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Carolina Hurricanes: Drop Important Game against Capitals

By Omar Abdelgawad

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) watcha puck fly toward the net during the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals NHL game March 26, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) watcha puck fly toward the net during the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals NHL game March 26, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 26: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save against Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals in the first period at Capital One Arena on March 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 26: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save against Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals in the first period at Capital One Arena on March 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Goaltending won’t bail you out every time

Petr Mrazek saw a total of 27 shots last night and stood on his head for most of the game. But the high powered offense of the Washington Capitals proved too much for the veteran netminder. Even then, he managed to keep the game to within one goal up until the past the halfway point of the third period. Netminding was not the problem in this game, relying on it to win was.

While both teams pushed hard in the first frame and had some excellent high danger chances, it was the Washington Capitals who found the net first on a T.J. Oshie shot. Mrazek had no chance on that puck. the goal could have been avoided if Justin Faulk had simply turned his stick around and deflected the pass from Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Now that one goal did not dictate the game, nor was Faulk the reason the game was lost. That said, blown coverage and lazy play in the defensive zone has come back to bite the Carolina Hurricanes several time now. While both Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney have been playing fantastic lights out hockey in net for most of the season, the Defense needs to return to form.

While they stepped back up in the second frame, there were still too many high danger chances from the Washington Capitals. During the amazing run in January and February it was a combination of excellent netminding and outstanding defense that allowed Carolina to compile points and get back into the playoff picture.

Last night the team did not bail out Petr Mrazek, who despite playing an excellent game was left out to dry several times. At points he had Ovechkin looking to the heavens and wondering what he did to upset the hockey gods who seemed to refuse giving him his 49th goal in his search for another 50+ goal season. Early in the third the hockey gods finally heard his prayers:

That shot was an absolute rocket and in no way on Petr Mrazek. Perhaps Justin Faulk could have closed the distance between himself and Ovechkin and not allow him to get such a good look at net. But again, this goal did not decide the game. The defense allowed three solid high danger shots on Mrazek that were more than likely going to go in. Not to mention the offense couldn’t get much going. Not with how how they decided to enter the zone.

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