Anybodyhome

It also needs to be mentioned that he's been noticeably invisible for a few games, too. I mean, his game last night was one for the books, but let's not fool ourselves, either. He needs to show up every night, especially with Svech gone. Not saying he needs to score, but he needs to make an impact.

To be clear, I'm not in favor of the rental market; landing the big fish that may cost you draft picks, a chunk of salary cap, etc. I am a believer in developing talent, maintaining a pipeline of players and becoming a model of consistency that will lure players who may become free agents. There's a reason Brent Burns came to Raleigh, Max Paccioretty, and some others. Your odds are better building a team that contends year in and year out for the cup than grabbing up a bunch of rentals and hoping the chemistry works within a 2-month window to win a cup. The Canes were a legit contender when they added Max. They were still a contender when Max went down. But outsiders who looked at this team and believed this team was a serious contender also saw the weaknesses we've all discussed at length here- goal tending and another goal scorer. I, for one, don't want to sell the farm for the chance to land a very good milk cow.

I'd pull Andersen for that bone-headed play. WTF. Canes lose this and the next 5 In a row, write it down.

Canes look tired in the 3rd.

Announcers are a flaming burn pit. A fugging hazmat train crash. The 1960s DDT mosquito spraying truck.

Almost thru 2 periods and the Flyers haven't committed a penalty? #Gimmeafuggingbreak

I'm going to send something to the organization commending the work of Maniscalco, Tracey, Will the Thrill and Hannah. They're terrific. ESPN, NHL Network, TBS, TNT all suck balls.

These announcers are terrible. And there's the expected weak goal given up by Andersen.

Finally got it.... Brady from his favorite spot.

Did all that. Not that important. If the NHL had half a brain they'd offer PPV.

Fug it, guess I won't be watching...lol

ESPN + says the game hasn't started... lol and screen is frozen

The next step(s), in my opinion, is adding another shooting forward and a legit goalie.

Gotta watch this one. Might be the last win for the Canes this month.

... At the schedule thru the end of the month. When is the last time we saw the Canes lose an entire home stand? It may very well happen over the next 2 weeks when the Canes play the Rangers in NY and come home for 4 games against the same Rangers, Leafs, Bruins and Tampa Bay. Sadly, I think this also mark the beginning of the end of the Canes season. After a win today in Philadelphia, I don't see the Canes winning either game against NY simply because they haven't been able to beat NY for the better part of 3 seasons. Add Toronto to the list of teams Carolina hasn't figured out and you suddenly have 3 losses in a row and 4 losses in 5 games. Not only do I think the Canes will lose the Metro division lead by the end of the month, I also believe they'll drop to 3rd behind NY when the regular season ends. Given this scenario, the Canes will limp into the playoffs as #4 seed overall and the #3 seed in the Metro, which would put them against either NY or NJ in the 1st round. The future does not look bright, folks. I, for one, do not think I'll be buying any playoff tickets this post season. Another disappointing end to what started as a promising season. If there is a ray of hope somewhere, it may be in the belief the Canes can win out after their loss to Tampa Bay on the 28th. On paper, they should be favored against every opponent they face until the end of the season.

Aho & Jarvis have disappeared, Svech is done and you're left with no one to shoot the puck except the d-men from the point. I'm out guys, will check in for the Flyers game.

Skjei has found his sweet spot.

Was deflected in front. Drury lost his guy. Not on the goalie.

I think Martinook stays on the Staal checking line and the 4th line gets a new guy. Drury and Noesen could be a very productive high- low tandem. Give them a vet winger and they'll put points on the board.

Tonight's lines: Forwards: Puljujarvi - Aho - Jarvis Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Necas Martinook - Staal - Fast Noesen - Drury - Stepan Defense: Slavin - Burns Skjei - Pesce Gostisbehere - Chatfield/Coghlan Goalies: Kochetkov

In Net: Should the Canes stick to their every-other-game rotation between Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen, Kochetkov would be in line to start this evening. However, when Rod Brind'Amour was asked on Thursday about how he'll handle his goaltenders in this back-to-back situation, he insinuated that he would consider going with Andersen against his former club. Kochetkov received no goal support Sunday in New Jersey, taking a 3-0 loss in his most recent start. Speaking Of: Who starts for the Canes won't be known until at least 4:45 p.m. ET. Rod Brind'Amour's club will not hold a morning skate to start the day. Jack's Back With Authority: Andrei Svechnikov's injury allowed the Canes to recall forward Jack Drury from Chicago (AHL) and the 2018 second-round pick made an immediate impact on Tuesday with a third period goal. Centering a line of Derek Stepan and Stefan Noesen, Drury played 21 games with Carolina earlier in the season, before returning to the American Hockey League, where he produced 22 points in 29 games. Chatfield Maybe Ready To Go: After suffering an upper-body injury last Tuesday in Montreal, defenseman Jalen Chatfield could be back in the lineup as soon as tonight. Calvin de Haan and Dylan Coghlan have filled in next to Shayne Gostisbehere in his absence, but Chatfield was in a standard practice jersey Thursday, shedding the yellow no-contact sweater that he had been working in. Missing four games, the stretch has been the first time all season that #5 has not been in the lineup. Get On Them Early: The Canes have scored first in a league-leading 42 games this season. They're 34-4-4 when they score first, tied with the Bruins for the most wins in the NHL when striking first. The Impact Of A Ghost: Since Shayne Gostisbehere made his team debut on Friday, March 3, the Canes power play is 8/20. Even Better On The Kill: Tim Gleason's penalty kill has now gone 12 consecutive games without allowing a power play goal. The team's current run over that time is 28/28, just one game shy of the franchise's longest consecutive record. On The Other Side: Armed with a top-heavy offense, the Maple Leafs have also been very good on home ice this year. Their 24 wins in 36 games at Scotiabank Arena are tied with both the Canes and Lightning for the most at home thus far this season. Mitch Marner's 87 points rank tied for fifth among all skaters in the NHL, and he is one of four players that the roster touts who are averaging a point per game (or just about). Toronto is not just an offense-based club though, they allow just 28.9 shots per night, third in the Eastern Conference behind only the Canes and Devils.

He'll surely be back next season. With Fast, Staal, Statsny and Stepan all UFAs at the end of the year, I don't see how they don't keep him.

Without #37 in the lineup, the Carolina Hurricanes are even less a physical presence, if there is a lower standard. The Canes will take for more hits than they give and they lack a physical presence on the ice that gives some hesitation to opposing teams wanting to impose their physicality. Jordan Martinook and, to some extent, Stefan Noessen, will scrap with someone if the situation warrants. But Svech is the only guy on the roster who plays physical and still puts points on the board. I think if he would have been on the ice when Martinook took the leg-to-leg hit during the Jets game, there would have been a fight.

To be fair, Max came back on his time & terms. He was never pressured to come back when he did.

Opportunity has presented itself: Canes on the road in Toronto, next day in Philly followed by 2 games with the Rangers- one on the road and the next at home. Do the Canes seize the opportunity? Do they finally get the Ranger monkey off their back? Do they create some space between them and the Devils?