Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Road Loss to Dallas Stars
The Carolina Hurricanes closed out their 4-game road trip with yet another lackluster effort: a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Here’s how the Canes stacked up to my keys to the game.
Well, that was embarrassing. The Carolina Hurricanes got taken apart by the Dallas Stars, and ended their 4-game road trip on one of the lowest of lows they’ve seen this season.
The Carolina Hurricanes have put together some pretty embarrassing outings this season, but none were, in my opinion, as embarrassing as last night’s showing.
Petr Mrazek gave the Canes every chance to succeed, as both goalies have been doing with regularity this season, but the Carolina Hurricanes still managed to throw this one away.
The Canes know what position they are in, and they know how precious every point is on the road to the playoffs at this stage of the regular season. To continue to start games like this, and refuse to show up until the 3rd period (if at all), is beyond ridiculous at this point.
The Carolina Hurricanes have allowed the first goal in the past 6 games. Six entire consecutive games where they have had to chase the lead early on. The Canes didn’t hit a single key on the checklist for last night’s tilt. I can’t say that I’m surprised at this point, but let’s take a look anyways.
1. Did the Canes Start On Time?
Nope. I don’t really even think they started at all, to be honest.
Sebastian Aho scored a goal, and Petr Mrazek played a hell of a game for the most part.
Everybody else? I believe they’re still in Vegas somewhere.
When you look at the Canes’ record in the last 8, they’re 5-3-0, which honestly isn’t that bad. The issue comes from the fact that they seem to be making things harder for themselves, and are showing the entire league that they can’t string together the consistency needed to win any type of playoff series.
This key is arguably one of the most important, yet it is one that the Canes have failed to meet with consistency the entirety of the 2019-20 season.
There is no excuse for this type of play. The Canes’ roster is easily more skilled than it has been in at least a decade. A big wake-up call is needed, and soon.
2. Did the Canes Play Solid Defense?
No. One or two Carolina Hurricanes had decent games, but on the whole, the Canes’ defense was predominantly ineffective and invisible.
Petr Mrazek and James Reimer have been left out to dry so many times this season, it isn’t funny.
The lack of defense this season is almost as insulting as the lack of fire at the start of just about every Canes game in the 2019-20 season.
I know this all sounds harsh, but there is no reason any of this should be problems the Canes are dealing with at this point. The amount of boring, uninspired hockey I’ve seen this season rivals the 2015-era Carolina Hurricanes, and that’s saying something.
Something has to give, and it has to give yesterday. A solid hockey trade had better be in the pipeline, otherwise we are going to be in for a long summer, my dudes.
3. Did James Reimer Start?
No, but I do not blame this loss on Mrazek in any way, shape, or form.
Reimer may have stopped the bleeding a bit more effectively, but he would’ve been left out to dry just as much as Mrazek was last night.
Reimer is the clear starter in my opinion, but Rod seems to be too set in his ways. It took Assistant Coach Jeff Daniels’ constant nagging to get Roddy to put Andrei Svechnikov on the 1st line, and look what happened? Productivity.
I imagine the same type of stubbornness is what is keeping Mrazek in the starter’s crease at this point.
The goalie choice last night wouldn’t have made much difference, though. The Canes lost this one due to failures from the entire team.
The road to the playoffs is getting shorter and shorter, and it’s beginning to look like the Carolina Hurricanes may actually miss. I can only hope for them to turn it around sooner rather than later, and for me to be proven entirely wrong. I’d love nothing more.
119. Final. 1. 109. 4