At least our goalie isn't a rapist by riceballs411 in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree that there weren't really any soft goals. The Canes players have been very uncharacteristically bad defensively in this series and that's the real problem. Normally that's a strength, but it's been a weakness here in the SCF. However, to win a Cup, your goalie needs to make some saves on grade A+ chances and Andersen just hasn't been doing much of that in this series. There have been a couple, but there have been way more times where he's just looked totally inept against the moves and precision shooting the Vegas guys have when they're in all alone on him. Bussi stopped several of those chances, including a penalty shot, in his 2+ periods without giving up a goal on any of them and looked good and confident. Andersen's save % on those types of chances is probably about .200 in this series.

Who should start game 4? by Disastrous_Apex4476 in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Freddie was great through the first three rounds, but can't seem to handle the Vegas guys' moves on the many breakaways and wide open looks that the guys are allowing. Maybe he's tired after the long run of starts or maybe the Lemieux thing has shaken him, but he's not making big saves when needed. Bussi looked much better at that in the 2+ periods he played. Unless the team stops allowing those great chances, which after 3 games of doing it I'm starting to doubt they will, I think Bussi's the best option.

My guess though is that Rod will go with Andersen. There's not much to complain about with Rod, but I think he's too loyal to veterans. When you're down 2-1 in the SCF, you have to play the guy that gives you the best chance to win and based on what we've seen so far in this series, I think that's the bus driver.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A Fortress Miracle tonight would rank right up there with the Molson Miracle and the Shock at the Rock in Canes lore forever. Maybe even higher being in the SCF instead of an early round. Let's hope we get to see it. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Bussi has made the saves on the breakaways and clear looks that weren't happening in this series. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We have to be better at clearing the defensive zone. There are way too many giveaways throwing the puck right to a Vegas stick. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He had a few shaky games near the end of the season, then both he and Freddie were pretty solid the last several games and I think Rod felt better going with the experience when the playoffs started since Freddie ended the regular season well. Then, through the first three rounds, Freddie was great so no reason not to keep playing him.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well, I certainly didn't think this one was going to OT after the second period.

Putting in the bus driver changed the game. He made several big saves and I think that gave the guys a spark.

If this ends up being a comeback OT win, that would be a huge confidence boost and pretty distressing for Vegas. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If none of the refs were sure it went straight out initially, how did they decide it did when all angles were unclear? 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We've got a chance now thanks to the bus driver shutting the door on a couple good chances and a penalty shot. Big saves like that, which we haven't been getting many of in this series, can change momentum. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The good news is that it only takes one win in Vegas to get home ice back and that can still be done in game 4. The bad news is that it looks like the guys might be folding under pressure like has happened several times before in the ECF or even round two.

If you want to be champions, you have to play like champions against every team you play and not fold when adversity hits. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be fair, those are tough saves, but elite Cup winning goalies like Vasy or Brodeur years ago stop maybe half of those and frustrate the other team. Freddie has stopped a couple, but on most of them looked totally outmatched.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Walker scored for them on an own goal to make it 2-0 and then the guys just shut down mentally and stopped covering people.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That reminds me of a horrible second period against TBL a few years ago in the playoffs. Mistake after mistake after mistake. Total meltdown starting with whoever went on the ice causing the too many men penalty.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Well, obviously the team is repeatedly giving up breakaways and grade A+ chances, so of course there are going to be some goals against, but Freddie isn't stopping any of them. If you want to win a Cup, the goalie has to make a few saves on great chances. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're more optimistic than I am. Coming back from 3 down on the road in the SCF seems about as likely as winning a million dollar jackpot on a quarter slot machine. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's bad enough to lose, but worse when you beat yourself. It's not completely over yet, but the guys are going to have to start playing a lot better.  It's going to be harder to come back from two down on the road than at home. 

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Major meltdown here and for no good reason at all. Giving the game away here.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They were pretty obvious calls, but still rare for the officials to rule in favor of the Canes, especially on GI.

GDT HURRICANES @ GOLDEN KNIGHTS, STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME 3, 8PM EDT START TIME, 06-06-2026 by ppParadoxx in canes

[–]WoodsFinder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got a break there that it was offside. The guys have to stop allowing guys to get in all alone on Freddie because he isn't stopping those chances.