After falling to a disastrous 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders last time out, the Carolina Hurricanes will be looking to get back in the saddle as they face the Montreal Canadiens on the road. What can we expect from the team after coach Rod Brind’Amour called them out after that ugly loss?
It hurts to remember just how bad that 4-1 loss to the Islanders was. Justin Williams had the lone goal for the Carolina Hurricanes, as the team appeared to collapse under poor goaltending and an unending schedule. This had been the third game in four nights, but coach Rod Brind’Amour wasn’t interested in excuses:
"“We wouldn’t have beat a minor-league team. That’s what we looked like out there tonight. I don’t even think they played well. It was a gross game for two periods. They capitalized on mistakes we gave them, and they hunkered down.”"
Tonight will surely see the return of Curtis McElhinney in net, as well as the return to the line-up of Valentin Zykov, who was called up on Sunday by the Canes. No definite word as yet on whether Jake Bean will make his NHL debut, but with Brett Pesce and Haydn Fleury both out, it’s almost certain he will do so. It’s been a long time coming for the Hurricanes’ 13th overall selection from the 2016 Entry Draft, but he’ll do us fans, and his family, proud. He had 11 points in 21 games with the Checkers, so perhaps he brings some much-needed offense to our struggling blue line.
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The Montreal Canadiens have surprised many this season with their upturned form. Despite missing Shea Weber, the Habs have put together some excellent results en route to posting an 11-8-5 record to date this season. The acquisitions of Max Domi (11-15-26) and Tomas Tatar (10-9-19) in the summer have given them something they missed, while the return of Carey Price has given their defense a new lease of life (hint, hint) despite his figures being almost identical to those of Scott Darling (.897% for Price vs .892% for Darling, and 3.17 GAA for Price vs 3.12 for Darling). This is not a foe to be taken lightly but we hope for, and expect, a response from the players to RBA’s comments, and that should see the Canes through.
The combination of better goaltending, improved special teams, and the infusion of youth to the lineup will surely see the Carolina Hurricanes rebound from that gutting loss to the Islanders, and get the season back on track. Keep the faith!
Prediction: Hurricanes 4-2 Canadiens
Question for CC readers:
What is YOUR prediction for the game? And who will be the hero for the Carolina Hurricanes?