2. Get Out in Front Early
The Carolina Hurricanes need to score early. They need the first goal of the game. The Hurricanes for a stretch this season went behind early and fought their way back to win. That hasn’t been the case lately except for the last two games the Hurricanes have played. Scoring the first goal makes the Hurricanes team play differently now. It gives them confidence that they can control the game from that point on. When they allow the first goal the team has seemed deflated and it seems to take the edge off their game.
In three of the last four games, the Hurricanes have allowed each team to start with a 2-0 lead. Against the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning the Hurricanes couldn’t fight back. The goaltending hasn’t been there to where the Hurricanes can fall behind and expect to be able to win the game.
In the game last night against the Arizona Coyotes, the Hurricanes got out in front in the first period. They didn’t look back from that moment on. Although the Coyotes had chances, the Hurricanes kept pushing and pushing and they kept the momentum on their side throughout the game. On the second game of a back to back when the team you are facing has an off day it is always beneficial to get the first goal early. That is so you can keep the momentum you had from the previous game and make it easier to fight fatigue later in the game.
A FoeGOAL to get us going! pic.twitter.com/zheR6U0Jq9
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 11, 2020
The records from when the Hurricanes score first and the Kings allowing a goal first would heavily favor the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are 19-3-0 when scoring the first goal of the game this season. The Kings are 3-17-1 when allowing the first goal. The first goal in this one will have a huge impact on the outcome of the game, and it is very important that the Hurricanes are able to score it.