Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Home Loss vs. Tampa Bay

The Carolina Hurricanes lost in regulation at home last night to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here’s how they stacked up to our keys to the game.

The Carolina Hurricanes were not ready to play hockey last night.

Last night’s matchup could’ve seen the Canes sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season, but fate had a different plan for the two teams.

The Tampa Bay Lightning outclassed and outplayed the Carolina Hurricanes last night at basically every possible turn. Goaltending? Andrei Vasilevskiy was incredible. Scoring? Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, and Mitchell Stephens took the cake. Defense? Mikhail Sergachev and Kevin Shattenkirk were incredibly stout.

The Carolina Hurricanes played some of the most uninspired, disappointing hockey we have seen thus far in the 2019-20 season. The 1st and 2nd periods were all but disastrous; Andrei Svechnikov‘s goal off of a gorgeous pass from Jaccob Slavin in the 3rd period paled in comparison to the Canes’ play in the 1st and 2nd.

As far as our keys to the game last night, not a single one was met, for the first time in a very long time. Let’s take a look at how things fell apart.

1. Did the Canes Play Solid Defense the Full 60 Minutes?

Nope. The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t even play solid hockey the full 60 minutes.

This one is perhaps the toughest one to come to terms with. Normally, even in times of adversity or being down a few goals, the Carolina Hurricanes still are visibly trying to win the game.

Last night, however, more than a few Canes just looked lost, especially in the 2nd period – not just on defense, either. Tampa Bay may have gotten a couple goals early on, but the 2nd period is really where the momentum began to shift fully in the Bolts’ favor.

The Carolina Hurricanes wouldn’t get on the board until the 3rd period, when Andrei Svechnikov buried a brilliant pass from Jaccob Slavin. This goal, however, would be too little, too late.

The Canes would go on to show a pretty decent effort after Pat Maroon would take two penalties (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct) late in the third, to give the Canes a powerplay, then subsequently a two-man advantage after Petr Mrazek was pulled in the waning minutes of regulation.

This effort, too, would prove to be too little, too late yet again, as the Canes failed to convert even with two extra men on the ice.

3. Did the Canes Stay Out of the Box?

Not really, no.

The Carolina Hurricanes took two penalties last night, which is better than previous games, but both penalties were borne of undisciplined play.

The Tampa Bay Lightning wouldn’t score on either of their powerplay opportunities, but they didn’t really need to.

Taking avoidable penalties is a surefire way to eviscerate any amount of morale or momentum your team may have been building; so far this season, it has absolutely killed the Carolina Hurricanes more than once.

Compared to last year, the Carolina Hurricanes are playing incredibly undisciplined hockey. There have been quite a few rumors about Justin Williams returning, but I absolutely welcome it, especially if it means his calming veteran presence is felt on the bench and on the ice and reigns in the Canes proclivity to take dumb penalties.

I know I probably sound like a broken record with these keys to the game, but that is the exact source of my frustration. These are the biggest problems the Canes have at the moment, and have had consistently this season. Sure, the goalies have been a bit up-and-down, but these problems are far more prevalent, and far more detrimental.

Justin Williams, if you are reading this, the Canes need you.

Question for CC Readers: The Carolina Hurricanes clearly need to make a change or two. What do you think they should do?