Carolina Hurricanes: The Panic Button
By Thomas G
![RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 2: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 2: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/dbc385feb6f9227d461a2e61e816f3cfbfb76bcf47c9fa33af1dc22c7ce27cd1.jpg)
Part 3 Extended
“Don’t you see? This year is just a test; a play thing. This is the year we show everyone just how lethal our defenders are. We slowly bait our prey: this being teams that are desperate for good defensemen. Then, we strike. We trade someone and become better. This is how it was meant to happen. If we make the playoffs this year, great. It further proves how effective our defenders are.
But if we don’t, it doesn’t matter too much in the grand scheme of things. We are second in the league in shots allowed. If we end up in a poor position by the end of the season, it will be because of a lack of scoring or bad goaltending. The plan is functioning perfectly.”
“Are you really turning an 8-1 loss into a positive thing?”
“You bet!