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Carolina Hurricanes Game Day Thoughts: Running out of Room for Error

By Matthew Barlowe

Jan 21, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (7) looks to pass as Carolina Hurricanes right wing Lee Stempniak (21) trails the play during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Columbus beat Carolina 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson (7) looks to pass as Carolina Hurricanes right wing Lee Stempniak (21) trails the play during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Columbus beat Carolina 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Hurricanes will face one of the best teams left on their schedule tonight when they square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets

Any other time of the year Carolina Hurricanes taking three points out of a possible four would have been great results no matter who the opponent was.  Now, as the clock ticks down to midnight on a Cinderella story that might never be, the loss of a single point strikes a much more severe blow.

Especially against the lowly Detroit Red Wings who sit at the bottom of the Atlantic.  It was four points that felt almost guaranteed.  The Wings, playing for nothing but pride, would surely stand aside and let the Hurricanes pass on to more important foes.

Detroit didn’t get the script, though and took the extra point in the first game.  Not only that they took out the Carolina Hurricanes’ starting goaltender when Andreas Athanasiou crashed into Eddie Lack while scoring the overtime winner.  While scary at the time, Lack eventually suffered nothing more than a neck sprain.

Related Story: Jeff Skinner Leading the Charge

Tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Carolina Hurricanes will face their toughest test so far in keeping their point streak, and playoff hopes, alive.  The point streak ties the longest in franchise history at twelve games.

The Blue Jackets look to end that streak as they continue to climb up the standings.  They are only three points behind the Washington Capitals for the top of the Metropolitan division.  With the difference between winning the division and second being so drastic (the winner gets an easier first round matchup against the Bruins or Lightning while second has to face Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins) the Jackets will be looking to leave Raleigh with as many points as they possibly can.

The Jackets themselves have been on a tear as well.  Not technically a point streak, but in Columbus’s last fourteen games they are 10-3-1.  Many thought that Columbus had hit a wall after a mediocre January and early February, but the Blue Jackets seem to be getting hot at the right time.

Any way one looks at it this will be a tough win for the Carolina Hurricanes.  But like the title implies there is no longer any margin of error left.  The Hurricanes need to win out to guarantee themselves a shot at the playoffs.

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Game Day Thoughts

  • Elias Lindholm’s point streak ended on Monday in the overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.  He did score in the game on Tuesday and brought his point total to twelve points in twelve games.
  • Jeff Skinner’s goal streak ended on Tuesday at 8 goals in 6 games.  He got some help in the second game against the Red Wings, but the if the Carolina Hurricanes are going to beat the Jackets they need their best scorer to get back on the board
  • This year will be the first time in franchise history the Columbus Blue Jackets will finish a season over 100 points.  So does this make Jon Tortorella the front runner for the Jack Adams award?  Most likely given the dramatic turnaround from last years finish at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division
  • The most surprising aspect of Columbus’s year is that Cam Atkinson is leading the team in scoring.  He’s always been a good player and has scored over twenty goals the past three years. Most people wouldn’t pick him to lead scoring on a team with Brandon Saad, though.  His 15.2 shooting percentage is well above career average and could be part of the reason.  Too bad for Atkinson it’s not a contract year like Oshie.

Next: Staal is Key to Playoffs

  • While Atkinson’s play is part of Columbus’s resurgence, the biggest part is Sergei Bobrovsky’s return to Vezina form.  He’s the front runner for the award or should be. Bobrovsky leads the league in save percentage at a godly .935.  If he starts it will be a tough road to a win for the Hurricanes
  • And on the other end of the ice, Cam Ward will start tonight. Don’t need to hear an official announcement just know it.  So let’s all hope that good Cam shows up and not bad Cam
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