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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Takeaways from First Playoff Loss in a Decade

By Bryan Walsh

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on in the third period against the Washington Capitals in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on in the third period against the Washington Capitals in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. #PlayoffSvech

The Hurricanes’ beat writer for the Athletic, Sara Civian called it:

Andrei Svechnikov, at the ripe old age of 19, scored the only goals in favor of the Hurricanes last night. One was on a beautiful feed from Lucas Wallmark. Despite generating lots of shots, as usual, the Hurricanes struggled to find the back of the net, also kind of as usual. It took the effort of a teenager to beat Braden Holtby in the third period and give life to the Canes.

Svech has had a very good, under-the-radar rookie season. He scored twenty goals on the year, but was also a physical force throughout the season. He really plays a complete game, even if he has a lot he will be able to improve on throughout his career. He was introduced to playoff hockey for the first time in his short career last night. Brooks Orpik led the welcome wagon.

In a hit that bordered on interference at best, Orpik knocked Svech clean off the play and quickly disposed of the puck. Svech was thus quickly introduced to how the game is played in the playoffs. Sticks are gripped a little tighter and every play is that much more physical.

If the Hurricanes want to continue to push the Capitals and make a run at this series, they will have to continue to match that physicality. Micheal Ferland started things early with four hits in the first five minutes of the game, but big two way forwards like Svech will have to show up as well.

The Capitals, if nothing else, know how to score. It will take solid defensive efforts for sixty minutes at a time to win this series, or at least make it competitive.

The end result isn’t what we wanted but progress was made.

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