RALEIGH, N.C. – While giving up a point and suffering a 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes’ top line of captain Eric Staal, Alexander Semin, and Jiri Tlusty was held scoreless.
At the other end of the rink, the Red Wings’ top performers made the difference in earning their second win of the young NHL season.
Not having had the chance to play much together during training camp due to injuries to Tlusty and Semin, the line led by Staal is expected to eventually lead the team’s offensive output.
“They had a tough game,” head coach Kirk Muller said after an energetic practice on Saturday.
“They know it. We talked about it this morning. We know that they’re gonna’ be better.”
Tlusty also shed some light on his line’s performance against the Red Wings.
“It was a big challenge because Detroit always has a good team and it was a challenge for everyone on our team,” Tlusty said.
“I think we came out hard, we wanted to do things right. As a line, we didn’t play as much in the preseason. That was our first game after a couple of weeks or so. We played a solid game, but we know we can get better.”
While not recording a point, Staal (-3), Semin (-2), and Tlusty (-1) were matched up against Detroit’s top checkers and scorers.
“It takes time,” Tlusty continued.
“It’s gonna’ happen, but I think we know what we should expect from each other out there. I think we’re excited to be back together and we will get it going again. I think that’s the exciting part. It was the first game, and from there we know we can only get better.”
Muller pointed out that the combination of injuries that each has suffered has not allowed the three any time to effectively rekindle the touch and feel they had for one another in leading the team’s offense last season.
“They had a tough night, but I think you take into account that Eric getting injured earlier last year and Sems didn’t have much of a camp, and Jiri got hurt,” Muller said.
“They need to get their chemistry back. They need to get their timing and chemistry back as a line and when they do, we’re gonna’ be that much better of a hockey club, obviously.”
Just how will the three do what Muller expects them to do?
“We have to go out there and just do the simple things,” Tlusty said.
“Don’t be forcing things. If we stay with the plan and we do things right, the offense will kind of come to us. We have to just work and don’t give them (opponents) chances. No one is perfect and we have to just stay with the plan, work, and I think the offense, the skill and the confidence that we had last year will fall in place.”