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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Starting Round Two with a Win

By Tony Trotmann

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes shake hands after the Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals and Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes shake hands after the Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 16: Robin Lehner #40 of the New York Islanders defends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 16: Robin Lehner #40 of the New York Islanders defends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on April 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Figure Out Lehner

This comes with the assumption that Barry Trotz keeps the ball rolling with Robin Lehner over Thomas Greiss. Lehner has been rolling as he started in all four games for the Islanders against the Penguins. The question comes up to if Trotz starts Greiss because of his experience in the regular season against the Hurricanes as he started in all four games against the Hurricanes, winning three and losing one.

This key is compatible with either goaltender. The Hurricanes need to figure out the weak-spots of the goaltender in net early. In the series with the Capitals, the Hurricanes figured out, if possible, aim for Braden Holtby‘s blocker side and it worked. This is no different, the Hurricanes need to solve Lehner early as he leads in both goals against average with 1.47 and save percentage with .956%.

The Islanders defense can be given lots of credit for Lehner’s success so far in the playoffs and even in the regular season. That is also the case for Mrazek, Lehner and Mrazek both have for the most part, saved the shots they’re expected to get as the defense limits the quality of the shots they receive. Lehner has been hot and the Hurricanes need to try rocking him with an early goal if possible.

Most of the Penguins goals in the first round against the Islanders involved shots from the point that had forwards screening Lehner in front. With defensemen like Jaccob Slavin, Justin Faulk, and Dougie Hamilton who can contribute offensively, the Hurricanes can definitely take quality shots from the point and the forwards have played decent in front of goaltenders to put up a screen in front.

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