Canes haven’t looked like the Canes in the West coast

EJ Radek, my friend, is the lead analyst on NHL Tonight. Starts at 6 o'clock every night on NHL Network. And frankly, I would love a game that starts at 6 o'clock Eastern Time. Nowadays, the Hurricanes are... We're done with the 10s.

I still have a 9 on Saturday, but that's all right. It ain't about me. Ante Rata and Igor Shostakin are apparently the same goalie. They were both chased in the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Let me ask you about the Canes before I ask you about a guy like Shostakin or maybe some other players. Hurricanes have allowed a lot of goals, EJ. Yeah. 21 non-empty net goals in four games. What do you make of that? Well, I'll tell you what. Watching the first week plus of the season, there's just been a lot of sloppy hockey.

And you can... I mean, it's early in the season, right? And teams are trying to find their way. They're trying to get into their routines. Some guys are dealing with things already.

Changes the dynamics of things. I mean, I know there's been some additions to your group there in Carolina and missing some key pieces. So I just think that's what it is. I'm sure that Roddy Bryndemore is... And a lot of these coaches already are already... Because that's their job, right?

We gotta figure this out. Because this league is so tight, and a point here or a point there could end up being the difference between being in and being out at the end of the season. We saw how things finished last year, and then you saw a lot of roll all the way to the cup final.

They barely made it. So I think a lot of it is just the sloppy play early in the season. I'm kind of surprised. I mean, looking at the numbers. I like the addition that the team made in the off-season.

And I know it's not the end-all, be-all of everything in life with statistics. But I mean, being a minus 10 for Demetri Horloff this year is kind of... That jumps out at you. I haven't watched closely enough to say if there's anything particular or if it's just struggling to get into a new team, sometimes new contract, new situation, who knows? But that is a big number for a handful of games. For a really good player.

For a good player. Five games to be minus 10. He was minus five in... Where was it? I guess it was LA. He was minus five.

Again, they won, right? But I might have that one wrong. But he was minus three last night. Now, I think he's been on the ice for all three empty net goals. So there's some of that. But he's also been on the ice for two shorthanded goals allowed.

And that is more of the problem for me. Look, playing Carolina style for a guy like Horloff, it's going to take an adjustment period. Brent Burns had to adjust defensively. Dougie Hamilton took half a year to adjust defensively when he first got here from Calgary. I'm pretty sure he'll be okay.

I'm a little concerned about skating. He's not the skater that Burns is or that Hamilton is and was when he was here. By the way, Seth Jarvis is okay.

Seth has so many good things about him. He's got four goals. He has two in each of the last two games. But let me ask you while I've got you about Igor Shostakin. I mean, that's a pretty alarming performance at home. And what do you make of him and the Rangers? Well, I mean, I think it's a one game thing.

I haven't seen him play all that poorly so far this year. That was a tough game. I think the Rangers didn't play well. I thought it was one of those spots, to be honest with you, Adam.

It's when you look at it right. The Rangers have played their home opener on Monday night and they had won. They got a couple of nights off. Again, we're only in the season. They've had a couple of good performances. They've had, you know, one that was not as good.

And I just find that, you know, they're looking to find their way. They got a new coach there, Peter Lavio. I don't think, you know, like it's easy for us to say on the outside, hey, you should be ready to play every game.

And you should be. I mean, you guys paid a lot of money to play, right? So, but they got Nashville coming in. Nashville's not a conference rival. They're not in a division rival. It's early in the year.

It's just not a sexy thing. And the Nashville Predators came in and they played their rear ends off in that game. And they got big performances by their top players because they had been kind of looking to find their way. And they, I just, they just think they outplayed the Rangers in a lot of areas and Rangers were turning the puck over. They gave up the first two goals. There was a, you know, a turnover, which led to a shot to the net. It was a scramble and Cole Smith was able to kind of jump over the pile and suck it in. And then he got a clean breakaway coming out of the net on a, after a, after a power play opportunity for the Rangers, he was coming out of the box and it was a great shot. I mean, he came in and just, just whipped it past the circuit. So I just think it was a bad night for the Rangers.

I would chalk it up to that. And you know, we'll see us. With SOTIC 2 for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, you could show off your skin again.

And you know what that means? Beach day. As a TIC 2 inhibitor, SOTIC 2 is the only once daily pill of its kind for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Ask your dermatologist about SOTIC 2 today and learn more at soclearlyyou.com.

That's soclearlyyou.com. SOTIC 2, decravicitinib, is a prescription treatment for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from systemic therapy or phototherapy. Don't take if you're allergic to SOTIC 2, serious reactions can occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections including tuberculosis. SOTIC 2 can lower your ability to fight infections.

Don't start if you have one. Serious infections, cancers including lymphoma, muscle problems and changes in certain labs have occurred. Tell your doctor if you have a history of these events or if you have an infection or symptoms like fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough, or if you have history of hepatitis B or C, liver or kidney problems, high triglycerides, or had a vaccine or plan to. SOTIC 2 inhibits TIC 2, which is part of the JAK family. People 50 and older with heart disease risk factors who use a JAK inhibitor are at increased risk for certain side effects, sometimes fatal. It's unknown if SOTIC 2 has the same risks as JAK inhibitors.

Call 1-888-SOTYKTU to learn more. The games and the weeks go by here and I think by, you know, into early November we kind of get more of a feel of where these teams are at. But like this, I think there's a sense of urgency for a lot of teams, Adam, because, you know, again, just go back to it. Florida barely got in to the final.

This league is tight. Like, you know, we look at teams like Buffalo and Ottawa and Detroit as kind of teams that are moving up, you know, have a chance. Like Nashville actually just missed the playoffs.

There's urgency for these teams because I think, and there should be, because they know that, like, they can ill afford a bad start. And so, you know, I think Nashville was probably really wrapped up the play last night. And plus, the last time Nashville came to the Garden, they got blown out 7-0.

I'm sure that was kind of in the back of their minds as well. So, you know, they played a terrific game. And I think for the Rangers, it's, you know, back to the drawing board and you got to be better. For two years now, I've been talking about the demise of the Boston Bruins. And this year, I really thought it was going to happen.

And I know it's early. No Bergeron. David Krejci went back into retirement. And yeah, Boston, still Boston, apparently.

So what do you make of them and who else has jumped out at you so far in the early going? Well, the Bruins have such a great culture within their group and they're really well coached. And, you know, it's been there from Char to Bergeron. And now, you know, Marshawn is the new captain. And they've still got, you know, the guys that were in that room that were part of that understand, you know, what they want to be with the Bruins.

I mean, having an identity, having a having a philosophy, having that kind of culture is a big difference. You know, it helps. And, you know, they still got really two good goalies that they can lean on. And they got to know the Vesna Trophy winner. And then they've got Jeremy Swayman, who numbers wise is right there with with Olmark last year. I think they're still strong on defense with McAvoy and and the rest of that group.

Pashinok, Marshawn. I mean, they still got good pieces. And they, you know, they have like depth throughout their team. Now, they're certainly there's a weakness in the middle when you take out your one and two center.

I mean, that's usually a formula for disaster. Right. But they have so much strength in other areas. They've been able to, you know, manage that in the early going. Now we'll see how it plays out over the course of the year. We'll also see if the Bruins got to make an addition over the course of the year. But I think they understand the situation they're in. They also I think the guys that were in that room last year, and a lot of them are returning. You know, there's unfinished business for those guys. So there's there's that as well. So I just think that the Bruins, it'll be interesting to watch as it plays out over time. But that is clearly, you know, I could see the thinking because and it's the thinking of most people watching.

It's like you lose first round, you lose crazy. I think that's a big hole. But they do have a lot of other pieces that can help you. And I think that Donnie Sweeney will be looking to add as we go through the year, if there's any centers that become available, certainly, you know, down the road, like it's an alive Minholm becomes available if he decides that he's not going to resign in Calgary. I mean, and that would be a player that they would look at, especially the cap going up next year. So that's what I would say that the Bruins as for, you know, what else has jumped out to me?

I think there's two clearly like right now. I mean, a lot can happen. Guys get hurt.

Everything changes. You know, it's a long, it's a long season. Yeah.

But right now, to me, there's two clearly top teams in this league and it's Vegas and Colorado. Yeah. And that's it. And, you know, there's there's a gap. And I don't know.

I'm not here to tell you how wide it is, but there's a cap. And those two teams, right? I love the acquisitions that the avalanche made in the off season to kind of strengthen again the depth of their team. They got that huge engine in the back on defense with the cars stays and fire.

I mean, those guys just go and, you know, they make it a nightmare for you. That should be a good tech. Carolina. I think it's got Colorado coming up tomorrow night. Yes. Yeah.

So there you go. So that'll be a really good test for, I think that will certainly get Carolina's attention, right? Like when you go out and you play in Anaheim and they were second to the back to back Anaheim, Anaheim is great. Cronin is I think a really good coach and I'm really happy. He's got an opportunity to be at the NHL level and they're going to be a tough route every night.

I agree. He is going to have them play. He is going to have them playing hard. And they were there again last night, lost the one goal game to Dallas on kind of a flukey goal against late, which hit off one of their guys skate. So, you know, you play, you play San Jose, right? You play, you play Seattle. Who's that off to a tougher start in Seattle had so much urgency in that game last night. I mean, they knew they needed a win. I think this will get the attention certainly of Carolina. They'll give their best effort against Colorado and they'll need to because Colorado, I mean, they are, they're locked and loaded.

And then the Vegas goes nice. I just love them because I just love their balance throughout their lineup. I mean, their first line is a first line. The second line is the second line.

I mean, everybody fits roles beautifully. Their group of defenses is true. They're missing guys on the fence and they still are unbeaten so far. And then, you know, I think Aidan Hill is the real deal and Logan Thompson was an all-star last year and he's back. So you got a really nice duo in goal. They're really well coached.

I mean, and then those two teams are clearly above everybody else as I look at things for the first few weeks and, you know, we'll see where it goes. EJ Radek, you are the man. I appreciate your time, sir. We'll do it again very soon at EJ Radek. It's fun to catch up. Next time, we'll talk about a crazy list that your old employers put out that Brad Marchand was not on, even though they stretched it out to a hundred. We don't have to get into it. Silly. Just a silly list to not have Marchand on it. There's no, look, I kind of like, I love watching him even though we, we kind of hate him here, but that's fine. EJ, I appreciate your time. You got it. That's EJ Radek from NHL network. Love talking to him.