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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys for Metro Success

By Jeb Bohn

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 14: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes leaves the ice following warmups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 14: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes leaves the ice following warmups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in action against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period to move on to Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Washington Capitals

The reigning division champs have made a few moves since Brock McGinn‘s Game 7 overtime winner ended their season back in April.  Underachieving winger Andre Burakovsky was shipped off to the Colorado Avalanche.  Versatile forward Brett Connolly, coming off of a season where he posted career-highs in goals (22), assists (24), and points (46), signed on with the Florida Panthers.

GM Brian MacLellan brought in Richard Panik on a sweetheart deal to help fill the void left by Connoly’s departure.  Carl Hagelin, acquired in a February trade with the Los Angeles Kings, will help ease the loss of Burakovsky.

Alex Ovechkin is coming off of his eighth 50-goal season, posting his highest goal output since 2014-15.  At 33, Father Time should start corroding his offense, but then again Ovechkin isn’t your ordinary NHLer.  Complimenting him are Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and 70-point blueliner John Carlson.  One point of interest will be in how the NHL responds to Kuznetsov lying during an investigation into his drug abuse.

On the blueline, Matt Niskanen was traded to Philadelphia for Radko Gudas.  While Niskanen’s play has deteriorated, I just don’t like Gudas.  I have no doubt that situation will worsen this season.  Having said that, I acknowledge that he has proven himself adept at shot suppression.  Veteran defender (and persona non grata) Brooks Orpik retired after 16 seasons.

The Capitals, as expected, did well offensively, slotting 5th in the league with 274 goals (3.34 per game).  They did that on 2492 shots (30.39 per game), posting a second place-worthy 11% shooting percentage, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lighting.  On the defensive side, they allowed 2584 shots (31.5 per game) and posted a team save percentage of .904.

Braden Holtby was solid as usual, his numbers improving from a somewhat subpar 2017-18, though still well below the bar he set from 2010-2017.  Third-year backstop Pheonix Copley saw action in 27 games, posting numbers slightly below those of Holtby.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1170367371221131265

Keys for the Hurricanes:

  • Line-for-line – The Capitals have 4 good lines and coach Todd Reirden won’t hesitate to roll them all.  Rod Brind’Amour, gifted with perhaps the best depth the Hurricanes have ever had, will readily utilize every player on the bench.  If new additions like Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel mesh with their teammates, the Carolina Hurricanes will be able to ice dangerous lines at any point of the game.
  • Focused energy – To say that this spring’s first-round matchup featured some drama is a gross understatement.  Combine the number of times these teams will face each other with the fact that hockey players have long memories and we’re set to see some fireworks.  The Hurricanes have to focus that energy constructively and not let their emotions get the better of them.  The less we see Ovechkin on the power play, the better.
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