Why this is a "must-win" game.

Tonight, the Canes will take on divisional foe Tampa in the second of a four game home stand for the Canes. Other people might not agree, but I'm calling this a "must-win" game.

By the strict definition, of course it isn't a "must-win". Carolina has already earned enough standings points to assure themselves a playoff berth. Their lead in the Southeast division is wide enough that it would take a spectacular run of the table by Tampa and a collapse of Gonzagian proportions by Carolina for the Canes to finish other than first in the division. They will make the playoffs without doubt, and they will most likely have the second seed in the east. This is nothing to sneeze at. However, in other contexts, it is absolutely imperative that the boys win tonight.

This game, like the game against the struggling Sabres last week, is a pretty good approximation of what the playoffs will be like. We're going up against a good team who has as much to lose as they do to gain. They'll be playing hard, and not just for pride. We've recently been slumping, and rebounding against a quality opponent will be a good sign of our character. Doing it tonight, while we're still a little short staffed, will be an even more telling sign. Losing won't be the end of the world, but if they have another lackluster performance like the one against Washington, I'll be concerned about how much "heart" they have.

The Canes must not only exert themselves as the more dominant team, but they must do it with authority on their home ice. They must say, "This is our house. Nobody shits the bed in our house". They must say "Well, yeah, we collectively shat the bed¹ the other night, but we were piss babbling drunk, and we won't let it happen again. Plus, someone slipped us a roofie, and we have no clue what happened."

Seriously, though. The boys have to find a way to make it happen tonight. For the next couple of weeks, we're allowed to make excuses, but once "the real season" starts, there is no room for excuses. This game tonight will be good practice for the playoffs. There are already lots of excuses at our disposal (injuries, injuries, injuries, more lax officiating, etc). It's better not to be in a position to need them. It's better just to win the game.

A regulation win would all *but* mathematically secure the division championship. One standings point will secure the playoff berth.

Puck drop is at 7:00

¹ "Collectively shat the bed". Primary assist goes to Chris McMurtry of Hockey Country. Second assist to Tom Luongo of Sabre Rattling.