My Two Cents: Atlanta at Carolina

What is there to say really? We never played like we wanted it tonight. If we get to the end of the season and are staring at the playoff berth from below, out by 2 or 3 points, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. How can you be absolutely embarrassed on Saturday, with a franchise low 10 SOG, and then show up after a 4 day break like we did in the first period? Unbelievable.

5 shots in the first isn’t the worst thing in the world, but when you allow 21, it is ridiculous.

I just feel like a broken record. We say the same things over and over this season: the shot differential, the puck possession, the general level of energy. These things, as a whole, are just NOT CHANGING. We’ve managed to hang with the rest of the division all season because we’ve had goaltenders who give 110% every night, and because every now and again this team shows up and performs the way that not only they are able to but how they SHOULD EVERY NIGHT.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

Kari kept us in it as long as he could–it was only a matter of time. This loss is not on him.

Holik had a pretty good game.

McCarthy had a pretty good game.

Enstrom had a decent game.

Dupuis and Perrin showed up.

Otherwise? Nobody. Played. Like. They. Wanted. It.

It is the end of February and we were out of first by 3 points. AND WE DIDN’T SHOW UP.

Maybe it is the flu, maybe it is the distraction of Hossa, maybe it is Kovy’s knee, maybe we have no leadership, maybe we have no coach, I just don’t know anymore.

And I’m not usually one of those Chicken Little kind of fans.

Waddell needs to do something–either do it internally–bring guys up, sit guys down (cough cough Zhitnik), tweak the lines, make some trades…something. Anything. Please.

This season is not over. But if we aren’t careful, it is going to slip away.

As always, this is only my two cents. I could be wrong.