Carolina Hurricanes: Three Keys to Victory vs. Avalanche at Home

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 19: Ryan Graves #27 of the Colorado Avalanche fights for the puck against Ryan Dzingel #18 of the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period at the Pepsi Center on December 19, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 27: Joel Edmundson #6 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. 1st Line Edmundson?

So, this one is weird at first glance. The Carolina Hurricanes’ projected lineup has Joel Edmundson on the 1st pairing with Jaccob Slavin.

Took me a minute to figure out exactly why this is what Rod Brind’amour has chosen to do, especially considering Edmundson’s awful showing against the Dallas Stars.

Jaccob Slavin has a tendency to make everyone who plays next to him look better, and even actually play better at times.

Edmundson is being lined up on the 1st pairing to be (for lack of a better word) babysat by Jaccob Slavin.

Hopefully Slavin is successful with that tonight; Edmundson singlehandedly cost the Carolina Hurricanes the Dallas Stars game.

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