1. Stop Choking the Lead
In their last four games, despite winning three of them, the Carolina Hurricanes have held multiple goal leads and saw it get chipped away. The frightening part is these games being against inferior teams in the standings.
They play the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo. They had a 3-1 lead, that lead vanishes and a late 4-3 lead collapses, as Buffalo brings the extra attacker out, forcing an overtime winner from Dougie Hamilton.
The next stop in the road trip goes to Minnesota against the Minnesota Wild, with the Hurricanes having a 2-0 and 3-1 lead at times and once again, needing overtime to win the game. Andrei Svechnikov would save the day with a puck that had eyes.
Although the Hurricanes woke up and prevented overtime, a 3-0 lead that becomes a 3-2 lead, with all those goals in the 3rd period is concerning. The Chicago Blackhawks should’ve read their homework before the game. The Carolina Hurricanes do not choke a three-goal load, but they choke a two-goal lead.
The Hurricanes also had a 2-0 lead against the Philadelphia Flyers at home, which didn’t end in a good story. Just like the beginning of the season, going into an intense overtime or shootout isn’t going to work out every time. Blowing leads is irresponsible and reckless, a good team will finish that comeback in extra time, the trend needs to stop tonight.