Cardiac Cane
Fansided

Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Keys to Road Victory in Game 5 in Washington

By Tony Trotmann

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) skates off the ice after scoring a game tying goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals on April 13, 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 13: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) skates off the ice after scoring a game tying goal in the third period against the Washington Capitals on April 13, 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals leaves the ice following Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 18: Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals leaves the ice following Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Take No Excuses

As the Carolina Hurricanes will be told their game has been well and to continue, the Washington Capitals are being told to change their game and adjust. Despite the TJ Oshie injury being obviously, an accident, and post-game interviews after Game 4 being topics of interests, the Capitals are expected to step up their physical game and play a rougher and grittier game.

The Hurricanes have been physical but they need to weather the storm, Ovechkin and Tom Wilson will be called upon to get the crowd in it early with goals and big hits, whatever they can bring. Michael Ferland and Jordan Martinook are out with injuries, unless a game-time decision is made otherwise. Everyone will need to put their hand into the circle and play together and lay hits and silence this Capital One Arena crowd from the puck drop.

Although, it is social media outcries for the Capitals players to target Warren Foegele for an accident in Game 4, it wouldn’t be much of a shock if Capitals players start placing hits and covering up Foegele and the Hurricanes’ stars.

The Hurricanes should not allow any excuses for dirty plays by the Capitals. Game 1 and 2 was enough, the Hurricanes need to respond and show that they will not be pushed around. This does not call for taking penalties and targeting players, but it does call for protesting the referees and intensifying physicality.

Home/Analysis