Carolina Hurricanes: 3 keys to victory vs. Blue Jackets
Both the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets could be major players in the Metropolitan Division race in 2017-18, and they meet on Oct. 10.
The Carolina Hurricanes have a big game on tap on Oct. 10 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. If the Canes want to take that next step in the Metropolitan Division, it starts with defeating teams like the Blue Jackets.
This is the first of four matchups against the Jackets. The first starts at home, at PNC Arena, followed by two matchups at Columbus, and then another one at home to finish off the series. Yet, if the Canes and Blue Jackets both take the steps forward they could end up meeting in the NHL Playoffs as well.
That’s the ultimate goal for the Canes this season is to end an eight season playoff drought. The last time that Carolina made the playoffs was in 2009 when they made an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Carolina won their first game of the season, in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild. Meanwhile, Columbus enters this game 1-1, with a win over the New York Islanders and loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
A 2-0 start would mean big things for the Canes as they look to build some momentum for a solid start to the season, something they have struggled with in recent years. The Blue Jackets have gotten mixed results in their starts in recent years.
Taking advantage of home ice really helped the Canes against the Wild. PNC Arena was sold out in what has become a rare happening.
Now, let’s take a look at 3 keys to victory for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 10.
3. Rattle Sergei Bobrovsky early
The Blue Jackets will have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner starting between the Pipes against Carolina. Sergei Bobrovsky continued playing at a Vezina Trophy winning level against the Islanders in his only start of the season so far.
Bobrovsky gets the start against Scott Darling for the Canes. That will be a lot for Darling to live up to after giving up four goals to the Wild. The 29-year-old Bobrovsky looks to be well on his way to eclipsing the mark of seven shutouts he achieved last season.
The Canes put a lot of pressure on Minnesota goalie Alex Stalock to the tune of four goals. They out-shot the Wild 42-27. The offensive pressure was there for Carolina to control and win the game.
Bobrovsky is a much better goalie than Stalock and the Canes will need to put on the same type of offensive pressure. In his two starts against the Canes last season, Bobrovsky never posted less than a .946 save percentage.
2. Contributions from the blue line on offense
One of Carolina’s four goals against the Wild came from defenseman Noah Hanifin. The depth that the Canes have on defense is one of the best parts of this team as well. If players like Hanifin, Jaccob Slavin, Haydn Fleury, etc. can continue to provide a spark on offense, this team will be successful.
Slavin sealed the shootout win for the Canes against the Wild on a very nice backhand deke around Stalock. It was the only goal scored by either team in the shootout as Darling came up huge, shutting down Minnesota on three chances.
While Hanifin notched the only point of any Carolina defenseman in the season opener, Fleury and Slavin helped apply pressure the entire game. Slavin also made a nice move to setup that goal that Hanifin scored.
Brett Pesce was also a +2 in that contest. We’ll see what happens with newly acquired defender Trevor van Riemsdyk as he left the Wild game with an undisclosed injury. According to reports, van Riemsdyk was not back at practice on Oct. 9.
Trevor van Riemsdyk not at #Canes practice. Lee Stempniak not back at practice yet, either.
— Michael Smith (@MichaelSmithNC) October 9, 2017
1. Sebastian Aho stays hot
If Carolina is to ultimately make a run this season, it will be through young stars like Sebastian Aho and Jeff Skinner. Aho sparked the Canes with two assists against the Wild, including a nice spin-o-rama assist to Victor Rask late in the third period.
The Blue Jackets also have a very good young core that will challenge Carolina. Columbus brought over Artemi Panarin in a trade with the Blackhawks for Brandon Saad. That trade has paid dividends for both teams Panarin leads the Jackets in points.
Skinner and Aho were the two leading scorers for the Canes last season. Now, Skinner should be motivated to prove he should have been named a captain for Carolina by Bill Peters. Meanwhile, Aho is already showing he can take another step forward this season.
Next: Canes: preview, predictions vs. Blue Jackets
The creativity and skill that Aho, Skinner, Rask, Lindholm, etc. bring to the Canes attack is something very few NHL teams can match. It could give the Canes the edge they need to defeat a very solid Metropolitan opponent like the Blue Jackets.