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Thursday, October 14, 1999
Tying time again
Turnover-plagued 'Canes settle for draw
The Carolina Hurricanes defence handled it like a grenade on a few occasions last night and it eventually exploded in goaltender Arturs Irbe's face.
"We're just getting burned on our turnovers - not that we're making a lot of them, but we've been burned," said Carolina head coach Paul Maurice, the youngest head coach in the league, who'll turn a lot greyer if giveaways like those witnessed in last night's debacle persist.
"I don't think Arturs has been at his best. Normally he'd grab one or two of those, but I don't think I can ask too much more from the team, other than to be a little sharper with the puck."
Rookie defenceman David Tanabe and veteran blueliner Curtis Leschyshyn should pay particular attention.
Tanabe handed the puck over to Alex Selivanov 12:03 into the second period and the Oilers winger obliged, sending a shot through Irbe's legs for the 2-1 lead, despite being outshot 19-9.
Then Leschyshyn slid a backhand clearing attempt right to Mike Grier, who also went five-hole for a 3-2 Edmonton advantage at 17:37 of the middle frame.
Up by a 24-10 shot count at that point, Carolina needed a late goal by Oiler killer Sami Kapanen just to salvage a 3-3 tie. In the end, the Canes outshot the Oil 36-15 and virtually had to steal the draw. Go figure!
"I really feel that's been the story our last two games. We controlled the play, played nearly perfect road games and had great chances to score," said Maurice, who also watched his squad gas a 3-0 lead in Calgary Monday afternoon for another 3-3 tie.
"That's the way it goes sometimes," said Fort McMurray born Carolina defenceman Nolan Pratt, obviously disappointed but at the same time thankful for the single point.
"It's hard to look up at the shot clock there at the end and still find yourself down, but you just have to keep plugging away as we did - and got the point in the end."
Face it, though, the Oilers got away with one largely because of Bill Ranford, who kept it respectable, and the two defensive blunders.
"There's no question he played well," Carolina captain Ron Francis said of Ranford.
The veteran, who recorded his third goal of the season, agreed there were at least two too many handouts.
"The mental mistakes ... we turned the puck over a couple of times and they end up in our net," he said, shaking his head.
"Obviously you're disappointed when you look at the overall picture, but the fact that you were down a goal, especially late, and you were able to get a point out of it is positive.
"Certainly we felt we deserved a little more. We just have to eliminate our mistakes."
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