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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Takeaways From The Buffalo Sabres Game

By Jon Orr

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 16: Curtis McElhinney #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes crouches in the crease to protect the net during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 16, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 16: Curtis McElhinney #35 of the Carolina Hurricanes crouches in the crease to protect the net during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 16, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 16: Lucas Wallmark #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammates Jordan Martinook #48 and Micheal Ferland #79 during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 16, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 16: Lucas Wallmark #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with teammates Jordan Martinook #48 and Micheal Ferland #79 during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 16, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Lucas Wallmark is a solid center

Lucas Wallmark is young! Lucas Wallmark is a great third line center, and excellent in the faceoff circle! Lucas Wallmark is also a grinder in every aspect of the game, and his game tying goal last night proved it! Diving behind Linus Ullmark to clean up the squeaker from fellow grinder Jordan Martinook to tie the game 1-1. That was a huge goal that saw the momentum shift in Carolina’s favor and their first goal in almost four periods of play.

Analyst Tripp Tracy put it best when he said “Wallmark does not  play with nerves”. That intangible can be invaluable as the team gets closer and closer to the playoffs. Wallmark also had significant time on the ice playing against Buffalo’s top line, and almost 14 minutes of ice time total, and held his own against the barrage that Buffalo is known to bring from their top line. As mentioned previously Wallmark could very well be the replacement for Jordan Staal down the line. He chose last night to display some of the hard nosed tendencies.

When even a third line rookie center like Lucas Wallmark is putting in the effort and grit, the rest of the team does as well. This with four goals and twelve separate Hurricanes getting points on them, it shows that there is chemistry in this team and effort shown from every level. It starts with how well they choose their shots:

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