Carolina Hurricanes: Win Streak Ends at the Hands of Tampa Bay
The Carolina Hurricanes lost a sloppy game filled with unfortunate penalties taken against the best team in the NHL. The rest of the Metro Division did not behave as we would have liked and the Hurricanes’ lead on the non-playoff teams has narrowed.
It wasn’t a game we needed to win, but it would have been nice. We’ve been in a playoff spot for a while now and we’ve all gotten comfortable in that position. All the analytics websites you can find give the Carolina Hurricanes about a 94%-96% chance to make the playoffs. We are currently only three points ahead of Columbus who sits in ninth place in the Conference. We have not clinched anything yet.
1. Missed Opportunity to Steal One
I’ll be honest.
I did not expect to win this game. The Tampa Bay Lightning are really good. Like really good.
But the Carolina Hurricanes had two separate leads in this game and entered the third period with a chance to win. The Lightning played an overtime game in DC last night, so they weren’t exactly fresh. But the Hurricanes let this one slip away.
This wasn’t a game that the Carolina Hurricanes had to win. We had more important games leading up to this and we have more important games coming up. The Lightning are in the Atlantic Division and have locked up the President’s Trophy. If there’s a game you have to lose in March, it’d be this one.
But they were so close.
This would have continued the winning streak on the homestand and would have kept pace with everyone else that won last night. Note: we’re not in yet, folks. The Canadiens beat the Islanders, which, at first glance, may seem like a good thing. However, we are pretty close to being on the outside looking in. I’d rather be in than out, even if that means four games against the team were talking about now. The Hurricanes need to keep the foot on the gas from here on out.
It was a game the Carolina Hurricanes could have won, they were sloppy in the third period with penalties, see below, and the energy just wasn’t there. Curtis McElhinney was probably better than the score indicated but it wasn’t anybody’s best night.
2. Jordan Staal
After Yanni Gourde was ejected for a dirty hit on Staal, Jordan left the game to head to the locker room. It was a more than scary moment as a leader of the team exited the game with what appeared to be a head injury after missing an extended period of time with a concussion. Trevor Van Riemsdyk quickly came to his aid on the ice and Justin Williams gave Gourde a pretty involved talking to as he headed off the ice. It was tense.
But Jordan came back. No one would have said anything if Staal wanted to sit out the remainder of the game after a head scare, but he did anyway. I was personally a little nervous that he did come back. The hit was very rough and he looked dazed getting up. But I am in no position to second guess the medical staff of an NHL team, so I was happy to see him.
The impact Jordan Staal has on this team begins inside the faceoff dot. Sebastian Aho is the number one center, but when we need a faceoff win late in the game in the defense zone, Brind’Amour is going with Jordan. I’m not in the locker room but I assume his leadership presence in there is more than noticeable. Last night though, Jordan scored on a breakaway to put the Canes ahead one goal at the time. Jordan was emphatic with his celebration as he completed the brief storybook-ness of his night.
My point is, last night was a microcosm of what Jordan means to this team. He won’t lead the team in goals, and he doesn’t wear a C anymore, but he’s a player this team needs.
3. Too Many Penalties
As our very own site expert pointed out during the Lightning Capitals game last night, the Tampa Bay power play is good:
It’s no coincidence that the best team in the league as the best power play in the league. It’s not hard to imagine that the Hurricanes no how good this power play is. If they did, they didn’t seem to play like they did. To be fair, the officiating did not help. There were more than a couple of questionable calls. Regardless, you cannot give the officials the benefit of the doubt against a team this could with the man advantage.
More than a couple penalties looked sloppy and undisciplined, including one the the dying minutes of the third period with the game on the line that allowed the Lightning to ice the game. Micheal Ferland took a tripping penalty that was not exactly that much of a trip, but you can’t have your stick near a guys feet like that with the game on the line. As discussed earlier, this was not a must-win, like the Penguins game was, and like the Montreal game will be on Sunday (I’m inclined to say Minnesota is pretty must-win as well), but it was a game the Canes could have won.
23. Final. 3. 109. 6
The Hurricanes are in a great spot with nine games to go. They can recover from this. It is a good thing that relatively undisciplined games are uncharacteristic of this team. But they need to stay that way.
Next. Hurricanes sign Mattheos to ELC. dark
Question for CC Readers: How much of this loss would you pin on the officials in comparison to the team just being outplayed by a better Tampa team?