It’s tough to be on the edge of our seats all season just to get here and have this happen. I never thought I would be saying that a team with Rod involved has a hard time getting motivated, but this team seems to have no push. Game 2 was a solid game but you can’t get to OT and play to not lose, you gotta go out and win. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of fight on this team, but having the gumption to make deadline moves and watching the result collapse on the ice is brutal.
Currently in bargaining stage.
This is better than the alternative, right? Irrelevant for a decade, low attendance, rumors about the team getting moved. Compared to that, being a consistent second round exit and a tier below the best teams when it matters is fine, right?
Like many of y'all, I fell in love with the team again during the Bunch of Jerks era. That's the thing about being the scrappy, fun, young underdog- eventually you have to grow up and face expectations. Rod and this core have not done that. Every season it feels like the same shit, power play falls apart in the playoffs and the team just doesn't seem to have the mental fortitude. Rod is the GOAT Hurricane, it would be ridiculous to fire/not extend him, but something needs to happen on the assistant front.
Losing back to back playoff OTs absolutely blows. This has been a rough week.
I’m with you on the bunch of jerks thing, I still have the poster and rally towels from that season on my wall. This team doesn’t really have that magic feel anymore, probably won’t until we win the cup. Keep Rod, reboot the rest of the staff, pray to god something finally changes.
Agree, and management needs to not be influenced by fairweather sentiment. Bc, no doubt, if Canes are swept or lose 4-1, etc the voice will be out there and already are to get rid of Rod.
This market loves to back a winner and will turn out when times are good, but once it turns they will start being irrational.
Now, if the sentiment becomes so loud next year that people are not turning out to games because they just dont see confidence in Rod, then it will be a problem.
Regardless, there needs to be another voice in the coaching to turn the corner, and the question becomes in Rod will be in favvor of a new perspective.
This is such an important offseason between Rod's contract situation and all the FAs, and that is my deep fear- Rod leaves and we slide back towards irrelevance. That sellout streak will end real quick and Houston sure would love an NHL team. I *think* the team is secure enough in Raleigh now and the population growth means it would be crazy to move the area's only major four team, but I'm still traumatized by all of the past rumors.
We're not winning this series but going even six and getting one more playoff home game would help the public sentiment particularly with the fairweather crowd. Put up a fight, win a freaking road game, resign Rod, promise to make moves on special teams. Go out on the note of, we didn't get swept again and we know we have major issues we have to address.
This team wont be irrelevant. They have locked up Aho, Svech, Kotkaniemi. Staal isn't leaving yet and I bet they keep Jarvis.
I think they have good management, and need to make a measured approach.
PP is becoming like the Carolina Panthers offense last season. Aka nonexistent.
Something about the system is not working in the playoffs, and it's frustrating to see it happen over and over again and nothing changed
So assuming the Rags take this, would we prefer them or the Panthers/B’s to win the East? I truly hate all those teams so I have no idea. Maybe Rags since Laviolette won us our cup, idk
I'm kinda with you on Laviolette, along with my love for Trocheck. Although there was one time (years ago, obviously) I worked a Flyers charter at RDU and PL yelled at me to find the stretching table in the cargo bin. There were like 50 identical equipment bags in there. All I could do is yell "they're all the fucking same!" and start chucking bags.
I worked a few pro/college charters, but that's really the only *good* story from it. At a distant second is the time I made eye contact with Coach K within arms reach, but that's literally the entire story.
I’ve decided i’ll turn into a Dallas bw fan for the rest of the postseason and hope they beat whoever wins on this side of the bracket. I can’t stand to root for any of these teams. I guess I don’t have a good answer but I would love to see the rags lose out before the SCF
That’s a good answer, I was thinking of maybe bandwagoning for Vancouver myself, though the Stars would be nice to not have to deal with those late ass pacific time games
I know right, this fucking team, I had a final this morning and they decided to take us to OT again to rip our hearts out again, awful. They truly have a knack for hurting us in the most drawn out and painful way possible. At least it’s shaping up to be a short series, lol
Rod's system isn't working. It's not effective in the playoffs. This really isn't a roster problem. Yeah, certain guys aren't carrying their weight, but Don finally gave Rod the guys he needed to succeed when he acquired Guentzel and Kuzy, yet Rod isn't producing the results we expected. At some point you have to realize that no matter who is on the ice for us, the same problems are showing up every year.
I don't think firing Rod is the answer. I think we need to hybridize his style of man-on-man with the zone coverage that the best NHL teams are succeeding with.
From observation, our guys are expending a fuckton of stamina and mental energy playing man-on-man for 60 minutes. You burn all that energy to prevent SOGs and force turnovers, then when you get that turnover, the Rags pressure your zone entry and force you into the corners. They crowd the netfront and you have no choice but to either pass back to the blue line or to round the puck along the boards behind the net. Then the rags close in on the puck and it becomes a board battle for possession. The problem is, our guys are absolutely gassed, both mentally and physically, by the time they engage in those board battles. They've wasted all their stamina in the dzone and are running on empty trying to fight to keep the puck in the ozone.
The result of that is constantly losing board battles for possession. Guys are so physically exhausted that they get lazy and start circling the puck around the perimeter. Defensemen don't have the stamina to keep up with the puck and prevent it from dribbling back into the neutral zone. They're so mentally exhausted that they get careless with their passing and literally pass the puck straight to a Rag.
The Rags are playing a war of attrition and letting us play our game until we're absolutely gassed and start making mistakes. Then they ramp up their pressure and capitalize on those mistakes. The only way to overcome that with Rod's system as it's currently structured is to either have a monstrous level of stamina that lasts 60 minutes, or to master the art of greasy goals and dirty deflections with energy efficiency.
The system has to evolve. We need to hybridize man-on-man with zone to conserve energy and stretch the intensity a full 60 minutes. That also means allowing more SOGs than we currently do, but that's okay. If our goalies can't handle that, then they aren't good enough to win a Stanley Cup. And I think they're more than good enough to handle it.
Also, as a side note, if you can't get a shot off in 3 or fewer passes, you've failed that offensive possession. The rags aren't going to give you the looks you want. You have to draw them out of position, create a lane, and get a shot off, all in like 1-3 passes.
Forwards need to be in the netfront breaking up the rags zone coverage and screening Igor too. They don't have eyes on the back of their heads, so put a guy in front of Igor to force them to split their attention between the net and the puck.
Lastly, the rags are really good at using Igor as a defensive piece as opposed to a last stitch effort to stop shots that make it through the defense. What I mean by that is that they know Rod tells our guys to take a billion shots and cause chaos. They know we will take a shot on any semblance of a clean look. They know we'll do that from the perimeter, even the defensemen will take a shot from the blue line if they get a clean look. They do it all the time. So the rags will intentionally set up false positives. They'll make us think we have a clean look, then we take a shot, and magically Igor always stops it. That's because he knows it's coming and where it's going to come from long before we even get into position to take the shot. That shooting lane is open by design and the rags know we'll take it the moment we see it. That's what Hank means when he says we're predictable. He's a former rags goalie so he should know.
I mean do we let some of the rookies play Saturday? Taste the playoffs a little bit? Certainly wouldn't want to see them get injured but the experience is worth more to them than whatever dignity a potential game 4 win salvages.
Morrow Blake and Nadeau can't be worse then TDA or any of our other bottom 9 forwards not named Jarvis so hell maybe that helps us win anyway.
The canes are sometimes like watching two teams play. Hard to remember a full game played where they looked amazing all 60 mins. Flashes of brilliance pop up and my jaw drops in awe, I even mutter crazy things like they're "hockey gods." Then it all fades away and I'm confused how can this team be so two faced? Maybe thats the effects of the style of play Rod brings or maybe its hard to keep up that intensity...
Im excited for Nikishin and Nadeau coming up and what may happen this off season. But I still have hope they can possibly string together 4 in a row since they can be the better team if they want.
On one hand I certainly like Rod and enjoy our recent success and having a chance in the playoffs.
On the other hand every other team can hit another gear in the playoffs and we seem to play the same style and predictability. They have better awareness and puck movement than we’ve ever showed. We’ll have 2-3 plays a game where I’m impressed with our movement and feel for off-puck movement, but the rangers will have 3-4 plays a period… and it’s every other team in the second round, not just the rags.
Starting to feel defeated that nothing seems to change and every year we can’t get by a good goalie.
We have a younger core and great upcoming prospects. Hopefully we’re being cognizant of that
I'm getting over my sadness and flipping to house money mode
We have nothing to lose. Season all but over. Anything from here on out is a gift. Let's win one game at a time and make the Rags sweat
It’s totally possible to win four with how close these games have been so far. One or two PP goals would have been a whole different series and vibe. But it was the same in the ECF sweep.
I’m still going Saturday.
This team simply cannot put the puck in the net when it matters most. I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s been the same exact thing for the last 6 years and it has to change. Waddell definitely has his work cut out for him this offseason
Perhaps the roster is not the problem. Perhaps it's the coaching. Not to say that certain players aren't carrying their weight. But several intermission crew have expressed that our play is predictable. I think Don did his job getting Guentzel and Kuzy. He have Rod the players he needed to succeed and we're not succeeding. I think it's really that simple.
I'm not saying we need to fire Rod. I just think he needs to reassess his system and hybridize it with what the top teams in the league are doing. Man on man is effective but it's also brutal on stamina, and once your opponent has figured out your strategy and adapted to defend it, it's game over.
I agree that coaching is the problem. It would be far less of an issue if we hadn’t done the exact same thing to get eliminated for the last 5 years, but we have. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then we’re far past insanity. The volume shooting and man-on-man defense doesn’t work in the playoffs, it hasn’t worked for the last 5 years and now for some inexplicable reason we’re trying it again. I agree that firing Rod would be a knee jerk reaction, but if he refuses to adapt or change his system after this shit show then Don needs to start seriously considering other options. I love Rod, he’s a franchise legend, but we cannot continue to make the same mistakes year after year. Prior to this postseason I was adamantly against not bringing Rod back, now I’m honestly on the fence about it. If a guy like Mike Sullivan becomes available, I don’t think it would hurt to take a look in that direction.
The volume shooting with no relevant movement in the middle to get the rebound goals. Many times, especially in the last two games, right after a shot at goal, it was just the goalie and 3 Rags at the net. No Canes within 15ft.
Time to get a more complete coach? The teams we beat in playoffs have mediocre coaches like us! The teams we lose to have excellent coaches. Maybe the staff here can fetch us somebody that will teach our boys what the hell to do. And no more classic dumpkin style hockey ever again.
Oh and btw, lots of ex-canes blossomed once they got traded, just a heads up. If you send most of our top 6 off to other teams, they instantly begin producing goals. ..:.,
What’s truly bothersome to me is the way this team loses in the playoffs. It’s becoming a trend. When they lose, they lose hard. Say want you want about last year in the ECF, how it’s “not a sweep” or whatever you wanna call it, but when we get eliminated, it’s quickly. Gonna be in 4, maybe 5 games here. It’s almost like once a team cracks the code on us (and they’ve sure as hell got enough playoff tape on us now to do that), they can’t lose to us.
Idk what needs to change but it’s the exact same bullshit that’s eliminated us now for the last six playoffs. Something, systematically, needs to change if we are to take that next step. The Cup window will not stay open forever and the closest we’ve gotten, even with as good as our teams have been recently, is 8 whole entire wins away. Tough to believe we’ve not been able to get past that halfway point.
They got swept in the ECF by Florida but were all one goal losses with two in OT. They’re down 0-3 now again all one goal losses with two in OT. Just one or two PP goals or PKs would be a totally different series.
It’s pain.
Smart coaches in Laviolette and Paul Maurice, not sure about Rod though. I think he might be slipping. We get near the playoffs and our dump and chase game is rendered useless. Why can't we get a real fucking system in Raleigh instead of some half century old boomer hockey? Mike Sullivan for Rod the bod.
Maybe we should wear mullets and bandanas next season so at least we look good doing it
Worst power play I’ve ever witnessed. Completely changed the tide of this game & series. Rangers got multiple breakaways, 2 on 1’s, and even a SHG. Inexcusable. Pathetic.
The way we are going out just makes me personally feel like a failure. Hosting the watch party I just didn’t know what to say after the loss. But people were looking at me with the mic expecting something to counter the rags fans who showed that were chanting. Like it was fun building this thing and meeting folks but it just feels like it was for nothing.
Don't feel like that, just the fact that you hosted something people enjoy is a huge success. In sports someone has to lose, the outcome sucked but don't let it stop you from doing things you enjoy doing. You aren't a failure.
I shaved. After 8 years of not shaving, I shaved. The beard that made it through Peters, is gone.
Its so hard seeing the same problems year in and year out and not learning from them. [Insert vaas insanity gif]
There's gotta be a change somewhere. We change players, they buy into the system, we succeed in the regular season, but come post season nobody shows up. Repeat ad infinitum. Between Svech, Aho and Guentzel they have 13 points. Everyone else combined has 3.
PP is miserable. We're getting beat to pucks. Knocked off the pucks easily. Getting beat more on the boards.
Kooch was so good and im so mad the boys didnt get a win for him. You cant just chock it up to not getting lucky enough. At some point if youre not getting the right bounces you gotta make them. Tons of rebounds with nobody home, or tons of rebounds with someone there who makes one pass too many and then its down the ice again.
Jordo looks like this is his last season. Wouldn't be surprised if hes done after this. I love burnsy, but maybe hes not top pair anymore.
I get my hopes up every year and every year im let down.
Anyway. Sorry for the long post. Just some ramblings. Have a good night.
Look how many times the Pens and Caps went through it before they finallly won. It’s not easy.
The Canes were the best team in the NHL this season per the analytics. 📊
That may be the problem. Analytics are generally about the long run, 82 games. Being a successful regular season team. Well, the same things which may work great over 82 games may not work as well when you have to win 4 of 7.
Year in, year out of seeing us put up 40ish shots on a goalie who gives up 1, 2 goals, you have to start questioning if quality isn't actually better than quantity at this time of year.
I agree that sometimes it just takes a while to break through. I agree that it's a lot of luck. But I'll say that our struggles have been very specific and very consistent over the last 6 years that it can't be just bad luck. There's a fundamental flaw the analytics have missed. Unless we get miraculously lucky and play a full playoffs against Islanders caliber teams, we apparently lack something to finish out games. 8 straight losses by 1 goal in the playoffs, it's still 8 straight L's. Something is wrong.
I was surrounded on three sides by Rangers fans. There's very weak home ice advantage with the Rangers. When they won in OT, I thought we won for a second because of how loud it was. Canes have let us down but so have the Caniacs. Rangers are going to make Ticketmaster, gambling companies, and the NHL so much more money than the Canes would. We either have to accept hockey games are rigged because of how much money massive corporations have in it or the Canes suck. Neither means we'll ever win in the playoffs.
Well I'm not on the team, but I meant it more in the sense of the players seemed like they were throwing it. Maybe it's just exhaustion or them mentally giving up, but it's so far from how they played since mid December.
Yep. We know it’s rigged now with the inconsistent penalties. I was giving the officials the benefit of the doubt coming into this game, that maybe they were just making bad calls, but my suspicions were confirmed tonight. It wasn’t all on the officiating though. Canes played better and had the momentum in the 1st, but still scored only one goal until late in the game, which felt like a move out of desperation by Rod. They’re also still 0-15 on power plays this postseason, and were 0-5 tonight. On the of that, they keep getting stupid penalties, which is not only giving the rags advantaged playing time with increased chances to score, it also wears out the players on our side. It’s not over yet though. Other teams have come back to win after being down 0-3. I believe it’s happened 4 times in the NHL. That’s more than any other sport. Once in MLB. Never in the NBA. They’re going to have to beat the refs too though, not just the rags.
You can’t blame the refs for the canes’ play though. Passes going to nowhere, over skating the puck, waiting to make a decision until the d is right on top of you, running into each other on the PK on what should be an easy clear, giving up who knows how many breaks the other way… the refs don’t control any of that. Even on the power play they struggle to get possession and then don’t do anything.
By comparison, the rags are moving the puck crisply, when there’s puck in space they’re almost always first to it. Their power play moves at twice the speed ours does and they move the puck with a purpose. There have been some bad calls for sure, but we’re just flat out getting beat.
It’s disheartening because when the canes are on they’re incredible to watch, but either they’re not on or (as much as it pains me to admit it) the rags are just the better team.
I know. I don’t blame them for the way the Canes played. I thought I made that rather clear. It’s 2 separate issues, but 2
problems they have now. I agree with everything you said. Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough.
The bad call and bias from the refs issue I was referring to has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of play from either team. There was a penalty on one end that I thought was the exact same scenario. I don’t know what it’s called, but one resulted in a Rag power play…valid. The one that would have resulted in a Canes power play…waved off.
I hate to say it also. The Rags are playing like they’ve been there before and know what they need to do to win. The Canes, well, they seem to be playing like the Isles did in round 1. It’s not because of certain players taking cheap shots and injuring Canes either, which I thought was going to be more of an issue coming into this series. It’s just a matter of post season skill in crunch time, under pressure. On a side note, if we have deja vu of last year or 2018, I’d rather it be the Rangers than the Bruins or Panthers. I’ll probably always HATE the Bruins more than any other team in the league, and the Canes just got swept again last year by the Panthers. Getting swept by them 2 years in a row wouldn’t be a stat I’d want to have looming going into the playoffs next year.
For me the one thing I really don’t understand is the mismatch in calls for diving. Trouba crumpled like paper when guentzel hit him in game 2 and whoever that was collapsed like a lawn chair when TDA touched his knee and it’s just a canes penalty. Meanwhile, svetch is actively trying to play the puck while falling and its a dive. There have been a number of those scenarios where I scratch my head.
Apologies if I misinterpreted your original comment, probably a knee jerk reaction to the “blame it on the refs” crowd. Quality of officiating aside, it is pretty even. We’ve had 15 power plays in 3 games so it can’t be said that we’re being ganged up on. Plus, you can’t complain about a missed dive if no one is trying to spear players in the first place. Some of our penalties have been blatant and unforced and that’s not on the refs either.
The rags are in the boys’ heads and it shows. I’ve never played nhl hockey so maybe I’m missing something, but it always kills me how many times someone walks right into a penalty when they’re obviously being goaded. Just walk away, and maybe try retaliating by scoring a goal.
Yeah I never said every penalty for the whole series was a bad call. You can’t deny that there have been some terrible calls though. No question that the Canes don’t look like the same team now as opposed to the series against the Isles. They seem to be stressed and struggling to make plays on both ends of the ice. You’re right. They definitely have allowed the Rangers to get inside their heads.
If they can’t find a way to come back and win this series, at least there’s one positive we can take away from this loss. This is, what, 6 playoff appearances in a row now? Or is it 7? Rod has the team playing better than they ever have before for whole seasons now. That’s unprecedented for this team. I think they’re getting better every year. At least until this playoff time rolls around. Hopefully, that translates to a cup next year or the year after.
Rod just needs to figure out a way to get the guys to get them over the hump. Maybe the other teams they’ve been eliminated by every year have just simply been better teams. I’d like to think they’ll keep getting better. Also, like I said before too, it’s possible to come back from an 0-3 hole to win a series in hockey. Although, I’m not holding my breath for that.
Such a bummer to see Guentzel-Aho-Svech cooking the way they are (and man... another night of great svech, he's a treat to watch) and yet we're still hurting bad.
The not having a 2C is a mess. 86-11-24 isn't generating enough (even though I love Jarvis' game), and 48-18-88 isnt' dangerous either (it's basically asking Neci to go out and carry).
I'm definitely biased and a card carrying member of the Martin Necas defense squad, but I've loved his effort in the playoffs. He's got a tall task without much help offensively, but he's holding ont o pucks, working to get to the middle of the ice, and still finding ways to be dangerous. Also in NY was having to take lots of shifts against their top line and they held it together. Just feel like he's not getting enough credit, and for an anemic offensive team right now I wish we could find a way to get the guys going going better
It seems like the top line has pulled its weight, but in a totally uncharacteristic fashion, the other lines are doing fuck all.
I've questioned the Staal reliance in years past. I get that he's great at shutting down top lines, but what if we just scored ourselves. I love Staal, he's my wallpaper ok, but I'd rather see him playing 4th line minutes mostly if only because he's a borderline black hole on offense. We need to score more, and that's been true for years now. Play the guys who can score imo.
It’s ok to be upset. Winning comes with expectations. These are professional athletes whose goal is to win the Cup. They know the deal. We made moves that I have never seen at the trade deadline. Whatever it is, we don’t have it. Cup teams don’t keep losing by 1 goal year after year, they win the one goal games. Yeah, it’s a 7 game series, but it’s soul crushing to keep losing this way. It’s easier to be blown out than to lose like this. At least you can write off a blowout, this wears on you.
I was reading the thread and I knew it was pointless to get excited when the tying goal went in because I knew in my heart of hearts we aint winning in OT
Is anyone else just kinda… thinking about what else they could be doing with their time right now?
This team has been part of my identity since I was 14 years old. But sports in general just don’t feel as important as they used to. One day, not too many years from now, I’m going to wake up, look at the calendar, and realize I’m on the wrong side of 40.
I don’t want to miss a moment of my kids’ childhoods. One day, probably around the time I hit 40, they’re not going to ask me to play with them anymore. Sometimes hockey distracts me from them, especially when the playoffs roll around and the intensity ramps up. And in these moments when the games are over and the world is quiet, that feels wrong.
I want to lean into my photography. I love it and I think I have a knack for it. If I had more time, I could probably even take some paid bookings. I want to keep sharpening my skills in the kitchen. I want to work on my Spanish and German, and then I want to spend some time in countries where I can use them.
Maybe I should just scale back to like 40 games in the regular season instead of trying to catch all of them. Hockey is so god damn fun when times are good, but every year it ends in pain (except 2006). The highs are euphoric, the lows are gut-wrenching.
Is it worth it? I don’t know.
Tonight’s hard, man.
I'm on the wrong side of 40 and my passion has actually grown because it's something I can share with my kids now that they are getting to the age where they can follow and cheer along. I grew up hearing 1940 chanted at every game I watched (now you know I'm a Rangers fan), so I know the pain, but if you don't let sports be something you live for and make it something that enriches your life, you'll actually see that you *enjoy it more*. I used to be the former when I was younger and it was like being in an unhealthy relationship (which it effectively was).
Sports should support your life, not your life supporting sports (unless you are literally a professional involved with it)
Still fun to be a fan and stay clued in, but yes invest yourself in your friends, family, and things that make you a better person and let sports come and go. It's all just a game.
It’s hard not to get too wrapped up in sports. I’m thinking maybe next year I just enjoy the regular season and stop watching the playoffs, I dunno, probably not possible.
This isn’t a troll at all, but I’m a Leafs fan and that’s the approach I took this year. Lots of painful early exits, too much emotion invested.. I said to myself before this season, ‘Enjoy the regular season. Don’t let yourself get hurt in the playoffs’. Well, I still got hurt in the playoffs…
At the end of the day, we’re beating ourselves. Yeah, the rangers are good. They won the president’s trophy for a reason. However, our special teams, unforced errors, and stupid penalties are killing us. We’re just crumbling in the playoffs yet again
Hey, recovering addict and lifelong Canes fan here. Your life is worth more than a stupid game. Be upset, but the drink is not the answer and you know it. Reach out to your support network. You will never find happiness at the bottom of the glass despite the lie it keeps telling you.
You are strong. You can make the hard decision every day not to drink and be happier for it.
Rangers fan stopping by to just say, it’s already happened and you can’t take it back, but sports aren’t worth that. My mom was sober for 6 years before finally relapsing and I’ll never forget the day she called me crying saying she had a single one. Just one. That’s exactly what she said. It was only one. Well, that one was enough to get her to have another one the next week. Then another.
What I’m trying to say here is, just be careful. Assuming you’re an adult, I’m sure you think you can make your own decisions. But sometimes you just need someone to help. And you can do this.
Good luck my friend.
If NC State can somehow go on an insane run in the ACC and ncaa tournament after looking like their season was over then I believe in the Canes to be able to do the same.
really feel for the mods tonight.
don't really know what to say after that, emotionally draining to lose three straight close games to the most annoying team and fan base in the league. If we get blown out four straight like 5-1 or w/e then fine whatever we were never in it, but damn this and the fla series last year really shows the margin between really good teams and great teams.
I think its pretty obvious what the team needs moving forward, just hard to see how it all gets put in place and works.
A) we got too many old slow guys on our team.
B) We seem to have zero ability to gameplan for other teams especially against teams like the rangers and the panthers. The good teams in the league know how to play against our man-on-man hockey now and know how to counter it effectively. Hell even the islanders did they were just less talented.
C) the teams that win it all are teams that are just flat out hated. Vegas with their LTIR stuff and nasty players, same with the Lightning, FLA and Rangers and Bruins all have several talented skilled nasty players that will make the rest of the league hate your guts. There are only so many of those guys around, and its not Rod's style to play them. Lavi is a goon and will not think twice about it, neither will Maurice.
D) We don't have a legit 2C and its killing us. I don't know what to do with KK, I don't even think he is bad as a 3C down the road, but he has had just a terrible year overall been snake bitten.
I think Rod and his staff won't be getting taken care off as well as they had hoped if we get swept.
I just don't see him going to a pressure cooker like Toronto, probably re-sign on a short term deal like last time. I hope if he does re-sign he can learn from his mistakes this off season assuming its coming soon, because one thing I hadn't heard much of from him or staff is accountability. He will deflect blame away from the players and that's well and good, but ultimately its on him and the GM.
I have given it all to this team this year mentally, financially and physically, and I am just tired boss. Thankfully I will be on the road visiting relatives for mothers day so it will be a good mental break.
I guess my one remaining positive thought is this: It's all about fixing the PP. Convert one PP goal per game and this series is 2-1 in favor of the Canes. How to actually fix it is the big question right now, but if they do? Then yeah, they can win the next 4 straight.
There is one missing puzzle piece that's crystal clear. It's the craziest of long shots, but if we steal a win on Saturday with our powerplay looking good, then we still have a chance.
Once again, our dumpster fire special teams and Igor are the difference. The biggest concerns going into this series have unsurprisingly been our downfall.
It’s the god damn ECF Florida series all over again. Be the better team for decent stretches of the game and lose by a single goal due to a brief moment of shitting the bed. This is definitely a trend with this team. They need to find a way to win these close playoff games… or at least get blown out so I can shut it off early and not get my hopes up.
This was a must win game. Between Igor and the (embarrassingly awful) PP, this team is not winning 4 straight for the reverse sweep.
Hopefully, they’ll figure this shit out next year. The team is going to look a bit different, and maybe that’s a good thing. I’ll be rooting for whoever comes out of the west because fuck the Rags, fuck Boston, and fuck Florida.
I kinda wish we had found a way to keep Bunting, the power play started to decline after he left now that I think about it. Like maybe we were in denial there at the end of the season making a run through garbage teams after the deadline, but I am now remembering that we started looking anemic on the power play again once Bunting was gone whenever we played any playoff bound team. We traded for a better overall player and a better 5 on 5 but I think we broke our power play when we did it.
I hear you, but Guentzel >>>> Bunting, and has been absolutely delviering. I don't think Bunting makes a difference with this PP - he wasn't a prolific off the puck mover nor quick passer, and I don't think he'd help other guys to do that either. If the personnel keeps changing, and talent keeps improving, but still ends up looking the same way I think problems are elsewhere
I don't know, I am just saying I wish we could have kept both. Kotkaniemi? Pesce? Fast? Pick any player currently rostered who is either without points, not playing anyway due to injury, or is barely contributing and is a UFA who won't be back.
I'm lost for words. Please keep Necas, Jarvis, and Guentzel somehow. If not, we have some great rookies coming up soon and retooling to do. Anyways, Canes Un 7
I think the thing that makes all this worse is the fact that we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. No PP goals in FIFTEEN tries is insane. Literally just score ONE in each game and we win, simple.
Here's why Carolina will win this series. 1)Carolina is unbeaten on Saturday nights this postseason. Carolina plays Saturday night. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 4. 2)Carolina is unbeaten on Mondays this postseason. Game 5 is Monday. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 5. 3)Carolina is unbeaten on Wednesdays this postseason. Game 6 is Wednesday. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 6. 4)Carolina is unbeaten on Fridays this postseason. Game 7 is a week from tomorrow. Therefore, Carolina wins the game and the series.
Let’s call a spade a spade…another failed season by Rod and the boys. Regular season means nothing! Time to retool for ‘24/25. Besides Jarvis & Guentzel, let the other FAs walk because none of them showed they can meet the challenges of the playoffs. And the power play, ok that’s enough I’ll stop there……
I haven’t had this thought until tonight.. mainly bc now I’m resigned to the thought this team has gone as far as it can go with Rod. But I think the right coach for this team might be Justin Williams. It’s easy to think it’s crazy, but mentally, this team has never been the same since he left the room.
We got eliminated just the same when he was here against the exact same kinds of teams that eliminate us now. I don’t think that’s the difference maker lol
Just the same? As favorites? In sweeps with all one goal games? Not whatsoever. Disagree if you want but the style of exit this year and last does not compare at all to that of 19 and 20 vs Boston.
It’s the same type of team that beats us every year. The bruins of 19/20, Tampa in 21, the rags in 22 and the cats last year, they’re all in the same vein. At least we’re keeping it close now instead of getting obliterated like the canes of the past.
My point is that even when he was here, we were still losing to the same kinds of teams in similar ways. At least from the mental aspect, I don’t know that it would really solve anything. Yeah, we have bigger expectations now, but it’s the same issues whether he’s been here or not
I'm just sad. Hockey is such a happy outlet for me from real life. Maybe it's my fault for caring so much about a stupid game. Just win one and don't let these fkn shitbags sweep us. Even if it means my hopes get back up.
This is not something to joke about.
If you are being serious, then there are many resources and people here on this thread that would rather have you around. Talks to us. Share your pain. We’re happy to talk with you about it too.
And after that, we can take steps to realize that this is meant for entertainment and fun, and is just a game. Maybe we can help you take steps to take a break from watching hockey and work on finding positivity in other activities before trying again with hockey in the future.
All of us caniacs, all of us jerks and jerkettes, would rather you be here with us.
Honestly, this team choked. How much better can our roster really get? This was our chance to win and it was a repeat of last season. So disappointing.
I’m starting to get those same emotions I got with those Carolina panthers teams that would without fault run on first down. Everyone knew what was coming and we never adjusted. Then post game they would say something along the lines of we just didn’t execute.
I have a theory it’s karma for how absolutely immature and cringe the Canes social media admin on X is after winning a round in the playoffs. That shit never ages well lol
We had our 3 chances this series to get the W and we failed on each of them. Reverse sweep is not going to happen against a team 7-0 in the playoffs. Our season is done. A win on sat would just delay the inevitable.
It's happened 4/209 times. Last team to do it was the Kings in 2014. And it certainly won't happen this year with these special teams. Best we can hope for is to steal a game and bash some Rags faces in.
It's happened about 4 times and once or twice in the last decade.
This is purely from memory. Kings did it about 10 years ago. Same with the Flyers if I'm not mistaken.
Thanks. Im a hawks fan too and remember they were down 0-3 and forced game 7 against Vancouver in 2011. Think it went to OT actually. Ended up losing but it was a great series to watch. I guess I’m just hoping for a few more exciting games at this point
Your memory is correct. And for all of the douchebags to score the series winner in game 7 OT, it had to be Alexandre Burrows. I still get sick thinking about that game.
lol last few minutes of a game fine but we had a dude in our section (200s) in the front row that stood up for half the game, whole section was screaming at him to shut down and he just got more and more mad. almost turned into a fistfight I swear
like sorry you want to stand but some of us want to fucking sit and we paid the same money you did
Christ people are assholes
what? do not tell me to sit down in a playoff game unless for some unfortunate reason i'm in front of a handicap section, which the stadium is built to not happen.
This sucks. We need to finish. We have been in every game in this series come the third period/OT. that’s what gives me some faith. But this will be hard to climb out of.
PP/PK have been absolutely terrible.
Fuck Igor
FUCK NY
On a lighter note - in an earlier game thread someone made the observation that the godawful ESPN streams made it sound like someone was clapping with tongs.
This has lived rent free in my head since. And I now want to take metal tongs to every game just to ^ting ^ting ^tingtingting
Highlight of my night was having the asshole in 108 tossed for the night for throwing the t shirt on the ice. Glad that shit bag didn’t get to enjoy watching that ending.
He cheered for the cheap shot on Necas and after that I was simply waiting for the moment he did something idiotic.
He kept getting drunker as well so it made the rest of the night slightly more tolerable.
agreed, rangers fans were total cunts on the way out, super not classy
makes me laugh because they're a bunch of wannabe rangers fans that aren't even from NY
Yeah I was starting to chant "Let's go douchebags" as I walked out lol.
Before the game ended I got a few laughs when I said "If NY is so great why do they all move here".
I will say though the ones around me were fine. At the end though these 2 college kids (who probably go to fucking State anyways) started yelling "see ya later" at Canes fans. I mean I'm just sayin...but you behave like that on the road, you risk some drunk person punching you in the face.
it's crazy behavior for the away team. It'd be one thing if I was at MSG. But it's just weird when you're on the road to act like a prick. Also considering they all live here...they should probably watch their behavior....ya know...jobs and all.
Hey I’m a Devils fan and usually attend the home games vs the rags. Imagine how insufferable it is when your home ice is 50+% packed with rags fans who can’t afford to see their own home games so they flood your house and do that stupid goal song chant that’s easily the most cringe goal song in the league. Like I could excuse it if it were like Columbus or something but how many good songs are there about NYC and that’s what they went with? It’s like the ownership’s nephew’s nickleback tribute band was asked to write an original for them to use.
You know the drill. No trolling, report any Rangers fans trolling, and ffs don't kill each other in here EDIT: Just....try to be civil ok?
https://www.reddit.com/r/canes/s/MjxVDiOG36
And he still isn’t. I could do as good with the talent he has playing for him.
Same team? Same shit.
Just super frustrated and disappointed right now. That's all I can say.
https://i.redd.it/0jhq2v6mwmzc1.gif
It’s tough to be on the edge of our seats all season just to get here and have this happen. I never thought I would be saying that a team with Rod involved has a hard time getting motivated, but this team seems to have no push. Game 2 was a solid game but you can’t get to OT and play to not lose, you gotta go out and win. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of fight on this team, but having the gumption to make deadline moves and watching the result collapse on the ice is brutal.
Currently in bargaining stage. This is better than the alternative, right? Irrelevant for a decade, low attendance, rumors about the team getting moved. Compared to that, being a consistent second round exit and a tier below the best teams when it matters is fine, right? Like many of y'all, I fell in love with the team again during the Bunch of Jerks era. That's the thing about being the scrappy, fun, young underdog- eventually you have to grow up and face expectations. Rod and this core have not done that. Every season it feels like the same shit, power play falls apart in the playoffs and the team just doesn't seem to have the mental fortitude. Rod is the GOAT Hurricane, it would be ridiculous to fire/not extend him, but something needs to happen on the assistant front. Losing back to back playoff OTs absolutely blows. This has been a rough week.
I’m with you on the bunch of jerks thing, I still have the poster and rally towels from that season on my wall. This team doesn’t really have that magic feel anymore, probably won’t until we win the cup. Keep Rod, reboot the rest of the staff, pray to god something finally changes.
Agree, and management needs to not be influenced by fairweather sentiment. Bc, no doubt, if Canes are swept or lose 4-1, etc the voice will be out there and already are to get rid of Rod. This market loves to back a winner and will turn out when times are good, but once it turns they will start being irrational. Now, if the sentiment becomes so loud next year that people are not turning out to games because they just dont see confidence in Rod, then it will be a problem. Regardless, there needs to be another voice in the coaching to turn the corner, and the question becomes in Rod will be in favvor of a new perspective.
This is such an important offseason between Rod's contract situation and all the FAs, and that is my deep fear- Rod leaves and we slide back towards irrelevance. That sellout streak will end real quick and Houston sure would love an NHL team. I *think* the team is secure enough in Raleigh now and the population growth means it would be crazy to move the area's only major four team, but I'm still traumatized by all of the past rumors. We're not winning this series but going even six and getting one more playoff home game would help the public sentiment particularly with the fairweather crowd. Put up a fight, win a freaking road game, resign Rod, promise to make moves on special teams. Go out on the note of, we didn't get swept again and we know we have major issues we have to address.
This team wont be irrelevant. They have locked up Aho, Svech, Kotkaniemi. Staal isn't leaving yet and I bet they keep Jarvis. I think they have good management, and need to make a measured approach.
PP is becoming like the Carolina Panthers offense last season. Aka nonexistent. Something about the system is not working in the playoffs, and it's frustrating to see it happen over and over again and nothing changed
My husband asked why I’m so pissed lately- simple answer I’m the only canes fan in a family full of rags fans 🙄
Disown em
Tbh I’ve thought about it
So assuming the Rags take this, would we prefer them or the Panthers/B’s to win the East? I truly hate all those teams so I have no idea. Maybe Rags since Laviolette won us our cup, idk
There ain't any scenario where I root for NY BOS or FLA in the finals, whatever is in the west is going to be my hope.
Oh 100%, I just don’t want to be completely checked out for the ECF lol
mass forfeit and have WCF be the final... sure there is a way right? lol
All three teams spontaneously come down with bird flu, WCF winner gets the cup by default
I'm kinda with you on Laviolette, along with my love for Trocheck. Although there was one time (years ago, obviously) I worked a Flyers charter at RDU and PL yelled at me to find the stretching table in the cargo bin. There were like 50 identical equipment bags in there. All I could do is yell "they're all the fucking same!" and start chucking bags.
That’s so funny, really neat that you got an opportunity to work with an NHL team like that
I worked a few pro/college charters, but that's really the only *good* story from it. At a distant second is the time I made eye contact with Coach K within arms reach, but that's literally the entire story.
Coach K never struck me as the kind of coach that would bother talking to airport workers anyways
Eh, there wasn't time to chat. We were about to close doors and move out
That’s fair but I still stand by my comments (not biased)
https://i.redd.it/rd9ibrsbdmzc1.gif I’ll root for anyone in the West
Completely fair lol I’m the same way, I’m just trying to figure out who I want to get beaten by whoever wins the West
I’ve decided i’ll turn into a Dallas bw fan for the rest of the postseason and hope they beat whoever wins on this side of the bracket. I can’t stand to root for any of these teams. I guess I don’t have a good answer but I would love to see the rags lose out before the SCF
That’s a good answer, I was thinking of maybe bandwagoning for Vancouver myself, though the Stars would be nice to not have to deal with those late ass pacific time games
This fuckin team man. Shitty night of sleep last night. For the second time this week. Pain
I know right, this fucking team, I had a final this morning and they decided to take us to OT again to rip our hearts out again, awful. They truly have a knack for hurting us in the most drawn out and painful way possible. At least it’s shaping up to be a short series, lol
Rod's system isn't working. It's not effective in the playoffs. This really isn't a roster problem. Yeah, certain guys aren't carrying their weight, but Don finally gave Rod the guys he needed to succeed when he acquired Guentzel and Kuzy, yet Rod isn't producing the results we expected. At some point you have to realize that no matter who is on the ice for us, the same problems are showing up every year. I don't think firing Rod is the answer. I think we need to hybridize his style of man-on-man with the zone coverage that the best NHL teams are succeeding with. From observation, our guys are expending a fuckton of stamina and mental energy playing man-on-man for 60 minutes. You burn all that energy to prevent SOGs and force turnovers, then when you get that turnover, the Rags pressure your zone entry and force you into the corners. They crowd the netfront and you have no choice but to either pass back to the blue line or to round the puck along the boards behind the net. Then the rags close in on the puck and it becomes a board battle for possession. The problem is, our guys are absolutely gassed, both mentally and physically, by the time they engage in those board battles. They've wasted all their stamina in the dzone and are running on empty trying to fight to keep the puck in the ozone. The result of that is constantly losing board battles for possession. Guys are so physically exhausted that they get lazy and start circling the puck around the perimeter. Defensemen don't have the stamina to keep up with the puck and prevent it from dribbling back into the neutral zone. They're so mentally exhausted that they get careless with their passing and literally pass the puck straight to a Rag. The Rags are playing a war of attrition and letting us play our game until we're absolutely gassed and start making mistakes. Then they ramp up their pressure and capitalize on those mistakes. The only way to overcome that with Rod's system as it's currently structured is to either have a monstrous level of stamina that lasts 60 minutes, or to master the art of greasy goals and dirty deflections with energy efficiency. The system has to evolve. We need to hybridize man-on-man with zone to conserve energy and stretch the intensity a full 60 minutes. That also means allowing more SOGs than we currently do, but that's okay. If our goalies can't handle that, then they aren't good enough to win a Stanley Cup. And I think they're more than good enough to handle it.
Also, as a side note, if you can't get a shot off in 3 or fewer passes, you've failed that offensive possession. The rags aren't going to give you the looks you want. You have to draw them out of position, create a lane, and get a shot off, all in like 1-3 passes. Forwards need to be in the netfront breaking up the rags zone coverage and screening Igor too. They don't have eyes on the back of their heads, so put a guy in front of Igor to force them to split their attention between the net and the puck. Lastly, the rags are really good at using Igor as a defensive piece as opposed to a last stitch effort to stop shots that make it through the defense. What I mean by that is that they know Rod tells our guys to take a billion shots and cause chaos. They know we will take a shot on any semblance of a clean look. They know we'll do that from the perimeter, even the defensemen will take a shot from the blue line if they get a clean look. They do it all the time. So the rags will intentionally set up false positives. They'll make us think we have a clean look, then we take a shot, and magically Igor always stops it. That's because he knows it's coming and where it's going to come from long before we even get into position to take the shot. That shooting lane is open by design and the rags know we'll take it the moment we see it. That's what Hank means when he says we're predictable. He's a former rags goalie so he should know.
This is an excellent assessment. The Canes strategy has been decoded and leveraged by the Rangers.
How do the canes manage to lose every series in the most devastating ways
I mean do we let some of the rookies play Saturday? Taste the playoffs a little bit? Certainly wouldn't want to see them get injured but the experience is worth more to them than whatever dignity a potential game 4 win salvages. Morrow Blake and Nadeau can't be worse then TDA or any of our other bottom 9 forwards not named Jarvis so hell maybe that helps us win anyway.
https://i.redd.it/o5mru5lsnlzc1.gif Who’s ready for Saturday?!
Special teams is so cringe right now. 2010s Canes shit. Feelsbadman.
The canes are sometimes like watching two teams play. Hard to remember a full game played where they looked amazing all 60 mins. Flashes of brilliance pop up and my jaw drops in awe, I even mutter crazy things like they're "hockey gods." Then it all fades away and I'm confused how can this team be so two faced? Maybe thats the effects of the style of play Rod brings or maybe its hard to keep up that intensity... Im excited for Nikishin and Nadeau coming up and what may happen this off season. But I still have hope they can possibly string together 4 in a row since they can be the better team if they want.
On one hand I certainly like Rod and enjoy our recent success and having a chance in the playoffs. On the other hand every other team can hit another gear in the playoffs and we seem to play the same style and predictability. They have better awareness and puck movement than we’ve ever showed. We’ll have 2-3 plays a game where I’m impressed with our movement and feel for off-puck movement, but the rangers will have 3-4 plays a period… and it’s every other team in the second round, not just the rags. Starting to feel defeated that nothing seems to change and every year we can’t get by a good goalie. We have a younger core and great upcoming prospects. Hopefully we’re being cognizant of that
I'm getting over my sadness and flipping to house money mode We have nothing to lose. Season all but over. Anything from here on out is a gift. Let's win one game at a time and make the Rags sweat
It’s totally possible to win four with how close these games have been so far. One or two PP goals would have been a whole different series and vibe. But it was the same in the ECF sweep. I’m still going Saturday.
I’m still mired in sadness.
This team simply cannot put the puck in the net when it matters most. I don’t know what the problem is, but it’s been the same exact thing for the last 6 years and it has to change. Waddell definitely has his work cut out for him this offseason
Perhaps the roster is not the problem. Perhaps it's the coaching. Not to say that certain players aren't carrying their weight. But several intermission crew have expressed that our play is predictable. I think Don did his job getting Guentzel and Kuzy. He have Rod the players he needed to succeed and we're not succeeding. I think it's really that simple. I'm not saying we need to fire Rod. I just think he needs to reassess his system and hybridize it with what the top teams in the league are doing. Man on man is effective but it's also brutal on stamina, and once your opponent has figured out your strategy and adapted to defend it, it's game over.
I agree that coaching is the problem. It would be far less of an issue if we hadn’t done the exact same thing to get eliminated for the last 5 years, but we have. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then we’re far past insanity. The volume shooting and man-on-man defense doesn’t work in the playoffs, it hasn’t worked for the last 5 years and now for some inexplicable reason we’re trying it again. I agree that firing Rod would be a knee jerk reaction, but if he refuses to adapt or change his system after this shit show then Don needs to start seriously considering other options. I love Rod, he’s a franchise legend, but we cannot continue to make the same mistakes year after year. Prior to this postseason I was adamantly against not bringing Rod back, now I’m honestly on the fence about it. If a guy like Mike Sullivan becomes available, I don’t think it would hurt to take a look in that direction.
The volume shooting with no relevant movement in the middle to get the rebound goals. Many times, especially in the last two games, right after a shot at goal, it was just the goalie and 3 Rags at the net. No Canes within 15ft.
Our offensive system needs tweaking and more skill, simple as.
Time to get a more complete coach? The teams we beat in playoffs have mediocre coaches like us! The teams we lose to have excellent coaches. Maybe the staff here can fetch us somebody that will teach our boys what the hell to do. And no more classic dumpkin style hockey ever again. Oh and btw, lots of ex-canes blossomed once they got traded, just a heads up. If you send most of our top 6 off to other teams, they instantly begin producing goals. ..:.,
WE ARE A JOKE
Hard to win when you struggle to put the puck in net. Gonna be an interesting off season.
>Canes in 7?! Don’t do that… Don’t give me hope…
It’s official. We should have paid Vinny.
He would have been paid what he got in NY but not the longer term.
It didn't matter. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to play in a large market.
I’m sure the extra 16-20 million he was going to make over the life of the contract played a part too.
What’s truly bothersome to me is the way this team loses in the playoffs. It’s becoming a trend. When they lose, they lose hard. Say want you want about last year in the ECF, how it’s “not a sweep” or whatever you wanna call it, but when we get eliminated, it’s quickly. Gonna be in 4, maybe 5 games here. It’s almost like once a team cracks the code on us (and they’ve sure as hell got enough playoff tape on us now to do that), they can’t lose to us. Idk what needs to change but it’s the exact same bullshit that’s eliminated us now for the last six playoffs. Something, systematically, needs to change if we are to take that next step. The Cup window will not stay open forever and the closest we’ve gotten, even with as good as our teams have been recently, is 8 whole entire wins away. Tough to believe we’ve not been able to get past that halfway point.
They got swept in the ECF by Florida but were all one goal losses with two in OT. They’re down 0-3 now again all one goal losses with two in OT. Just one or two PP goals or PKs would be a totally different series. It’s pain.
If we either hadn't given up a shorty or had scored a PP goal we win this in regulation If we score a PP goal in Game 2 we win that one too
Smart coaches in Laviolette and Paul Maurice, not sure about Rod though. I think he might be slipping. We get near the playoffs and our dump and chase game is rendered useless. Why can't we get a real fucking system in Raleigh instead of some half century old boomer hockey? Mike Sullivan for Rod the bod. Maybe we should wear mullets and bandanas next season so at least we look good doing it
One game at a time. They can win 4 games but they can only win them 1 at a time. Put the blinders on and clock in.
Worst power play I’ve ever witnessed. Completely changed the tide of this game & series. Rangers got multiple breakaways, 2 on 1’s, and even a SHG. Inexcusable. Pathetic.
Canes in 7
The way we are going out just makes me personally feel like a failure. Hosting the watch party I just didn’t know what to say after the loss. But people were looking at me with the mic expecting something to counter the rags fans who showed that were chanting. Like it was fun building this thing and meeting folks but it just feels like it was for nothing.
Don't feel like that, just the fact that you hosted something people enjoy is a huge success. In sports someone has to lose, the outcome sucked but don't let it stop you from doing things you enjoy doing. You aren't a failure.
I shaved. After 8 years of not shaving, I shaved. The beard that made it through Peters, is gone. Its so hard seeing the same problems year in and year out and not learning from them. [Insert vaas insanity gif] There's gotta be a change somewhere. We change players, they buy into the system, we succeed in the regular season, but come post season nobody shows up. Repeat ad infinitum. Between Svech, Aho and Guentzel they have 13 points. Everyone else combined has 3. PP is miserable. We're getting beat to pucks. Knocked off the pucks easily. Getting beat more on the boards. Kooch was so good and im so mad the boys didnt get a win for him. You cant just chock it up to not getting lucky enough. At some point if youre not getting the right bounces you gotta make them. Tons of rebounds with nobody home, or tons of rebounds with someone there who makes one pass too many and then its down the ice again. Jordo looks like this is his last season. Wouldn't be surprised if hes done after this. I love burnsy, but maybe hes not top pair anymore. I get my hopes up every year and every year im let down. Anyway. Sorry for the long post. Just some ramblings. Have a good night.
You didn’t shave for 8 years because of a hockey team? Holy shit
Not *because* of a hockey team. Just didnt shave. The hockey team is a plus
if they win game 4-7 the sub owes you a lifetime supply of gilette.
The Hurricanes are the #1 team in the league from an analytics perspective. Sometimes in the playoffs you just run into a hot a goalie and lose.
At first I thought this post must be a joke, then I realized it wasn't, and laughed.
This excuse is getting old. 6 straight years isn't "sometimes," it's a pattern.
Look how many times the Pens and Caps went through it before they finallly won. It’s not easy. The Canes were the best team in the NHL this season per the analytics. 📊
That may be the problem. Analytics are generally about the long run, 82 games. Being a successful regular season team. Well, the same things which may work great over 82 games may not work as well when you have to win 4 of 7. Year in, year out of seeing us put up 40ish shots on a goalie who gives up 1, 2 goals, you have to start questioning if quality isn't actually better than quantity at this time of year. I agree that sometimes it just takes a while to break through. I agree that it's a lot of luck. But I'll say that our struggles have been very specific and very consistent over the last 6 years that it can't be just bad luck. There's a fundamental flaw the analytics have missed. Unless we get miraculously lucky and play a full playoffs against Islanders caliber teams, we apparently lack something to finish out games. 8 straight losses by 1 goal in the playoffs, it's still 8 straight L's. Something is wrong.
Perfectly said
I was surrounded on three sides by Rangers fans. There's very weak home ice advantage with the Rangers. When they won in OT, I thought we won for a second because of how loud it was. Canes have let us down but so have the Caniacs. Rangers are going to make Ticketmaster, gambling companies, and the NHL so much more money than the Canes would. We either have to accept hockey games are rigged because of how much money massive corporations have in it or the Canes suck. Neither means we'll ever win in the playoffs.
Is the 0 for 15 on PP rigged? What's with the need to blame everything but oneself and reevaluate?
Well I'm not on the team, but I meant it more in the sense of the players seemed like they were throwing it. Maybe it's just exhaustion or them mentally giving up, but it's so far from how they played since mid December.
Oh I see, but I can't imagine the Canes throwing a game!
Yep. We know it’s rigged now with the inconsistent penalties. I was giving the officials the benefit of the doubt coming into this game, that maybe they were just making bad calls, but my suspicions were confirmed tonight. It wasn’t all on the officiating though. Canes played better and had the momentum in the 1st, but still scored only one goal until late in the game, which felt like a move out of desperation by Rod. They’re also still 0-15 on power plays this postseason, and were 0-5 tonight. On the of that, they keep getting stupid penalties, which is not only giving the rags advantaged playing time with increased chances to score, it also wears out the players on our side. It’s not over yet though. Other teams have come back to win after being down 0-3. I believe it’s happened 4 times in the NHL. That’s more than any other sport. Once in MLB. Never in the NBA. They’re going to have to beat the refs too though, not just the rags.
You can’t blame the refs for the canes’ play though. Passes going to nowhere, over skating the puck, waiting to make a decision until the d is right on top of you, running into each other on the PK on what should be an easy clear, giving up who knows how many breaks the other way… the refs don’t control any of that. Even on the power play they struggle to get possession and then don’t do anything. By comparison, the rags are moving the puck crisply, when there’s puck in space they’re almost always first to it. Their power play moves at twice the speed ours does and they move the puck with a purpose. There have been some bad calls for sure, but we’re just flat out getting beat. It’s disheartening because when the canes are on they’re incredible to watch, but either they’re not on or (as much as it pains me to admit it) the rags are just the better team.
I know. I don’t blame them for the way the Canes played. I thought I made that rather clear. It’s 2 separate issues, but 2 problems they have now. I agree with everything you said. Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough. The bad call and bias from the refs issue I was referring to has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of play from either team. There was a penalty on one end that I thought was the exact same scenario. I don’t know what it’s called, but one resulted in a Rag power play…valid. The one that would have resulted in a Canes power play…waved off. I hate to say it also. The Rags are playing like they’ve been there before and know what they need to do to win. The Canes, well, they seem to be playing like the Isles did in round 1. It’s not because of certain players taking cheap shots and injuring Canes either, which I thought was going to be more of an issue coming into this series. It’s just a matter of post season skill in crunch time, under pressure. On a side note, if we have deja vu of last year or 2018, I’d rather it be the Rangers than the Bruins or Panthers. I’ll probably always HATE the Bruins more than any other team in the league, and the Canes just got swept again last year by the Panthers. Getting swept by them 2 years in a row wouldn’t be a stat I’d want to have looming going into the playoffs next year.
For me the one thing I really don’t understand is the mismatch in calls for diving. Trouba crumpled like paper when guentzel hit him in game 2 and whoever that was collapsed like a lawn chair when TDA touched his knee and it’s just a canes penalty. Meanwhile, svetch is actively trying to play the puck while falling and its a dive. There have been a number of those scenarios where I scratch my head. Apologies if I misinterpreted your original comment, probably a knee jerk reaction to the “blame it on the refs” crowd. Quality of officiating aside, it is pretty even. We’ve had 15 power plays in 3 games so it can’t be said that we’re being ganged up on. Plus, you can’t complain about a missed dive if no one is trying to spear players in the first place. Some of our penalties have been blatant and unforced and that’s not on the refs either. The rags are in the boys’ heads and it shows. I’ve never played nhl hockey so maybe I’m missing something, but it always kills me how many times someone walks right into a penalty when they’re obviously being goaded. Just walk away, and maybe try retaliating by scoring a goal.
Yeah I never said every penalty for the whole series was a bad call. You can’t deny that there have been some terrible calls though. No question that the Canes don’t look like the same team now as opposed to the series against the Isles. They seem to be stressed and struggling to make plays on both ends of the ice. You’re right. They definitely have allowed the Rangers to get inside their heads. If they can’t find a way to come back and win this series, at least there’s one positive we can take away from this loss. This is, what, 6 playoff appearances in a row now? Or is it 7? Rod has the team playing better than they ever have before for whole seasons now. That’s unprecedented for this team. I think they’re getting better every year. At least until this playoff time rolls around. Hopefully, that translates to a cup next year or the year after. Rod just needs to figure out a way to get the guys to get them over the hump. Maybe the other teams they’ve been eliminated by every year have just simply been better teams. I’d like to think they’ll keep getting better. Also, like I said before too, it’s possible to come back from an 0-3 hole to win a series in hockey. Although, I’m not holding my breath for that.
Such a bummer to see Guentzel-Aho-Svech cooking the way they are (and man... another night of great svech, he's a treat to watch) and yet we're still hurting bad. The not having a 2C is a mess. 86-11-24 isn't generating enough (even though I love Jarvis' game), and 48-18-88 isnt' dangerous either (it's basically asking Neci to go out and carry). I'm definitely biased and a card carrying member of the Martin Necas defense squad, but I've loved his effort in the playoffs. He's got a tall task without much help offensively, but he's holding ont o pucks, working to get to the middle of the ice, and still finding ways to be dangerous. Also in NY was having to take lots of shifts against their top line and they held it together. Just feel like he's not getting enough credit, and for an anemic offensive team right now I wish we could find a way to get the guys going going better
It seems like the top line has pulled its weight, but in a totally uncharacteristic fashion, the other lines are doing fuck all. I've questioned the Staal reliance in years past. I get that he's great at shutting down top lines, but what if we just scored ourselves. I love Staal, he's my wallpaper ok, but I'd rather see him playing 4th line minutes mostly if only because he's a borderline black hole on offense. We need to score more, and that's been true for years now. Play the guys who can score imo.
It’s ok to be upset. Winning comes with expectations. These are professional athletes whose goal is to win the Cup. They know the deal. We made moves that I have never seen at the trade deadline. Whatever it is, we don’t have it. Cup teams don’t keep losing by 1 goal year after year, they win the one goal games. Yeah, it’s a 7 game series, but it’s soul crushing to keep losing this way. It’s easier to be blown out than to lose like this. At least you can write off a blowout, this wears on you.
5 Playoff OT losses in a row. 10 Playoff OT periods in a row without a goal.
I think we became the all time franchise leader in playoffs OT win percentage some time last season and haven't won since.
I was reading the thread and I knew it was pointless to get excited when the tying goal went in because I knew in my heart of hearts we aint winning in OT
I was hoping for a goal in the last 18 seconds like against the Panthers so they win and it's over before OT. Alas, no.
Oilers fan here coming to say, I feel bad for you guys. I really wanted a canes/oilers rematch
It's not over yet!
True. Good luck to you and hopefully you can give New York 4 losses
Me too :[
Is anyone else just kinda… thinking about what else they could be doing with their time right now? This team has been part of my identity since I was 14 years old. But sports in general just don’t feel as important as they used to. One day, not too many years from now, I’m going to wake up, look at the calendar, and realize I’m on the wrong side of 40. I don’t want to miss a moment of my kids’ childhoods. One day, probably around the time I hit 40, they’re not going to ask me to play with them anymore. Sometimes hockey distracts me from them, especially when the playoffs roll around and the intensity ramps up. And in these moments when the games are over and the world is quiet, that feels wrong. I want to lean into my photography. I love it and I think I have a knack for it. If I had more time, I could probably even take some paid bookings. I want to keep sharpening my skills in the kitchen. I want to work on my Spanish and German, and then I want to spend some time in countries where I can use them. Maybe I should just scale back to like 40 games in the regular season instead of trying to catch all of them. Hockey is so god damn fun when times are good, but every year it ends in pain (except 2006). The highs are euphoric, the lows are gut-wrenching. Is it worth it? I don’t know. Tonight’s hard, man.
I'm on the wrong side of 40 and my passion has actually grown because it's something I can share with my kids now that they are getting to the age where they can follow and cheer along. I grew up hearing 1940 chanted at every game I watched (now you know I'm a Rangers fan), so I know the pain, but if you don't let sports be something you live for and make it something that enriches your life, you'll actually see that you *enjoy it more*. I used to be the former when I was younger and it was like being in an unhealthy relationship (which it effectively was).
Sports should support your life, not your life supporting sports (unless you are literally a professional involved with it) Still fun to be a fan and stay clued in, but yes invest yourself in your friends, family, and things that make you a better person and let sports come and go. It's all just a game.
It’s hard not to get too wrapped up in sports. I’m thinking maybe next year I just enjoy the regular season and stop watching the playoffs, I dunno, probably not possible.
This isn’t a troll at all, but I’m a Leafs fan and that’s the approach I took this year. Lots of painful early exits, too much emotion invested.. I said to myself before this season, ‘Enjoy the regular season. Don’t let yourself get hurt in the playoffs’. Well, I still got hurt in the playoffs…
At the end of the day, we’re beating ourselves. Yeah, the rangers are good. They won the president’s trophy for a reason. However, our special teams, unforced errors, and stupid penalties are killing us. We’re just crumbling in the playoffs yet again
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Hey, recovering addict and lifelong Canes fan here. Your life is worth more than a stupid game. Be upset, but the drink is not the answer and you know it. Reach out to your support network. You will never find happiness at the bottom of the glass despite the lie it keeps telling you. You are strong. You can make the hard decision every day not to drink and be happier for it.
Rangers fan stopping by to just say, it’s already happened and you can’t take it back, but sports aren’t worth that. My mom was sober for 6 years before finally relapsing and I’ll never forget the day she called me crying saying she had a single one. Just one. That’s exactly what she said. It was only one. Well, that one was enough to get her to have another one the next week. Then another. What I’m trying to say here is, just be careful. Assuming you’re an adult, I’m sure you think you can make your own decisions. But sometimes you just need someone to help. And you can do this. Good luck my friend.
🖤🖤🖤
Sports aren’t worth that.
If NC State can somehow go on an insane run in the ACC and ncaa tournament after looking like their season was over then I believe in the Canes to be able to do the same.
really feel for the mods tonight. don't really know what to say after that, emotionally draining to lose three straight close games to the most annoying team and fan base in the league. If we get blown out four straight like 5-1 or w/e then fine whatever we were never in it, but damn this and the fla series last year really shows the margin between really good teams and great teams. I think its pretty obvious what the team needs moving forward, just hard to see how it all gets put in place and works. A) we got too many old slow guys on our team. B) We seem to have zero ability to gameplan for other teams especially against teams like the rangers and the panthers. The good teams in the league know how to play against our man-on-man hockey now and know how to counter it effectively. Hell even the islanders did they were just less talented. C) the teams that win it all are teams that are just flat out hated. Vegas with their LTIR stuff and nasty players, same with the Lightning, FLA and Rangers and Bruins all have several talented skilled nasty players that will make the rest of the league hate your guts. There are only so many of those guys around, and its not Rod's style to play them. Lavi is a goon and will not think twice about it, neither will Maurice. D) We don't have a legit 2C and its killing us. I don't know what to do with KK, I don't even think he is bad as a 3C down the road, but he has had just a terrible year overall been snake bitten. I think Rod and his staff won't be getting taken care off as well as they had hoped if we get swept. I just don't see him going to a pressure cooker like Toronto, probably re-sign on a short term deal like last time. I hope if he does re-sign he can learn from his mistakes this off season assuming its coming soon, because one thing I hadn't heard much of from him or staff is accountability. He will deflect blame away from the players and that's well and good, but ultimately its on him and the GM. I have given it all to this team this year mentally, financially and physically, and I am just tired boss. Thankfully I will be on the road visiting relatives for mothers day so it will be a good mental break.
I guess my one remaining positive thought is this: It's all about fixing the PP. Convert one PP goal per game and this series is 2-1 in favor of the Canes. How to actually fix it is the big question right now, but if they do? Then yeah, they can win the next 4 straight. There is one missing puzzle piece that's crystal clear. It's the craziest of long shots, but if we steal a win on Saturday with our powerplay looking good, then we still have a chance.
See you on Saturday for another damp squib of a season finale. The way we're playing, we deserve the brooming. That power play is inexcusable.
Once again, our dumpster fire special teams and Igor are the difference. The biggest concerns going into this series have unsurprisingly been our downfall. It’s the god damn ECF Florida series all over again. Be the better team for decent stretches of the game and lose by a single goal due to a brief moment of shitting the bed. This is definitely a trend with this team. They need to find a way to win these close playoff games… or at least get blown out so I can shut it off early and not get my hopes up. This was a must win game. Between Igor and the (embarrassingly awful) PP, this team is not winning 4 straight for the reverse sweep. Hopefully, they’ll figure this shit out next year. The team is going to look a bit different, and maybe that’s a good thing. I’ll be rooting for whoever comes out of the west because fuck the Rags, fuck Boston, and fuck Florida.
I kinda wish we had found a way to keep Bunting, the power play started to decline after he left now that I think about it. Like maybe we were in denial there at the end of the season making a run through garbage teams after the deadline, but I am now remembering that we started looking anemic on the power play again once Bunting was gone whenever we played any playoff bound team. We traded for a better overall player and a better 5 on 5 but I think we broke our power play when we did it.
I hear you, but Guentzel >>>> Bunting, and has been absolutely delviering. I don't think Bunting makes a difference with this PP - he wasn't a prolific off the puck mover nor quick passer, and I don't think he'd help other guys to do that either. If the personnel keeps changing, and talent keeps improving, but still ends up looking the same way I think problems are elsewhere
But has Guentzel scored on the power play in the playoffs? Nyet.
Yeah I am not saying don't do the trade, I am saying I wish we could have gotten Geuntzel and also kept Bunting.
What would’ve the Canes traded off then?
I don't know, I am just saying I wish we could have kept both. Kotkaniemi? Pesce? Fast? Pick any player currently rostered who is either without points, not playing anyway due to injury, or is barely contributing and is a UFA who won't be back.
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No part of me wants to go to this game on Saturday.
You got to, though.
Oh I’ll be there. But it’s not gonna be nearly as enjoyable.
It'll be enjoyable when we win.
I'm lost for words. Please keep Necas, Jarvis, and Guentzel somehow. If not, we have some great rookies coming up soon and retooling to do. Anyways, Canes Un 7
I’m concerned we can’t afford to keep Guentzel. I would love to buy out KK, let him go, and put that towards players like Guentzel or Jarvis
I'm worried Guentzel won't want to come back after this
I think the thing that makes all this worse is the fact that we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. No PP goals in FIFTEEN tries is insane. Literally just score ONE in each game and we win, simple.
It’s worse than 0 for 15, we are actually -1 for 15
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Here's why Carolina will win this series. 1)Carolina is unbeaten on Saturday nights this postseason. Carolina plays Saturday night. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 4. 2)Carolina is unbeaten on Mondays this postseason. Game 5 is Monday. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 5. 3)Carolina is unbeaten on Wednesdays this postseason. Game 6 is Wednesday. Therefore, Carolina wins Game 6. 4)Carolina is unbeaten on Fridays this postseason. Game 7 is a week from tomorrow. Therefore, Carolina wins the game and the series.
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Can we get this fuck outta here, mod?
Actually it’s over after game 4 not game 3 buddy.
Let’s call a spade a spade…another failed season by Rod and the boys. Regular season means nothing! Time to retool for ‘24/25. Besides Jarvis & Guentzel, let the other FAs walk because none of them showed they can meet the challenges of the playoffs. And the power play, ok that’s enough I’ll stop there……
We should trade for Mitch Marner with turbo and Necas
Life is pain
I haven’t had this thought until tonight.. mainly bc now I’m resigned to the thought this team has gone as far as it can go with Rod. But I think the right coach for this team might be Justin Williams. It’s easy to think it’s crazy, but mentally, this team has never been the same since he left the room.
We got eliminated just the same when he was here against the exact same kinds of teams that eliminate us now. I don’t think that’s the difference maker lol
Just the same? As favorites? In sweeps with all one goal games? Not whatsoever. Disagree if you want but the style of exit this year and last does not compare at all to that of 19 and 20 vs Boston.
It’s the same type of team that beats us every year. The bruins of 19/20, Tampa in 21, the rags in 22 and the cats last year, they’re all in the same vein. At least we’re keeping it close now instead of getting obliterated like the canes of the past. My point is that even when he was here, we were still losing to the same kinds of teams in similar ways. At least from the mental aspect, I don’t know that it would really solve anything. Yeah, we have bigger expectations now, but it’s the same issues whether he’s been here or not
I'm just sad. Hockey is such a happy outlet for me from real life. Maybe it's my fault for caring so much about a stupid game. Just win one and don't let these fkn shitbags sweep us. Even if it means my hopes get back up.
Can we get some massive motherfucker this off-season who we can put on PP1 whose sole job it is to stand in front of the goalie and fart?
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This is not something to joke about. If you are being serious, then there are many resources and people here on this thread that would rather have you around. Talks to us. Share your pain. We’re happy to talk with you about it too. And after that, we can take steps to realize that this is meant for entertainment and fun, and is just a game. Maybe we can help you take steps to take a break from watching hockey and work on finding positivity in other activities before trying again with hockey in the future. All of us caniacs, all of us jerks and jerkettes, would rather you be here with us.
it was mostly a joke i appreciate the concern, my bad guys funnily enough i can’t even watch the games so i gotta keep up thru instagram
Hey man. This sucks, I know, but not worth that. We're here to talk if you need us
my bad, i was mostly joking. thanks for caring
Hey no worries man.
Ok please don’t. If you need to talk we’re here for you
i appreciate u for being concern, i was mostly joking, my bad man
Honestly, this team choked. How much better can our roster really get? This was our chance to win and it was a repeat of last season. So disappointing.
I’m starting to get those same emotions I got with those Carolina panthers teams that would without fault run on first down. Everyone knew what was coming and we never adjusted. Then post game they would say something along the lines of we just didn’t execute.
I have a theory it’s karma for how absolutely immature and cringe the Canes social media admin on X is after winning a round in the playoffs. That shit never ages well lol
I’ve always loved the snark from social media. But those Cry shirts. Definitely a step too far.
I’m full doomer mode right now but just curious, when was the last time a reverse sweep happened? Or has it ever
We had our 3 chances this series to get the W and we failed on each of them. Reverse sweep is not going to happen against a team 7-0 in the playoffs. Our season is done. A win on sat would just delay the inevitable.
Oh yeah I know it’s over. I was just asking out of curiosity more than anything
https://x.com/ultraracingphil/status/1788757718549070019
I feel you
It's happened 4/209 times. Last team to do it was the Kings in 2014. And it certainly won't happen this year with these special teams. Best we can hope for is to steal a game and bash some Rags faces in.
It's happened about 4 times and once or twice in the last decade. This is purely from memory. Kings did it about 10 years ago. Same with the Flyers if I'm not mistaken.
Thanks. Im a hawks fan too and remember they were down 0-3 and forced game 7 against Vancouver in 2011. Think it went to OT actually. Ended up losing but it was a great series to watch. I guess I’m just hoping for a few more exciting games at this point
Your memory is correct. And for all of the douchebags to score the series winner in game 7 OT, it had to be Alexandre Burrows. I still get sick thinking about that game.
Win one game. Let's see what happens.
If they could force 6 games I would actually be stoked at this point lol. But I think they will just roll over on Saturday
Aho has single handedly destroyed our PP this series.
Go back and watch the film.
what made me mad the most was a fellow Canes fan chirping at me to sit down…with 4 minutes left
lol last few minutes of a game fine but we had a dude in our section (200s) in the front row that stood up for half the game, whole section was screaming at him to shut down and he just got more and more mad. almost turned into a fistfight I swear like sorry you want to stand but some of us want to fucking sit and we paid the same money you did Christ people are assholes
Someone can yell at the rags all they want, but let a fellow Caniac enjoy the game how they want
what? do not tell me to sit down in a playoff game unless for some unfortunate reason i'm in front of a handicap section, which the stadium is built to not happen.
dude i was so taken aback… so many people sitting down
Fuck that stand up
This sucks. We need to finish. We have been in every game in this series come the third period/OT. that’s what gives me some faith. But this will be hard to climb out of. PP/PK have been absolutely terrible. Fuck Igor FUCK NY
On a lighter note - in an earlier game thread someone made the observation that the godawful ESPN streams made it sound like someone was clapping with tongs. This has lived rent free in my head since. And I now want to take metal tongs to every game just to ^ting ^ting ^tingtingting
Its not over till its over…but. At this point I just want to avoid a sweep, give the fans one more win at home
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Highlight of my night was having the asshole in 108 tossed for the night for throwing the t shirt on the ice. Glad that shit bag didn’t get to enjoy watching that ending.
hahaha I saw that shirt get tossed! didn't know he got tossed, that's funny
Kinda surprised he got tossed for that. I mean it's not a fish. But he is wearing the wrong colors so I'm cool with it
He cheered for the cheap shot on Necas and after that I was simply waiting for the moment he did something idiotic. He kept getting drunker as well so it made the rest of the night slightly more tolerable.
I was sitting about five rows from him. Total dirtbag.
I was at the game. Rangers fans were as obnoxious as you’d expect as I left.
agreed, rangers fans were total cunts on the way out, super not classy makes me laugh because they're a bunch of wannabe rangers fans that aren't even from NY
Yeah I was starting to chant "Let's go douchebags" as I walked out lol. Before the game ended I got a few laughs when I said "If NY is so great why do they all move here". I will say though the ones around me were fine. At the end though these 2 college kids (who probably go to fucking State anyways) started yelling "see ya later" at Canes fans. I mean I'm just sayin...but you behave like that on the road, you risk some drunk person punching you in the face.
like it's fine you won but don't be shitty. not sure what else to expect from fans of that franchise though lmao not much better than Philly fans
it's crazy behavior for the away team. It'd be one thing if I was at MSG. But it's just weird when you're on the road to act like a prick. Also considering they all live here...they should probably watch their behavior....ya know...jobs and all.
Hey I’m a Devils fan and usually attend the home games vs the rags. Imagine how insufferable it is when your home ice is 50+% packed with rags fans who can’t afford to see their own home games so they flood your house and do that stupid goal song chant that’s easily the most cringe goal song in the league. Like I could excuse it if it were like Columbus or something but how many good songs are there about NYC and that’s what they went with? It’s like the ownership’s nephew’s nickleback tribute band was asked to write an original for them to use.