Fansided

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)
2 of 4
Next
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) /

The Hurricanes first playoff game in a decade was a bit of a rollercoaster. The Hurricanes’ comeback bid in the third period fell short but they gave a legitimately solid effort. There are no moral victories in the playoffs but the Hurricanes can hold their heads high after a valiant effort. Playoff hockey is back.

How long as it been since the Hurricanes played in a playoff game?

Finally, that question is not that painful to answer. It had been a long time coming. I wrote about how long it had been here. Despite the loss, I know I wasn’t the only fan that was at least happy to be invited to the dance.

The Hurricanes began the game poorly. Despite amassing most of the games’ shots, the Capitals scored three goals in the first period. All the storylines were coming true. The Hurricanes were supposed to dominate in puck possession and shots, they did.

The Capitals were supposed to dominate in quality chances and score more, they did. The Capitals have all the playoff experience, while the Hurricanes have zero.

Despite that, the Hurricanes stuck with it and held the Capitals to four shots in the second period. They also scored zero goals, but one step at a time. In the third, Andrei Svechnikov scored twice, making it a one goal game. Lars Eller sealed things for the Capitals with an empty net goal, but there are things to be happy with after last night.

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.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) makes a first period save on shot but Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) makes a first period save on shot but Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Special Teams Woes Continue

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the Hurricanes were the better team during five on five play. They outshot and outscored the Capitals five on five. The Capitals scored two goals with the power play and one when the Canes had the empty net. Five on five game, the score is 2-1 Hurricanes.

In other words, we need to stay out of the box.

In other other words, we need to score on the power play.

The special teams woes have been well documented this season and I don’t want to re-litigate everything, but special teams were the difference last night. When TJ Oshie took a high sticking penalty on Sebastian Aho late in the third period, the power play looked good. We generated decent scoring chances and a few good shots. The Capitals did a great job at blocking shots and Holtby showed up when he needed to.

Now about that penalty kill.

I am not an NHL hockey coach. I have never played professional hockey. It large part, I don’t know what I’m talking about.

But.

I do know what Alex Ovechkin likes to do on the power play.

He didn’t score on that above look, but come on. Now, I get it. You cover up Ovechkin, and Backstrom burns you. But you can’t have all four guys west of the dots staring at the puck. That’s just not how you play defense.

But regardless, you don’t have to worry about the Washington power play if you don’t give them any power plays. If we are able to stay out of the box, and at least apply pressure when the Capitals are in the box, we will have an infinitely better chance to win Game 2.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62) tussles with Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) in the first period on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Washington Capitals left wing Carl Hagelin (62) tussles with Carolina Hurricanes right wing Nino Niederreiter (21) in the first period on April 11, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Playoff Hockey is Back

The great thing about the NHL playoffs is that you need to win four times to win the series. Said another way, you get to lose up to three times and can still win the series. We burned one of those lives last night, but we get a chance to right the ship on Saturday. The series doesn’t start until someone loses on home ice.

Even if you drop the game on Saturday, we are still returning to Raleigh with games to be played. But there is no reason why we can’t still one in DC on Saturday. As discussed, if you straighten things out on special teams, and Petr Mrazek gives us sixty minutes like he did the last twenty last night, we will win.

We haven’t beaten the Capitals once this season, and we are due. Justin Williams and Rod Brind’Amour will know how to coach this team up between now and Saturday 3pm. The nerves were apparent for this team, and that makes sense. Ten different players made their playoff debut for the Hurricanes last night and there is certainly an adjustment period.

With that third period, and the energy that it brought, the Hurricanes won’t be gripping their sticks as tight as some other teams that lost in Game 1. If they can get off to a fast start in Game 2, things will start looking up. If Aho can get his act together for the first time in a month, things will start looking up even higher.

Look, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I really can’t complain. I’ve been waiting for this game for a decade. The energy in any NHL arena is insane in the playoffs. But there’s nothing like the RBC Center PNC Arena in the playoffs. Monday night it comes alive once again.

Must Read. Who should be nominated for which season awards from the Carolina Hurricanes?. light

We get another crack at the defending champs in an odd 3pm start tomorrow in DC. I expect the Hurricanes to play a little looser and a little more comfortable, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we head back to Raleigh down 2 games to 0. It is great to be talking about a playoff series again.

Next
Home / Hurricanes News

Schedule