Three Takeaways from Return of Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Roundtable

Strengths of the Carolina Hurricanes

What strengths must the Carolina Hurricanes rely on to win?

The last topic the trio covered was how the Canes match up to the Rangers in the qualifying series.  Because of the pause, the trio reiterated that regular season stats mattered little in predicting the series.

More from Cardiac Cane

• 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
• Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
• Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
• The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
• Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes

Willis believes that depth is the most important tool in the Hurricane’s arsenal. The elite defense the Hurricanes have built will be strengthened by players Willis names such as the returning Dougie Hamilton, and Sami Vatanen’s debut as a Hurricane.

There is also a chance that Brett Pesce could return from injury for this playoff series. This depth, Willis believes, will be key to a Hurricane’s victory.

Tracy takes a question from Forslund about the goaltending matchup with the Rangers, and Tracy believes that if the Hurricanes can match the Rangers in the net they will win the series. Although the goalie dynamic has had many Canes fans at odds, I believe the performance of both netminders will be positive in the postseason.

Clinching the desperation to win and using it to create a hot start is the overriding theme of this conversation. If the Canes can harness the desperation they found at the tail end of the regular season, they will not only pick up the series victory against the Rangers but take the advantage in the second round of the playoffs.