Carolina Hurricanes: Three Takeaways from Silencing the Lightning

The Carolina Hurricanes Say it’s Bo-Time!

The contest between Carolina and Tampa Bay can be summarized as a battle of special teams. The exceptional Hurricanes penalty kill managed to stave off the Lightning powerplay on all but one attempt across the night, and the Canes powerplay managed to steal a goal early in the first period to get on the board.

Despite lacking Erik “Bo-Time” Haula, the Hurricanes sneaking one past Curtis McElhinney and the Lightning on the powerplay had to be the most impactful goal of the entire night. It provided the Canes with an early edge, placed the Lightning on the defensive, and infused the whole team with an energy that has been lacking for the last several games.

That energy would resonate across the entire roster, providing the morale boost that the Hurricanes needed to keep Tampa Bay reeling for most of the game. It wasn’t until the third period before the Lightning gained any traction, due in part to Point’s powerplay goal, and out-shot the Hurricanes nearly eight-to-one. By then, however, it was a little too late for Tampa.

Had the Carolina Hurricanes not been robbed of their third powerplay opportunity by Dzingel’s ill-timed penalty, the Canes could have found twine a second time on the man-advantage. By that point, they were starting to regain cohesion after Tampa all but erased the lead in five minutes and twenty-four seconds.