3. Play Hard, Earn It
After Williams scored to give the Hurricanes the lead in the third period of Game 3, the Hurricanes went berzerk and seemed to dominate every area of play. The Islanders couldn’t even enter the zone and when they did, it didn’t last long. The Hurricanes brought energy that led to winning chases to the puck and gaining possession to get chances on Lehner.
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The Hurricanes need to leave it all on the line, give their team a needed rest to recover all the injuries, prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals, against either the juggernaut Boston Bruins or the underrated Columbus Blue Jackets.
Whichever team it is, if the Hurricanes win this in Game 4 or 5, they will at least have more rest than their counterparts in the next round. The Hurricanes can go to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second postseason appearance in a row.
The Islanders are on the ropes and what to expect is a lot more defensive breakdowns but more offensive desperation from them. The Hurricanes should look to play a tight defensive game and play a punishing offensive game and the chemistry should mold well. Unlike Games 1 and 2, Game 4 will be similar to Game 3, there is likely to be a good amount of goals.
The New York Islanders are fighting for survival, fighting for a breath. The Hurricanes need to drown their energy, the crowd will deafen their ears, and the Islanders’ vision for the Cup needs to be blinded. Let’s not have a Game 5, let us enjoy Game of Thrones on Sunday while celebrating the Hurricanes going on to the Conference Finals.
Question for CC Readers: Do you think the Hurricanes will sweep the Islanders? Why or why not?