
They weren't prepared from the get go and it didn't get any better as the Carolina Hurricanes suffered a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Jordan Staal scored the lone goal in the loss, but all around it was a pretty pathetic display of hockey from the Canes.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour and Staal spoke with the media in Edmonton. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On lack of pushback: It was just a bad game from start to finish. We didn't have anything going. When you get in a hole like that, right off the bat, that's certainly not how you want to start the game. I haven't seen a game like that from us so I'm a little bit lost for words. It's not acceptable, that's for sure. Our top guys, especially, have to show up a little more. You can definitely see their top guys. We have to be better.
On if there was any signs a game like this was coming: Nope. We had one of our best games of the year the other night and we lost that one and that's the hard part for this year with how it's gone. We've played pretty well and gotten nothing out of the game's we've lost. This was an absolute... not what we've seen. But you get those during the year. It's definitely one we hope obviously we don't repeat.
On not getting a save early: That's part of it, but I don't blame them on that. The faceoff play they ran, we showed it 15 times. 15 times before the game and we fall asleep on it. So that's just preparation. And guys weren't dialed in. And it happens. 82 games, you get a little sleepy, but not against teams like that. With the talent they have, you can't give them a second because that's what happens.
On being similar to the last meeting: It's kind of the same thing. The game's essentially over and now it's just, 'How do I get through the game?' and hoping nobody gets hurt and regroup for tomorrow.
On if it's good to be playing tomorrow: Maybe. We'll see. I don't know.
Jordan Staal
On the game: It wasn't pretty. The whole game. More embarrassing, really. Good thing we play tomorrow. Wouldn't want to sit on that one for too long. They got two goals in the first minute. It's tough to come back in this league in general. They were fresh and ready to go and we were slow and not buying in to anything we do. That's what it's going to look like.
On a lack of pushback: It was just all around crap. No fight back. Everyone was just hoping for a chance and hoping instead of... and just giving them 3-on-2s and 2-on-1s. We're hoping for a chance back and against a team like that, obviously they're going to make you pay.
On the Oilers: They're obviously a very dangerous team and they can make you pay quick. It's the little turnovers that they can make you pay on never mind the crap we were doing out there with the stuff we tried to pull. I don't even know if they broke a sweat. It was just all around embarrassing and I'm just glad we play tomorrow.
On getting back at it tomorrow: We better. It's not great they way we've been up and down this season. We have to flush it as quick as we can and start buying into we do. To a man, we've got to be better. I've been very average since the start of the season and there's other guys in this room that I know need more or want more from themselves. We have to stat believing in the way we play and what we do and we'll try again tomorrow.