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Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Shutout Loss to Boston Bruins

ByMatthew Nidiffer|
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 03: Boston Bruins right defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) breaks up the shot from Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on December 3, 2019, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 03: Boston Bruins right defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) breaks up the shot from Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on December 3, 2019, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 03: Charlie Coyle #13 of the Boston Bruins scores a goal against James Reimer #47 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at TD Garden on December 03, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Hurricanes 2-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 03: Charlie Coyle #13 of the Boston Bruins scores a goal against James Reimer #47 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at TD Garden on December 03, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Hurricanes 2-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

2. Did the Canes Play a Tight Defensive Game?

No. Nein. Nyet. Ei. The Carolina Hurricanes played a relatively solid, albeit quite boring, 55 minutes or so last night. The penalty killers did their job well, and the Canes’ defense seemed to keep up with the Bruins on the whole last night.

Until they didn’t. Opinions aside about who specifically was responsible for letting the Bruins pull ahead in the waning minutes of the game, both goals were on the defense.

There isn’t much to say about this key. The defense was there until it wasn’t, and when it failed to show up, the tables turned immediately.

Great defense is great until it fails to show up when it is most needed. That isn’t to say that every single Hurricanes defenseman had a bad night; most of them played a pretty solid game, specifically Jaccob Slavin.

That being said, the Carolina Hurricanes absolutely cannot continue putting 7 defensemen in the lineup in lieu of an extra forward. But that is a whole separate discussion in and of itself.

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