Carolina Hurricanes: Three things we’ve learned so far

The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals are locked in a 2-2 series that has now turned a best of seven into a best of three series over the next three games. Here are the three things that we have learned over the last four games.

On paper, the first-round matchup between Washington and Carolina didn’t figure to be very exciting. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Capitals earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a strong finish while the Hurricanes squeaked in at No. 7 with their first postseason appearance in a decade.

Just happy to be here

Most hockey pundits felt the Canes would be content to be in the playoffs and bring to an end nine years of futility. The postseason team with a rookie head coach, the youngest roster and the least amount of playoff experience would certainly fold under the bright lights of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For twenty minutes, they were right. The Capitals scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of the opening period of Game 1 to take a 3-0 lead. The Hurricanes’ penalty kill looked lost. Their offense reverted to early season form, peppering Braden Holtby with shots but failing to create Grade A scoring chances.

Then the real Hurricanes arrived. Carolina fought back behind a pair of goals from rookie Andrei Svechnikov and made the Capitals earn the 4-2 victory.

The same scenario played out in Game 2, when Washington jumped to a 2-0 lead. Carolina again showed its toughness, rallying to tie the score 2-2 and then again at 3-3 on a Dougie Hamilton power play goal with five minutes left. That Washington won the game in overtime may have overshadowed Carolina’s competitive fire and lulled the Capitals into a false sense of security.

While the rallies in the opening two games did not result in victory, it showed to the hockey world the Canes earned their spot in the playoffs and weren’t going to go down without a fight.

The fans are back

When Carolina won the Stanley Cup in 2006 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2009, their home arena gained a reputation for being one of the loudest stadiums in the NHL. Any concern that nine years of playoff futility had dimmed fans’ passion were dispelled in Game 3.

During the team’s three-month long push to make the playoffs, attendance increased in PNC Arena, but the intensity was nothing like that happened in the last two games.

Even Pierre McGuire, the curmudgeonly NBC hockey analyst who in another universe a long time ago served as a head coach for the franchise and embarrassingly “man-splained” hockey to Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne earlier this year, gushed about the crowd noise throughout NBC Sports’ Game 3 broadcast.

After the game, a dominating 5-0 Carolina win, players raved about the fans:

"“It was great. Loved it,” captain Justin Williams said. “It was absolutely electric.”“The crowd was unbelievable,” said Hamilton, who scored two power play goals. “It was one of the loudest buildings I’ve ever played in. Just so fun.”"

A record crowd of 19,202 turned out for Game 4, a scintillating 2-1 victory that wasn’t secured until goalie Petr Mrazek made the last of a series of spectacular saves in the waning seconds.

"“The crowd was insane,” Warren Foegele said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before in my life.”“I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like as a player,” said head coach Rod Brind’Amour. “On Monday, it kind of brought me back to those times. It’s exciting being in here when it’s that loud.”"

Defense stands tall

Mrazek shutout the Capitals in Game 3, and he wasn’t even one of the three stars in Carolina’s 5-0 victory. That speaks volumes about the defense in front of him.

The Capitals went a 30-minute stretch from the end of the first period to halfway through the third period with only one shot. Carolina has made it tough on the Capitals to enter the offensive zone, blocks shots like Manute Bol playing against a middle school team, and the forwards are helping out on the back-check.

Jordan Staal recorded 10 hits in Game 3, and emergency call-up Patrick Brown made his presence felt on his first shift, when he snuck up behind John Carlson and thwarted his attempt from the blueline.

In Games 3 and 4, Washington failed to score an even strength goal in 92:09 of ice time, which includes 2:03 of 6-on-5 at the end of Game 4.

The first four games of the playoff series with the Washington Capitals have been highly entertaining for hockey fans. A series that is now destined to go at least six games has featured breathtaking play from both teams and more than its share of controversy.

The Carolina Hurricanes have demonstrated their presence in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is merited.