Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Victory in Dallas
The Carolina Hurricanes head to Dallas tonight to take on the Stars to end their current road trip. Here’s how the Canes can head back home two points richer.
The Carolina Hurricanes have won two of their last three games, all of which were on the road.
The Dallas Stars, on the other hand, have had just as much a roller coaster recently. Every other game, dating back to 1/27, has gone to OT for the Stars. Of these 4, the Stars have won 3. In total, however, the Dallas Stars have won 3 of their last 5; most recently a 3-2 overtime upset against the St. Louis Blues.
Tonight’s game is a hard one to peg. Both teams have plenty to prove, and plenty of talent in all areas on the ice. The teams are ‘tied’ in the standings with 67 points, with Dallas holding the tiebreaker by 2 ROW.
The Canes have their work cut out for them tonight. Ending a road trip is always tough, but ending one on a win is even tougher, especially against a competent opponent. Let’s take a look and see what the Canes need to do to end the road trip on a high note, and bring a couple more points back home.
1. Start On Time
This is something the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t been doing recently.
Scoring the first goal (or first few goals) is on of the most significant ways to impact a game and influence it into your own favor.
The Carolina Hurricanes have found themselves chasing the game by a multi-goal margin more often than not this season, and are usually on the outs by the end of the 1st period.
Not only do the Canes consistently let up the first goal or two, but they wait until halfway through the 3rd period to even show up, which is bad news for all of our cardiac health.
All this being said, I appreciate the resiliency the Carolina Hurricanes demonstrated against the Vegas Golden Knights, but I think I speak for most of us when I say I’d appreciate it a hell of a lot more if they could just show up ready to play and give our cardiovascular health a rest.
2. Defense, Anyone?
I know, I know. The Carolina Hurricanes are missing Dougie Hamilton.
I get it, he was (and is) a huge part of the Canes’ defensive corps. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Carolina Hurricanes still need to play defense in his absence.
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Sure, players like Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin are playing like they always do, but several others (not naming names) have seemingly just stopped showing up.
The Canes on the whole need to start showing up ready to play and stop waiting until the middle of the 3rd period to do anything of value, but the Canes’ defense specifically needs to start showing up in general.
The display the defense has put on (aside from a select few players) recently is embarrassing, and needs to be changed immediately if the Carolina Hurricanes hope to win tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month, and well into the postseason.
3. James Reimer, Again.
This one is wishful thinking, because we all know how Rod Brind’amour’s brain works by now, I think.
James Reimer has, far and away, won the starter’s job if you ask me. We’ll more than likely see Petr Mrazek tonight, who hasn’t been terrible, but his play of late has been left wanting, in a bad way.
Optimus Reim has stolen the show and kept the Carolina Hurricanes in even the rockiest of games here lately. Ride the high until he starts showing signs of faltering which I would be very willing to bet won’t be coming soon.
Some more time on the bench will do more help than harm when it comes to Mrazek rediscovering his game, and sticking with Reimer while he’s hot.
Like I said, this one might be wishful thinking, but if Petr Mrazek lets in another goal on the first shot on goal, I might just lose my mind. Or what’s left of it after this season. Oy.
Game Notes
- Puck Drop: 8:30PM EST
- Location: American Airlines Center
- TV: Fox Sports Carolinas, NHL.TV
- Radio: 99.9 The Fan
- Uniform: Road White
- Potential Lineup:
- Svech – Aho – Teravainen
- Foegele – Staal – Williams
- McGinn – Haula – Nino
- Dzingel – Wallmark – Necas
- Slavin – van Riemsdyk
- Gardiner – Pesce
- Fleury – Edmundson
- Potential Goalie Matchup
- Carolina Hurricanes: Petr Mrazek
- Dallas Stars: Ben Bishop
4. 109. 3. 119. Prediction