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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys versus Gritty and the Flyers

By Zac Hynus

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 06: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers dives across his crease as Samuel Morin #5 and Ryan Hartman #38 look back into the net against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 6, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hurricanes went on to defeat the Flyers 4-3. Tonight's game is the last of the Flyers' season. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 06: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers dives across his crease as Samuel Morin #5 and Ryan Hartman #38 look back into the net against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 6, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hurricanes went on to defeat the Flyers 4-3. Tonight's game is the last of the Flyers' season. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 06: Mark Friedman #59 of the Philadelphia Flyers pursues Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes on April 6, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tonight, is Friedman’s NHL debut. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 06: Mark Friedman #59 of the Philadelphia Flyers pursues Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes on April 6, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tonight, is Friedman’s NHL debut. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Puck Possession

If you go back and watch the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the New Jersey Devils, there are two major takeaways from the way the Hurricanes played. The Canes could not pass the puck cleanly; and when the boys in red even had the puck, they were dispossessed of the puck in a matter of seconds a little too often.

The style of play that Rod Brind’Amour implements requires crisp and precise passing. Otherwise the whole system turns into a game of dump and chase where any team with decent speed on the ice could cause the Hurricanes offense problems like they did on the 2nd of November.

The Hurricanes need to get back to the form they had versus the Calgary Flames. A game where the Canes dominated in puck possession in the third period, and thus dominated the pace of play, eventually scoring the tying and the winning goals with some help from Andrei Svechnikov’s goal of the year candidate.

Hopefully these last few days off, that nice trip down to Charlotte to cheer on the Panthers, and a good morning skate in Philadelphia, the Carolina Hurricanes will reinstall the disciplined puck procession game that they prided themselves on earlier this season.

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