Tom Renney sends a message to Hall and Eberle by benching them tonight.
It wasn't close and it wasn't pretty tonight, between Edmonton and Carolina. The Hurricanes scored 4 in the first and finished with a 7-1 victory against the Oilers. With the game out of reach, the ice must have felt the same way for Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, who were benched in the third period.
"I understand why it was done," said Hall. "I can't blame him (Tom Renney) for not playing me."
Hall had 2 shifts in the third and played a grand total of 54 seconds. Eberle only had one shift for a measly total of 40 seconds, in the final frame.
"They (Hall and Eberle) have to understand what we expect of them," said a not very happy head coach after the game. "There is a certain amount of discipline necessary and it's a lesson learned."
Renney didn't further elaborate on the discipline comment, but he didn't have to for the first overall pick in 2010. Hall swung his stick and hit the glass, after an offside in the second period. In his mind, those actions didn't go over well with the bench boss.
"I don't think Tom liked that," explained the winger. "I just got frustrated and that's an unacceptable response when I slashed the glass. After that I wasn't surprised I was sitting in the third."
Hall said he can't wait for another chance to play in a couple of nights. That happens for him, Eberle and the Oilers Thursday, when they are in Detroit.
