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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Tying up the Series in Game Two

By Omar Abdelgawad

TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: The Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Boston Bruins during the first overtime period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 12: The Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Boston Bruins during the first overtime period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 12, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a short-handed goal by Brock McGinn #23 a. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a short-handed goal by Brock McGinn #23 a. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Build upon Offensive Zone Play

Twenty-eight shots. In over 80 minutes of game time, the Carolina Hurricanes only had 28 shots on goal. Even as the winning goaltender in double overtime Tuuka Rask still had a below 0.900 save percentage. The Hurricanes simply didn’t generate enough offense to win yesterday, all other things aside.

Tonight they will have to find their offensive touch. They already know they can get the puck past Rask, they just need the offensive volume to do so. That starts with a much better forecheck and patience with the puck in the zone.

Each of the three goals had that yesterday, even the breakaway goal from Brock McGinn. He slowed down, showed off his hands a bit, and completely fooled Rask before dumping the puck behind him and into the net. That has to be repeated today and it has to be done consistently.

The Carolina Hurricanes have to get clean entries into the zone and keep the puck there. They did that effectively against the Rangers, leading not only to more Carolina Hurricanes goals, but also to fewer Rangers goals courtesy of the lack of Ranger offense.

Tonight they have to keep the Bruins’ best players from generating offense and waste away their shifts trying to keep Carolina from consistently scoring on Rask. That starts with more shots on goal, slower more controlled movement within the zone, and tenacity on the forecheck to keep the puck from leaving the said zone.

If the Carolina Hurricanes can combine these three keys successfully, they will coast to a game two win and get their first win of the series.

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