Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Keys to Win Season Opener vs. Montreal
It’s been a long offseason and a long preseason… but we are here. It is FINALLY October and it is finally hockey season, the Carolina Hurricanes face off in their first regular 2019-2020 season game against the Montreal Canadiens.
A rivalry between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes has been on and off for the last two decades. However, things started really blowing up when Montreal offer-sheeted Sebastian Aho on July 1st. Ever since, the two fanbases have been at each other’s throats.
Montreal barely missed the playoffs last season, so it shouldn’t be a shocker that this team is going to do their best to not make it close. You can expect the Canadiens to bring one desperate game, they need this game more than the Hurricanes do.
Their offensive corps should be heating up more with Max Domi and Jesperi Kotkaniemi having another season of experience under their belts. Losing Antti Niemi, they upgraded to Keith Kinkaid, who will backup Carey Price, their goaltending looks better, as well. Their question mark is on their defense.
Our Opening Night roster is SET! #LetsGoCanes https://t.co/TH8aE1QMSB
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 3, 2019
Montreal will be no easy pushover. The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have to bring their A game, they’ve set up a good-looking roster for Opening Night. We’ve waited about five months for real hockey, but five months for a win. The last four games that counted for the Hurricanes didn’t go too well, what do the Canes need to win at home, with a packed house, and possibly a storm surge?
1. Lay the Body
The mood will already be in the building. The Hurricanes fans in the PNC Arena do not like the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens will want to go full speed right from the get-go of this game, and bringing physicality will slow them down.
Although it is a key to the game, it is still a question mark who could bring the physicality that was lost with Micheal Ferland. Most could see that in Julien Gauthier in the preseason, but he was sent down to the Charlotte Checkers this week. It could be Jordan Martinook and Brock McGinn, perhaps even Andrei Svechnikov.
Bringing the physicality will make the crowd go wild. Make them pay for offer sheeting Aho. Show them that PNC Arena is the home for the Hurricanes and that playing a game here as the road team is going to sting.
Even if it is not laying a big hit, pushing the Canadiens around in front of the goalie’s crease or evicting them out of the corners in a puck battle, would go a long way. Use the body to force Montreal to be out of position.
2. Quick Power Play
The Hurricanes power play did not look great in the preseason. It hasn’t looked good for years now, it’s become a meme. Not just for this game, but for this season, they need to change the reputation of this team’s power play.
With all the fresh new talent, placed on top of the talented offensive corps this team already has, this team has insane speed. That speed needs to be used as an advantage, especially with the man-advantage.
The Hurricanes need to move a lot, force the defenders to drain themselves, and force them out of position. Quick passes and deception to fool them, then hitting one-timers and taking out the goalie’s eyes. That’s what teams with good power plays do.
Montreal needs to get burned, if they take a penalty against the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes can’t let the man-advantage go by every time, every failed power play is a shot to the team’s confidence. This game will set the precedent for the next few games, after the bout with Montreal.
3. Score First
Similar to laying the body, scoring first will get PNC Arena into the game. Carey Price needs to be heckled with a goal early or at least be the first goalie to give up the goal in this game. Price will have that goal in his mind for the rest of the night.
Perhaps, Haydn Fleury can finally get his first NHL goal, to rub it in his brother Cale Fleury‘s face. Hopefully, with the first goal, the Hurricanes can continue to add and blow the Canadiens out.
The first step is always as important as the last one, this game is a must-win. You’ve got to win against your rival, you’ve got to show your fans that last season wasn’t a fluke, you’ve got to have that first victory to remember when bad times hit this season.
If there was a team to pull for, the Hurricanes likely pull out a close victory from Raleigh. With the game last night between the St Louis. Blues and Washington Capitals, overtime hockey is fun to watch, but not this game. Montreal doesn’t deserve a point in the standings.
152. Prediction. 4. 109. 2
The game will be at 07:00PM Eastern Standard Time, with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Carolina Hurricanes. Hurricanes Legend Cam Ward will be the Siren Sounder for the night.
More. Fan Expectations for the Carolina Hurricanes 2019-2020 Season. light
Question for Cardiac Cane Readers: Will the Hurricanes power play break through tonight?