Carolina Hurricanes After Dark Part 3: Three Keys for Victory in Anaheim
By Luke Schull
The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to rebound after a lackluster effort in San Jose. The keys to victory rest with the top line finally getting a goal, discipline, and winning net front battles.
Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes (6-2-0) aim to bounce back from a disappointing effort against the San Jose Sharks in which they dug themselves an early hole and could never recover. They fell victim to a first period hat trick, and they looked generally jet lagged.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks (5-2-0) are coming off of a solid effort against the Buffalo Sabres in which they potted five goals. They also racked up 24 penalty minutes just for fun. Here are some numbers and names to know as the Carolina Hurricanes prepare for the Ducks.
The Anaheim Ducks rank 28th in power play efficiency (5.5%) and 9th in penalty kill success rate (84.6%). They’ve only let up twelve goals in their seven games, which is the 5th least. They also boast the third highest face-off win percentage at 54%.
The Ducks’ leading scorer is Jakub Silfverberg (6). Other names to watch for are Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler. An honorable mention goes out to former future Hurricane, Ondrej Kase. Let’s take a dive and consider what the Carolina Hurricanes need to do to keep these guys in check and ensure victory.