Carolina Hurricanes End the Dallas Streak, Look to Repeat

The Power Play is ALIVE, Keep it That Way

If you were to ask Carolina Hurricanes fans what, other than perhaps the goaltending, needed to improve for this team to go from a mere playoff team to a strong contender for the Stanley Cup, they would say something along the lines of the Powerplay. And they would be right.

Well, last night the powerplay got a defibrillation shock straight to the heart and awoke a beast. They went three for five against a Stanley Cup finalist. Getting goals from Vincent Trocheck, Andrei Svechnikov, and Ryan Dzingel. Sebastian Aho collected a pair of assists while Jordan Staal, Trocheck, Necas, and Gardiner each collected an apple themselves.

This was a complete effort on the powerplay. Noone, in particular, stepped up that night. That means it is repeatable this evening against a Stars team looking to leave Raleigh with any points and might lose their cool and discipline as they get frustrated. Good. Let’s capitalize on that and send these Cowboys back to steer-land empty-handed.

My favorite of the three goals has to be the Andrei Svechnikov goal. That powerplay looked like it was breaking down. Dallas took control of the puck in the neutral zone and tried to play hot potato with each other to kill the time.

But instead of laying back and waiting for the Stars to make an errant pass, the Carolina Hurricanes forced a mistake, broke into the zone with style, and let the skills of Aho and Svechnikov go on display:

https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1355713274529067010

That finishing tuck by Svechnikov was absolutely filthy. Anton Khudobin never had a chance at that puck, not when it’s on the stick of such a young generational talent. That goal went in even after Andrei was hooked on the play which led to another powerplay which led to the top-shelf goal by Ryan Dzingel.

Dobby was relieved of his duties after that. But none of those goals were really on him. The Dallas defense, used to playing boring hockey, just couldn’t keep up with the speed and creativity of the young Hurricanes roster. They were simply outclassed. Nothing has changed going into tonight’s game. Look for another powerplay goal or two in tonight’s matchup.

Before we move to the next point, I would be remiss to not mention the fact that even with terrible officiating and the Stars being given six powerplay chances, to include ones to start each period, the Hurricanes managed to keep the damage to a minimum. Only a single goal and seven shots in those six extra-man chances.