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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Taking a Series Lead Against Boston in Game Three

By Omar Abdelgawad

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal past Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 13, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 13: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal past Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 13, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Eliminate Turnovers

This is one aspect of their game that has gotten better, but there is still room for improvement. Game one saw the Carolina Hurricane turn the puck over 14 times. This led to more than a few Bruins goals and eventually their defeat. Game two saw that number reduced to only eight giveaways.

Ideally, however not realistically, that number should be a golden zero. Anytime there is a giveaway or a takeaway some team is either getting an opportunity for an odd-man rush, holding the offensive zone, or blowing up what could have been a dangerous scoring opportunity. The Bruins saw their fair share of it in the first two games and capitalized on a few

During game one, early in game two, and during that horrific powerplay that looked more like a kill, the Carolina Hurricanes were turning the puck over consistently. The results found the Bruins go the offensive more often and for longer, which led to losing game one and giving up the first goal of the night in game two.

The trick is to slow the game down. There are sixty minutes to play this game and this is a best-of-seven series. There is no need to try and rush, force something, and end up giving up the puck. You saw it start to happen later in game two which led to Andrei Svechnikov and Dougie Hamilton Goals. It also led to the Brady Skjei goal that was called back.

When this team takes the time to breathe and evaluate the ice, the passing is cleaner, crisper, and the shots taken are more dangerous. Not to mention more numerous. They can still improve on this today. Let guys like Jordan Martinook and Justing Williams show the rest of the team how slow and steady wins the race.

Speed is good when the pace of the game has slowed down. That is when guys like Martin Necas or Sebastian Aho can turn on the jets and get past every Bruin on their way to delivering the puck downtown.

These keys matched with everything I’ve said over the last few games together can help establish a team that can be virtually unbeatable, one that most teams would rather wait until the last possible opportunity to meet and face on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

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