Get the First One
The Carolina Hurricanes have to be the first team on the board
Score the first goal. While it sounds extremely simple and almost benign, scoring the first goal of the game goes a long way towards winning the whole game for the Carolina Hurricanes.
During the regular season, the Canes went 26-3-2 when scoring the first goal of the game. That pace, across a regular 82 game season, is the equivalent to a 143 point season. Compare that to their record when the other team scores first, a miserable 12-22-3 and it becomes abundantly clear that the first goal of the game is critical.
Simply put, the Carolina Hurricanes play a much better brand of hockey when in the lead. Granted one of the four losses to the Rangers this season came after Lucas Wallmark had secured the first goal of the game for the Hurricanes, they should still strive to be the first to break the ice. They should also strive to take that lead into the locker room after the first 20.
When leading at the end of the first period the Carolina Hurricanes are an astonishing 19-0-1. Virtually unbeatable. Taking a lead into the third? The Carolina Hurricanes have only surrendered it once, carrying an incredible 26-1-0 record.
this team plays a different all-around game both offensively and defensively when they can look up at the scoreboard and see that they have the lead. If they can tally the first goal today and open up the scoring, not only on the game but on the 2020 playoffs as a whole, they will get the opportunity to truly control the game, and through that, the series.