Brind'Amour roasts Canes' effort vs. Oilers: Top players 'gotta show up'
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour wasn't pleased with his team's performance in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The club's best players, in particular, disappointed Brind'Amour.
"Our top guys, especially, gotta show up a little more," he said postgame. "You could definitely see their top guys out there. We gotta be better."
Brind'Amour's postgame tone was consistent with his candid midgame interview with TNT's Darren Pang.
Rod Brind'Amour is not thrilled with today's performance#CauseChaos pic.twitter.com/kh8cu7ojr6
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The Hurricanes rank last in the league with a team save percentage of .867. The goaltending struggled again Thursday, as Pyotr Kochetkov was pulled after allowing three goals on six shots. Antti Raanta didn't play great in relief, allowing three goals on 28 shots.
However, Brind'Amour defended Kotechtkov and instead took aim at the team's preparation.
"You don't blame him. We weren't ready. The faceoff play they ran, we showed it 15 times. Fifteen times before the game, and we fall asleep on it," Brind'Amour said, referring to Edmonton's second goal. "That's just preparation. Guys weren't dialed in."
HOT START IN OIL COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/ireZes3yAL
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Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal echoed his coach's comments.
"It was all-around crap. Just no fight back," Staal said. "Everyone was just hoping for a chance."
Staal added his team made it too easy on the Oilers, who scored four goals in the first period, including two in the opening 41 seconds, and never looked back.
"I don't even know if they broke a sweat," he said. "Just all-around embarrassing."
The Hurricanes won't have to wait long for a chance to right the ship, as they're back in action Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
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