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Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Home Loss to New York Rangers

By Matthew Nidiffer |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 27: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his power-play goal at 2:54 of the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes as Jordan Staal #11 looks up at the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 27: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his power-play goal at 2:54 of the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes as Jordan Staal #11 looks up at the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his power-play goal at 2:54 of the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes as Jordan Staal #11 looks up at the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates his power-play goal at 2:54 of the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes as Jordan Staal #11 looks up at the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Carolina Hurricanes lost at home last night against the New York Rangers by a score of 5-2. Here’s how the Canes stacked up to my keys to the game.

oof.

That is, yet again, the best word to sum up last night’s game from the Carolina Hurricanes.

The New York Rangers always play well against the Carolina Hurricanes. It is just a fact at this point. The Rangers could be the worst team in the league, and still find a way to dunk on the Canes.

Normally, Henrik Lundqvist is the guy doing the dunking, but rookie phenom Igor Shesterkin has successfully carried that torch as of last night.

Many, many things went wrong last night. Bad defense, not-so-great goaltending, lack of scoring (again), and apparently the officials are cool with Erik Haula eating Jacob Trouba‘s shoulder for dinner, but not cool with Mika Zibanejad‘s stick breaking shortly before Jordan Staal‘s stick made contact with it.

In any case, the Carolina Hurricanes (yet again) didn’t really stack up to any of the keys to the game that I wrote about yesterday. Let’s take a closer look, eh?

(Also, I am aware that the images used in this article are old and not from last night’s game. Out of my control, my dudes.)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Did the Canes Start On Time?

Nah. The New York Rangers managed to get one past Petr Mrazek before the boys in black were able to solve Igor Shesterkin.

As Rod Brind’amour said after the game, it felt like the Carolina Hurricanes were chasing the game all night last night. I absolutely agree. It’s almost like we’ve heard that somewhere before…

In any case, letting up the first goal in hockey is never a good thing, and the Canes do it better and more frequently than anybody else in the Metropolitan Division at this point, barring maybe the New Jersey Devils.

It is pretty difficult to win a game when you have to chase the other team just to equalize it, then hold them at bay the entire time you’re working to get another goal to snatch the lead.

I know we had a massive comeback against the Vegas Golden Knights, but at this point, that is the exception, not the rule. Next.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Libor Hajek #25 of the New York Rangers skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Libor Hajek #25 of the New York Rangers skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Did the Canes Dig In Defensively?

Are you kidding me, past self? Canes? Play decent defense? In this economy?! HA!

This is a huge problem. The Carolina Hurricanes have got to start showing up defensively. Way too many unforced errors, pinches at the wrong time, and just overall bad defensive marking have been a thorn in this team’s side all season long.

Even if Dougie Hamilton weren’t injured, lack of defensive effort would still be a problem.

Trevor van Riemsdyk has been an absolute disaster on the first pairing since Dougie has been out, so that hasn’t helped a ton.

Reportedly, the Canes are trying to make moves on available players while the rest of the league is going after their guy (and getting him, for the most part). As of right now, though, nothing has happened. I’m going to bet that nothing happens by Monday, but that’s just my opinion. We’ll see.

This, coupled with the lack of depth scoring, is going to be the downfall of this team this season if they don’t make the playoffs.

Even then, I can’t see them making it very far with this type of inconsistency. Canes, prove me wrong. Please.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers gets his glove up on Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers gets his glove up on Warren Foegele #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at Madison Square Garden on November 27, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3. Did the Canes Exit and Enter the Zones Cleanly?

Nah. Not even a little bit.

There were times when it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes were finally getting their game together and getting set up in the offensive zone. Those moments were few and far between, and rarely ever led to anything more than a turnover in the offensive or neutral zone.

Every single one of the four non-empty-netters against was a direct result of getting hemmed into their own defensive zone.

This can’t keep happening. If the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t going to play solid defense, then they need to at least be able to get the puck out of their own end and transition into their offensive zone with the level of offensive talent they have (on paper).

As I said before, I can’t see this team winning a playoff series (if they do, indeed, make the playoffs) against any Metropolitan Division opponent with this type of inconsistent play. I really, really hope they end up proving me wrong.

2. 109. Final. 5. 95

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