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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 reasons playoff drought will be broken

By Andrew Miller

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 10: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate with goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 in a game on November 10, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 10: The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate with goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 in a game on November 10, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Alexander Wennberg #10 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for a loose puck during the first period of a game on November 10, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Alexander Wennberg #10 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes battle for a loose puck during the first period of a game on November 10, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Pesce/Slavin is a defensive pairing unlike any other

Brett Pesce just returned from concussion protocol after getting injured in a practice. He missed three games and it really cost the Canes on defense. Pesce and Jaccob Slavin have chemistry that is hard to find among two players.

Both players knows the tendencies of the other and can cover when a mistake is made. That is something that other defenders like Justin Faulk and Trevor van Riemsdyk were not able to do in Pesce’s place on the top defensive unit alongside Slavin.

While Pesce and Slavin do not possess the best offensive prowess, that is not what the Canes need them to do. They shut down the opposition’s top line and keep players like Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid held in check.

With the Canes having some trouble producing consistent numbers on the scoreboard, they need the blue line to step up more than ever. Pesce and Slavin did that again in the win over the Jackets, holding Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson off the score sheet completely.

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