HURRICANES 101

The Toronto Maple Leafs might be feeling a little bit dizzy having spent so much time skating circles around the Washington Capitals Saturday night. Though the Leafs had to play a lineup that was missing seven players due to injury they got plenty of help from a number of men that don't normally contribute quite as much.

Maple Leafs Jonas Gustavsson known for his struggles this year stopped 40, a career best, to help the Leafs put the final touches on a 7-1 routing of the Washington Capitals which have been struggling as of late. Matt Frattin also came through and scored his first NHL goal, plus Cody Franson netted his first since becoming a Maple Leaf.

The Carolina Hurricanes may want to watch the highlights from that game as they prepare to meet Toronto Sunday at the RBC Center.

The Canes really did play well Friday against the visiting Sabres. They're defense was there, their goal-tending was there (Boucher) they had plenty of shots on goal, lots of intensity… The only thing they were missing was a goal. As well as they played they still lost 1-0.

It was their second goose egg of the week losing 4-0 against the Canadiens this past Wednesday, in a game they did not play well in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (11-7-2) send team goal and points leader Phil Kessel (14 goals, 27 points) against the Carolina Hurricanes (6-11-3) second year phenom Jeff Skinner (7 goals, 18 points) and a Carolina Team that hasn't seen much success lately. An early goal by the Canes might be the difference to help set the tone for the game and keeping the crowd in it.

The theme of staying positive may get them through the night but it will be interesting to see what happens if the Canes don't get back on track with a few wins. Specifically the teams coach, Paul Maurice, who many fans are blaming for their lack of performance about one-fourth of the way through the season.  NBC Sports reports Rutherford has some ideas in his head but he's not making any moves… yet.

One blogger on Twitter offered some advice to GM Jim Rutherford: “Next time try to hire someone you haven't already fired once” referring to the fact that Maurice which was the Hurricanes first coach, before being fired and then rehired in 2008 replacing  Peter Laviolette, who is now the coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Game time is 5 p.m. In Raleigh at the RBC Center. After the game the team travels for a Monday night match-up against the Philadelphia Flyers.

 

 

Tags: Carolina, Carolina Hurricanes, Cody Franson, Hockey, Jeff Skinner, Jonas Gustavsson, Maple Leafs, Matt Frattin, NHL, Phil Kessel, Toronto

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