Canes aim for more scoring

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes' first practice of 2010 ended Friday with several players lined up, firing shot after shot, slamming pucks into the net in rapid-fire fashion.

If only the Canes could do that more often in games.

Consider that the Hurricanes have scored fewer than three goals in 24 games this season. Their record in those games: 1-20-3.

Loss No. 20 came on New Year's Eve against the New York Rangers. Carolina jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first period on Joni Pitkanen's power-play goal but did not score again, putting a season-low 18 shots on goal.

"There wasn't as much for either team in that game, at both ends," Canes coach Paul Maurice said Friday. "They play a real good, grinding defensive style of game."

That could be a problem for the Hurricanes again today against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers again will look to clog the neutral zone, back-checking and thwarting the Canes' speed and slowing the game's tempo.

Maurice called Thursday's game a "slog," and it may be that way again today if the Rangers have their way. But regardless of opponents' defensive tactics, which vary from game to game, the Hurricanes (10-23-7) must find a way to bust through that three-goal barrier.

"We have had a long stretch of two or less," Maurice said. "Getting over that offensive hump, I think, is huge mentally for our team."

The Canes, 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.42), erupted for six on Monday against the Washington Capitals, winning 6-3. They also scored three in the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers two games ago, before losing 4-3 in a shootout.

But the Rangers game Thursday was like so many this season, and a near replay of Carolina's 3-1 loss to the Rangers on Dec. 21. New York stymied the Canes' top lines - defenseman Marc Staal again was effective against older brother Eric Staal - while Marian Gaborik (two assists) led the Rangers' offense and Brandon Dubinsky again scored the winning goal.

"We have to do a better job of being on the attack," Staal said. "I don't think we generated enough on the forecheck, getting pucks behind their defense. We've got to shoot pucks from everywhere. That's our game."

The Hurricanes have been playing without injured forwards Erik Cole and Chad LaRose, who may begin skating next week, and Maurice said they will be missing forwards Sergei Samsonov and Scott Walker today. Maurice said both have upper-body injuries. The Canes on Friday recalled forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty from the Albany River Rats (AHL), and placed Walker on injured reserve.

While the Hurricanes aren't getting a lot of offense from anyone, they have been missing production from the blue line. Pitkanen's goal was his second of the season and the first in 25 games. The Canes' defensemen have 13 goals total - five by Tim Gleason - after scoring 45 last season.

Pitkanen said his first inclination is to try and find an open teammate. Against the Rangers, he unleashed a shot from the high slot that goaltender Henrik Lundqvist couldn't handle.

"I tell myself before every game to shoot the puck," Pitkanen said. "That's how I can help our team."

The Canes could use it.