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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Game 2 vs Capitals

By Tony Trotmann

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals follows the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period 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: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals follows the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period 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) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 11: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) hits Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) in the third 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 right wing Tom Wilson (43) hits Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) in the third 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) /

1. Take No Prisoners

Although the calls from the referees in Game 1 were questionable, especially in the first period. The Hurricanes cannot take this team lightly. Whether or not, the Hurricanes decide to play the body, the Capitals will.

In Game 1, the Capitals continued to block quality shots, finish checks, and commit penalties that went undetected by the referees. Tom Wilson has made himself visible early on in this series. This is how Stanley Cup Playoff hockey is played.

The Carolina Hurricanes may have had 37 hits to the Washington Capitals’ 35 hits, but they did not take the crowd out of it very often. The Hurricanes need to finish checks and ensure their checks are intended to hurt or force a juicy turnover.

If the Hurricanes can finish and take players off their feet, they will not only silence the crowd at Capital One Arena, but also boost the adrenaline of teammates on the bench and on the ice. After all, who doesn’t enjoy watching their players take full advantage of an opponent not keeping their head up.

The Hurricanes also need to stand up for their teammates and take no prisoners. Nino Neiderreiter and Sebastian Aho were handled to the ice way too often in Game 1 and that will kill a forward’s confidence. Justin Faulk and Michael Ferland were satisfactory in finishing checks and tagging players back for prior checks. Two players will not be enough though, the whole team needs to pitch in.

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