Amour on Reimer: “He won the game (against #Capitals) ... It wasn’t pretty, for sure. He had some weird looking saves. But, you know, I'm starting to try to figure him out a little bit and maybe that's how he does it.”

If they can put enough pressure on to get Reims scrambling & flopping on his belly, they'll be alright.

Erin Brown Twitter
#Canes Brind’Amour on Reimer: “He won the game (against #Capitals) ... It wasn’t pretty, for sure. He had some weird looking saves. But, you know, I'm starting to try to figure him out a little bit and maybe that's how he does it.”
- Ratsreign

That’s pretty wild for a coach to be so open/honest about a player and his style. Haha.

That’s pretty wild for a coach to be so open/honest about a player and his style. Haha.
- Matt Ross

Rod's honest to a fault. But it seems like he says the same things in the media he'll say to the players and they like that. He doesn't play games with guys.

Rod's honest to a fault. But it seems like he says the same things in the media he'll say to the players and they like that. He doesn't play games with guys.
- BINGO!

The Bod has always seemed like a cool guy to me. Sort of an old school coach and approach to things. A real “no BS” kind of guy.

Hawryluk stays in for Malgin. Jayce was flying around being a pest on Borgstrom's wing Saturday night. Borgstrom looks bigger & stronger this season. Frankie V cashes in for line 3 tonight.
Pysyk in for Brown tonight. Rumors around of a few teams with interest in trading for Pysyk.

Hawryluk stays in for Malgin. Jayce was flying around being a pest on Borgstrom's wing Saturday night. Borgstrom looks bigger & stronger this season. Frankie V cashes in for line 3 tonight.
Pysyk in for Brown tonight. Rumors around of a few teams with interest in trading for Pysyk.
- Ratsreign

I’ve been saying to leave Hawryluk in the lineup because he brings a pest/physical game that this squad is missing.

Borgy is def bigger and more balanced - which is great.

I really like Pysyk and could see why some teams would be interested. Curious which teams and what would be available in the deal.

Nice work, Rats!

Early on, yes. Defense still sucks, yes

Early on, yes. Defense still sucks, yes
- harveykline

Bob's first experience hanging on the Sunrise Clothesline.
Reimer sitting at the other end having flashbacks.
At least Q pulled Bob after 1st rather than subject him to more of that crap.

Bob's first experience hanging on the Sunrise Clothesline.
Reimer sitting at the other end having flashbacks.
At least Q pulled Bob after 1st rather than subject him to more of that crap.
- Ratsreign

I’ll have a new column up on Friday, but that first period, and part of the second, was as close to a mismatched men’s league game at the NHL level that we’ll see...hahaha.

I’ll have a new column up on Friday, but that first period, and part of the second, was as close to a mismatched men’s league game at the NHL level that we’ll see...hahaha.
- Matt Ross

The first period was a joke, especially the third goal allowed. Q jumbled up the lines and just skated them all practice yesterday. According to George Richards, there were some pucks on the ice, but they weren't being used.

Rumor is Tallon shopping Psysk. Why? Last year stats -1+/- in 70 GP. Need more defensive men like him

Rumor is Tallon shopping Psysk. Why? Last year stats -1+/- in 70 GP. Need more defensive men like him
- harveykline

Ekblad, Yandle, Matheson aren't going anywhere. Then Stralman and Weegar. I think Brown brings more to the lineup than Pysyk now. Pysyk's in the last year of his (overpriced) contract. I think they'd like to free up some cap space. They have Stillman who looks ready for NHL, too.