Hurricanes-Flyers: Carolina Must Turn Key Weaknesses Around To Win

Halloween came about a month early for the Carolina Hurricanes, and its lasted a long time. The Canes have been scary, and not in a good way.

But perhaps their luck will turn on this day, Oct. 31. It would be a nice time to do it, the desperately need two points, a victory over a fellow Eastern Conference team, and, most important, a "Won 1" in the streak column, a place that hasn't seen that in a very long time.

Carolina will head into Philadelphia today for a 1:00 game, the first of back-to-back day games for the Hurricanes, who will face San Jose in Raleigh mid-day tomorrow.

The Flyers will enter the game today well-rested but reeling from a tough home loss last Sunday and then a third-period breakdown in a loss in Washington on Tuesday.

So far this October...

Carolina Hurricanes

It hasn't been a pretty first month for the Hurricanes. Two wins and seven points in 11 games played was not what they were looking for.

The Hurricanes have also lost seven straight and are winless in six road games (0-4-2). The Hurricanes have also had several days off since a 5-2 rout in the RBC Center on Wednesday that followed a 0-1-1 Western Conference road back-to-back last weekend against the Avs and Wild.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers last played Tuesday in Washington, where a third-period drought earned them a 4-2 victory. Philadelphia had won two of three before that, though, with two big home wins against Boston and Florida.

Philadelphia is a mediocre 5-4-1 on the season, and their 11 points gets them in a four-way tie for eight in the East with the Lightning, Bruins, and upstart Islanders.

Previous Meeting

The Flyers and Hurricanes opened their season on Oct. 2 in Raleigh, where two early second period power play goals and a perfect game by newcomer goaltender Ray Emery earned a Flyers a rough-and-tumble 2-0 victory.

Matchup To Watch

Cam Ward and the Canes' defense vs. Flyers talented top two lines

Cam Ward is a key thing that the main Hurricanes experts are overlooking. His stats may be fine (90% sv, 2.89 GAA), but he's just not carrying or leading the team like he did late in last season, when Carolina went on their run.

A big day would go a long way in helping the Canes win this game, because if the Flyers are held to two goals or less, Carolina has a really good chance to win this.

But holding the Flyers down in their goal-scoring will be a tough task against lines including playmakers such as Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, and Matt Carle.

What's at Stake

First of all, there are always two points.

But that's not the only thing.

A win would go a lot longer for the Hurricanes than it would for the Flyers. It would be their first road win, their first win in almost three weeks, and provide some solid confidence for tomorrow's important home game against San Jose.

However, don't start thinking that Philadelphia won't be nearly as hungry. A boost up to 13 points would give them out a middle-of-the-standings logjam and up into seventh place, one point behind Ottawa and New Jersey.

It would also be nice to get two points even without Briere and Gagne, who are currently out of practice and out of the lineup.

Hurricanes' Keys to Victory

1. Cam Ward

Simply put, Ward needs to get an above-90 percent save percentage if the Hurricanes want to win.

It may be up to the defenseman to keep the shots down, but Ward needs to start keeping the goals down. His performance is key for a huge Carolina victory.

2. Breaking Ray Emery

The goalies are important in this game, and just as Ward needs to be good, Emery cannot be allowed to rule the goal. Three or more goals would give them a good chance for winning, but that will be hard against a goaltender that shut them down completely in the first meeting.

3. Powerplay

The lack of man-advantage conversions has lost the Hurricanes several games now, and they can't let too many opportunities slip past. Two powerplay goals could be huge in getting the Canes running.

Flyers' Keys To Victory

1. A big night by Carter or Richards

A three-point night by a top player for the Flyers would be very important in penetration of Cam Ward, who is a very good goalie at keeping confident. If the top two lines start to spark, the goal horn manager might be in for a long afternoon.

2. Improving the +/-'s of top players

Richards is a -3, Carter is a -5, Timonen is a -10, Briere is a -5 (although he's unlikely to play), and Coburn is a -9.

Those stats aren't going to win you many games.

3. Ray Emery

Emery has a good history against Carolina, and it needs to stay that way. However, early success has been common for goaltenders facing the Hurricanes, a third-period team, and Emery must not get too relaxed if he heads to the final 20 minutes with one goal allowed.

Injury Report

Carolina Hurricanes:

OUT: Eric Cole (broken leg)

UNLIKELY: Tim Gleason (lower back injury)

Philadelphia Flyers

OUT: Simon Gagne (two hernias)

UNLIKELY: Danny Briere (lower-body injury)

Puck Drop

1:00 PM, Wachovia Center in Philadelphia

Carolina...FS-CR (Radio - 99.9 FM The Fan)

Philadelphia...CSN-PH

NHL.com Gamecenter: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020181&navid=sb:preview