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Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to a Victory at Home vs. Islanders

By Matthew Nidiffer |
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 11: Erik Haula #56 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 11: Erik Haula #56 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Erik Haula #56 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Erik Haula #56 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Derick Brassard #10 of the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Carolina Hurricanes take on the New York Islanders tonight at home. What do the Canes need to do to finally wrestle some points away from a Metropolitan Division opponent?

Tonight’s game, as with every game against a Metropolitan Division opponent, is a must win.

The Carolina Hurricanes need to start gaining some ground in the standings again after losing three straight. What better opponent to start gaining momentum against than the New York Islanders?

The Islanders are coming off of two straight losses to Metropolitan Division opponents (Washington, 6-4 and New York Rangers, 3-2) and tonight will be the back half of a back-to-back for them. They will be determined to bounce back and gain some ground against the Canes, but will more than likely be gassed.

Both teams are desperate to right each of their individual ships, but the Carolina Hurricanes should be more so. The Canes have slipped to 6th in the Metropolitan Division, and for the first time this season find themselves out of a playoff spot.

The Canes are going to have to be firing on all cylinders in order to pull out a win tonight. Here are the keys to making sure that happens.

RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during warmups prior to an NHL game against the New York Islanders on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during warmups prior to an NHL game against the New York Islanders on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. Get On the Board First

The Carolina Hurricanes scored first against the Anaheim Ducks a few days ago, and managed to push the game to overtime.

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Sure, they ended up losing, but they walked away with a point. A point that, for all intents and purposes, was gained by the Carolina Hurricanes scoring the first (if not their only) goal of the game.

The Carolina Hurricanes play a much better game if they score first. When they concede the first goal, all morale seems to go out the window and they seem to not be able to regain it until the waning minutes of the 3rd period.

Sebastian Aho finally broke his scoring drought, and scored his first goal of 2020 in that Anaheim game. Andrei Svechnikov needs to do the same, and break his scoring drought; his is not as lengthy as Aho’s, but it is still evident, and it is costing the Canes on the scoresheet and in the standings.

RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes taps the pipes celebrating a victory over the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes taps the pipes celebrating a victory over the New York Islanders during an NHL game on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Stop Leaving the Goalies Out to Dry

The Carolina Hurricanes have found themselves hanging on by a thread in more than one game this season.

That thread, more often than not, is whichever goaltender they have in net that night.

This season has been wildly different than last; the Carolina Hurricanes had an incredibly solid defensive corps in 2018-19, and were rarely ever caught slipping on defense. This season has seen the Canes botch defensive coverage, only to have several two on one breakaways barreling in on James Reimer or Petr Mrazek.

Time and time again, the Canes have relied on their goalies to make miraculous saves, while playing lackluster hockey pretty much everywhere else on the ice lately.

That needs to stop, and it needs to stop yesterday.

RALEIGH, NC – MAY 14: Justin Williams #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes and teammate Sebastian Aho #20 converse in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MAY 14: Justin Williams #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes and teammate Sebastian Aho #20 converse in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. Daddy’s Home

Justin Williams is expected to make his (hopefully) triumphant return tonight against the Islanders.

Williams has been a sorely missed presence, both on the ice and on the bench.

The Carolina Hurricanes have played some of the most undisciplined hockey in the league as of late, yet another stark contrast to last season. For reference to this point, the Canes have gone from the least penalized team in 2018-19, to the most penalized team in 2019-20.

This, among other things, is unacceptable. Justin Williams has been often referred to as a calming presence on the bench, especially in times of adversity.

The Canes have experienced adversity in droves this season, but what they haven’t experienced in droves (yet) is Justin Williams’ leadership, direction, mentality, and influence.

If I’m a betting man (I’m not), I’d bet that we see an entirely different Carolina Hurricanes team hit the ice tonight. God knows we need it.

RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Dougie Hamilton #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the New York Islanders on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – OCTOBER 11: Dougie Hamilton #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during an NHL game against the New York Islanders on October 11, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Game Notes

  • Puck Drop: 5:00pm EST
  • Location: PNC Arena
  • TV: NHL.TV, Fox Sports Carolinas
  • Radio: 99.9 The Fan
  • Uniform: Alternate Black
  • Potential Lines:
    • Svechnikov – Aho – Teravainen
    • Dzingel – Haula – Necas
    • Niederreiter – Staal – Foegele
    • Martinook – Wallmark – Williams
    • Slavin – Edmundson
    • Gardiner – Pesce
    • Fleury – van Riemsdyk
  • Potential Goalie Matchup:
    • Carolina Hurricanes: James Reimer
    • New York Islanders: Thomas Greiss

109. Prediction. 3. 106. 4

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