Carolina Hurricanes: Getting Hot Before Unusual Hiatus
Before the NHL’s decision to postpone the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Carolina Hurricanes were getting hot at just the right time. Let’s take a look at their most recent three game stretch.
Before the Carolina Hurricanes went on this three-game winning streak the team was faltering. They seemed to be playing themselves out of a playoff spot. They were winless in four straight only gaining a single point in an overtime loss against the Montreal Canadiens.
They were falling behind early in each of those four games and couldn’t completely fight their way back on each occasion.
Things seemed bleak and the Hurricanes season seemed to be spiraling out of control. It seemed the losses of Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, James Reimer, and Petr Mrazek were insurmountable. The defense looked out of sorts.
The goaltending, despite the lack of defensive help, could have been better. The offense went cold for a stretch. It couldn’t look any worse for a team with playoff aspirations. But something changed.
The Hurricanes went into Nassau Coliseum and left with a 3-2 overtime victory. The way the Hurricanes won may have been controversial, but it led the Hurricanes back to their winning ways. The Hurricanes were finally showing signs of life.
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The Hurricanes then went into Pittsburgh the next day and came out with a dominant 6-2 win. Despite taking seven penalties, the Hurricanes only let the Penguins score once on the man advantage.
The penalty kill was superb as well as the play of goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. It’s another win the team needed over a Metropolitan division opponent. Morgan Geekie seemed to ignite the offense, getting three points in his first career game. The Hurricanes depth was finally providing on offense.
To finish out the three games in four game stretch, the Hurricanes went to Detroit to face the Red Wings. The Red Wings have been absolutely dreadful this season but going into this game with the Hurricanes were on a winning streak, beating the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning. This game saw the return of one of the Hurricanes core pieces. Petr Mrazek.
The Red Wings in this game were giving the Hurricanes fits early as Mrazek had to be on right out of the gate after returning from injury. Geekie built on his performance scoring his third goal in just his first two games.
The special teams play of the Hurricanes took this game over in the second and third period. The Hurricanes scored three power play goals as well as a shorthanded goal leading to the eventual 5-2 win.
This stretch of seven games happened as the Metropolitan division was finally starting to cool off. Despite being winless in four straight the Hurricanes remained in the thick of the playoff race.
The three-game winning streak they are currently on, was huge for setting up the Carolina Hurricanes for the playoffs. Gaining wins over the Islanders, who the Hurricanes have been jostling with for playoff positioning, and the Penguins makes the Hurricanes life easier.
Regardless of what happens to the rest of the NHL season due to the outbreak, what the Hurricanes did was needed. If the playoffs were to just start right away, then the Hurricanes are a playoff team.
If they continue with the regular season, then the Hurricanes put themselves in a spot to control their own destiny. The Carolina Hurricanes got hot and at a time they desperately needed to.
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Question for CC Readers: How much are you missing the Carolina Hurricanes right now? (I know my answer is a lot).