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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: Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes in the third 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: Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes in the third 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) /

2. Smart Special Teams

The Carolina Hurricanes’ power-play and penalty-kill was abysmal in Game 1. In the first period, they allowed the Capitals to go 100% on the power-play, giving up two-for-two. The penalty-kill improved in the two periods after. The Carolina Hurricanes had three power-plays and had nothing to show for it, getting no goals on all three.

On multiple occasions, the Capitals did not even have to clear the puck for the penalty-kill, the Hurricanes would incidentally do it for them. Making bouncy passes back to the point that eludes the players at the point and having to go back and regain entry and set up a play.

Successful 5-on-5 play will not be enough, there will be many opportunities for both teams with the extra man to change the tone of the game. With Svechnikov being on fire to score two even-strength goals to get the Hurricanes within one, the decision to not put the focused Andrei Svechnikov on the power-play was questionable.

The penalty-kill was atrocious in the first period, we were there. Like it or not, the Capitals power-play is molded around their captain, Ovechkin. His spot is obvious enough and players need to make note of him, while also respecting the other players on the Capitals power-play as they are dangerous, as well.

To say the least, the Hurricanes penalty-kill actually looked excellent in the later periods of the game. They had quality chances. They held onto the puck and wasted extra seconds before clearing it. If they had space, they took it and used their speed to their advantage to create short-handed chances. That said. Stay. Out. Of. The. Box.

The Hurricanes power-play has the potential to be deadly and we have to expect it will only get better, as the mistakes help to construct this young team.

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