Hurricanes Gameday Diary: Duel in the desert

By Adam Gold, radio host 99.9 the Fan

“We’re going to find out what we’re made of.”

“This is a gut check game.”

“We have to want it more than they do.”

No matter what cliche you want to use, it applies to the Carolina Hurricanes game against the Arizona Coyotes. Partly because of their place in the standings, two points behind the Flyers and three shy of the Islanders, for the two Wild Card playoff spots. But, more importantly, Rod Brind’Amour’s team needs a response to being manhandled Tuesday night in St Louis.

It wasn’t just that the Blues proved to be on a different level than Carolina — at least for one night — but it was how easily the Hurricanes were turned in knots. Martin Necas inexplicably left his man, Sammy Blais, alone in front of Petr Mrazek on the first goal. Jordan Staal and Warren Foegele turned the puck over in the offensive zone and lacked a sense of urgency to recover defensively on another. Then the penalty kill was woefully out of position twice, leading to power play goals that effectively ended the game in the second period.

So, how will Carolina respond today in Arizona, against a Coyotes team they shut out a few weeks ago at PNC Arena? For all of their recent struggles — they snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the Oilers — Arizona is still in Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Granted, the bar is set significantly lower in the west than it is in the East as the ‘Yotes’ 61 points in 55 games gives them a 4-point cushion in the top 8. But, Arizona is a good team, with solid goaltending and some star power in Taylor Hall, Phil Kessel and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Carolina can’t control the outcome — funny things happen in sports. But, they sure can control how they approach the match and the attitude with which they compete.

The look…(hard to say what it will look like as Wednesday’s workout was, well, let’s just say, fluid. But, here’s a guess. Subject to reality)

Svechnikov-Aho-Foegele

Nino—Staal-Teravainen

Dzingel-Haula-Williams

McGinn-Wallmark-Necas

Slavin-van Riemsdyk

Gardiner-Pesce

Fleury-Edmundson

Reimer

Mrazek

Extras: Jordan Martinook left the St Louis game with an upper body injury and did not practice on Wednesday.

Take me to your leaders…

Hurricanes

Points: Teuvo Teravainen, 51; Andrei Svechnikov, 47; Sebastian Aho, 46.

Goals: Aho, 27; Svechnikov, 20; Dougie Hamilton, 14.

Power play points: Teravainen, 19; Svechnikov, 15, Aho, 12.

Hot: Aho, 3 game goal-scoring streak, points in 4 (3g,2a)

Not: Goal droughts…Erik Haula, 12 games; Dzingel, 11; Foegele, 9. Wallmark, 8.

Coyotes

Points: Taylor Hall, 43; Nick Schmaltz, 38; Clayton Keller, 33.

Goals: Conor Garland, 18; Christian Dvorak, 15; Carl Soderberg, 13; Hall, 13.

Power play points: Hall, 15; Kessel, 15; Keller, 13.

Hot: Hall, 10 points (4g,6a) in his last 8 games.

Not: Goal droughts…Keller, 11; Soderberg, 10; Kessel, 6.

The stakes….

Carolina fell out of playoff position Tuesday night. The 6-3 loss, coupled with wins by the Islanders and Blue Jackets has the Canes in the role of chasers. 63 points would be good for 5th best in the Western Conference, but the Hurricanes don’t live out there. Their neighborhood is more dangerous and the Canes are in danger of digging themselves a hole that will prove difficult from which to climb out.

With the trade deadline 17 days away the Hurricanes have to determine whether they’ll be buyers or sellers and what needs are the most pressing. There’s no question they’d be in the market for help on the blue line, but based on health, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they also fortified the forward group.

Storm Watch starring Alec Campbell begins at 8:30. Opening face off will follow at 9:08. Everything can be heard on 99.9 the Fan.