Triangle Offense

Back in the good ol’ days, an overtime loss was occasionally even more crushing than a loss in regulation. However, for a team that’s desperate for points, tonight’s 2-1 overtime loss against the Flyers was a definitive step in the right direction.

The Hurricanes have gone seven games without scoring more than two goals in regulation. As of tonight’s game, despite remaining numerically in the top eight in the Eastern Conference, the Hurricanes have scored the sixth fewest goals in the league.

However, the whole being-unable-to-score-goals thing actually worked out for the team tonight, as one goal was all it needed to force overtime. Sergei Samsonov scored on the power play to tie the game up in the third and the Hurricanes walked away with a point after Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter scored in overtime.

Everyone expected this to be a rough one. NHL.com was proclaiming all day that this was Paul Maurice and the ‘Canes’ first test, and if it was, they failed spectacularly – if predictably.

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The Penguins looked appropriately confident and the Hurricanes looked energized but disjointed, and a bit lost without starting goaltender Cam Ward. Pittsburgh’s dynamic offense and power play took advantage of the ‘Canes to the tune of five goals on 22 shots, ruining Paul Maurice’s first stint behind the Carolina bench in five years and Justin William’s first insertion into the line-up since last March.

Williams underwent surgery on a torn Achilles tendon before training camp and was not expected back until January at the earliest. However, due to what the right winger could only describe to Tripp Tracy as “good healing genes,” he made it back a month earlier than expected. Williams played a respectable 13:50 with no points.

“The worst thing I could do out there is be passive or complacent and wait for things to happen,” Williams said of finding his old groove again. “The more I get in there and the more I initiate, the better I’ll be.”

With all the upheaval that has happened in the last few days, this was a “let’s tough it out and get outta here” kind of match-up, and the Hurricanes managed to do that without being embarrassed too badly. However, they lost another invaluable two points in the Southeast race and gave up their fourth of five, not to their mention fourth straight at home.

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• Now there's a face we recognize. (Getty Images)

Hello again, Paul Maurice.

Maurice, who coached the Hurricanes from 1995 (during the Hartford days) to 2003, from a half-filled Greensboro stadium to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, is back for another run with the Carolina Hurricanes. Maurice, the winningest coach in the Hartford/Carolina franchise history, assumed Peter Laviolette’s job immediately after the three-year coach was fired this morning.

“This is a situation that we’ve looked at probably three times over the last year, for different reasons,” Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said. “When you look at it that many times, there’s a reason.”

Press conference announced for 11:30 this morning at the RBC Center.

Check back later today for more from Kate Shefte.

A week ago, Kate speculated about the possibility of a coaching change in the near future.

12:08 PM UPDATE: The new coach is... the old coach, Paul Maurice, the 41-year-old who coached the squad to 268 wins between 1995 and 2003.

Okay, first of all…

Patrick Eaves fights? Did anyone know he could do that?

Now, onto more serious matters. Although they’re currently hanging onto the final playoff spot in the east by a thread and only three points behind the division-leading Washington Capitals, (and let’s face it, that’s because the division is weak again this year and the Capitals have been decimated by injuries) the Hurricanes have been wildly inconsistent this year, beating hot teams such as Ottawa (at the time) only to turn around and drop two to the Thrashers. Everyone has been getting on Eric Staal’s case for his shaky play early in the season, Cam Ward’s for his off-and-on goaltending, Joni Pitkanen for his undeserved hype…but with a team, sometimes it’s best to go from the top down.

No one can question what Rod Brind’Amour has done for the team, the fans, and the franchise during his tenure in Carolina. He is a fan favorite in Carolina and it has become almost taboo to speak ill of Brind’Amour, lest they be mocked, painted and strung up from the RBC Center rafters. Although Brind’Amour, 38, seemed to be bulletproof, from injury and scrutiny, even “Rod the Bod” himself can’t be pleased with his performance this season.