Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Home Victory vs. Winnipeg Jets
The Carolina Hurricanes have one last game before the All Star break tonight against the Winnipeg Jets at home. Here’s how they can ground the Jets and head into the All Star Break on a high note.
The Carolina Hurricanes head into this matchup having beaten the New York Islanders in a shootout.
Thanks to Justin Williams and James Reimer, the Canes finally stopped their losing streak at 3 games, and look to extend their winning streak to 2 games tonight, hosting the Jets in Raleigh.
The Winnipeg Jets are coming off of two straight losses; a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on 1/19, and a 7-1 blitzing from the Tampa Bay Lightning on 1/17.
The Jets have found themselves on the outs more often than not in their past 10 games, having won only 4 games in the same time period.
Tonight’s game, despite being against a Western Conference team, is hugely important for the Carolina Hurricanes. To walk away with a win tonight would give the Canes much needed momentum headed into the week-long break for the All Star celebration. Here’s how the Canes can gain that momentum.
Don’t Let Hellebuyck Get Comfortable
Connor Hellebuyck is considered by many to be a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy this year, despite his team’s relatively lackluster performance so far this season.
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A huge part of Hellebuyck’s game is established early on; he gets the feel of the puck early, and becomes more and more ‘locked in’ with each save he makes. At a certain point, he becomes incredibly difficult to get pucks past.
The name of the game here is quality over quantity. The Carolina Hurricanes’ shot production gameplan has always been very much quantity over quality, so that will need to change if the Canes hope to clip the Jets’ wings yet again this season.
The last time these two teams met, the Canes demolished them, 6-3. Let’s hope the boys in red have it in them to give us all a repeat performance to head into the All Star break on a high note.
Score More than One Goal in Regulation
This one is incredibly self explanatory, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention it.
The Carolina Hurricanes have fallen into a weird trend lately. That trend is, confusingly, to try and win games while scoring as little as possible in regulation time.
The Canes have far too much talent to be held off the scoresheet like this, so I believe that it is high time this trend comes to an end.
Relying on your goalie in regulation time is one thing, but to consistently push him to perform well in the overtime period and into the shootout is not the way to win games.
The Carolina Hurricanes’ offensive producers really need to step up tonight. If we don’t score more than one goal in regulation, I see this game being a difficult one to win.
Play Reimer While He’s Hot
James Reimer, in my opinion, has made a very strong case to take over the starter’s crease for the time being.
Petr Mrazek has recently fallen victim to inconsistency, while Reimer has been the go-to guy if you’re looking for a miraculous save, or to be bailed out late in the game.
James Reimer was instrumental in the win over the New York Islanders this past weekend, and has more than earned the lion’s share of starts from here on out until he falters if you ask me.
Reimer has been incredibly dialed in, and has bailed the Canes out on more than one occasion in his past several games.
In my opinion, keep Reimer in while he’s hot. Let him keep making those incredible desperation saves while they’re working. Stats-wise, he’s better than Mrazek right now. Even the eye test will tell you who our starter should be for the time being. Hopefully Rod Brind’amour sees the same thing.
Game Notes
- Puck Drop: 7:00pm EST
- Location: PNC Arena
- Radio: 99.9 The Fan
- Uniform: Home Reds
- Potential Lines:
- Niederreiter – Staal – Svechnikov
- Foegele – Aho – Teravainen
- Dzingel – Haula – Necas
- McGinn – Martinook – Williams
- Slavin – Edmundson
- Gardiner – Pesce
- Fleury – van Riemsdyk
- Potential Goalie Matchup:
- Carolina Hurricanes: James Reimer
- Winnipeg Jets: Connor Hellebuyck
Prediction. 2. 107. 4. 109
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