Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Second Straight Game vs. Bolts

Feb 19, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck (16) skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Trocheck Back to His Best

After acquiring Vincent Trocheck at the trade deadline last season, there were concerns that the Canes overspent to acquire him.

Trocheck did not perform to his standards to finish the regular season and in the postseason, leaving this season as a needed bounce back. Boy, has he bounced back.

Through 16 games, Trocheck is tied for the team-lead with fellow bounce back teammate Nino Niederreiter with nine goals, and is tied for the team-lead in points with 16. However, it isn’t just the production that is proving crucial in Carolina’s fantastic start.

Trocheck is centering one of the hottest lines in hockey right now, flanked by Niederreiter and Martin Necas. While Trocheck could be playing some of the best hockey of his career, he has helped Nino have a return to form and further helped grow Necas’ game into a game-breaking winger.

If the All-Star Game had not been canceled for 2021, I think Trocheck would be right there to make it. He has elevated his game to an elite level and has made his line-mates better in the process. He’s done everything right thus far this season, and the Canes need him to continue to make a big impact.

(22) after his third period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

This Defense is Elite

We already knew the Carolina Hurricanes were deep on the blue line, but what they’ve done to teams recently has been outstanding.

After a slow return from the COVID-19 list, Jaccob Slavin is back to being his best. He was fantastic against the Chicago Blackhawks last Friday, and you can see he has been getting his stride back. His excellence defensively allows for Dougie Hamilton to be a factor offensively. While he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net as regularly as he’d like, he is still a big problem jumping into the play, seen best with him hopping into the rush and hitting the post on Saturday night.

The real standout lately, though, has been young Jake Bean. I’ve raved about Bean and the potential he possesses in past articles, and he has been terrific since his reinsertion in the lineup. You can see the offensive intelligence he has on the ice and his ability to pick out passes. It makes for even harder lineup decisions for Rod Brind’Amour.

Not to mention how good Brett Pesce, Haydn Fleury (when in the lineup), and Jake Gardiner have played. Gardiner in particular, has been much better than his rocky first season in Carolina, Pesce continues to be incredibly underrated, and Fleury is fantastic defensively and provides physicality to the group.

I could go on and on about the Carolina Hurricanes’ defense, but there is just so much to like about how they’ve played. They are also doing this in front of a career #2 goaltender and a rookie goaltender. They’ve now shut out Tampa Bay twice this season, and their efforts will be needed again Monday.

Special Teams

Special teams did not prove to be an issue on Saturday, but they will always be a key against a team the caliber of Tampa Bay.

As I previously mentioned, the superstars on Tampa will make teams pay and they are so dangerous on the power play. Steven Stamkos is the closest thing to Alex Ovechkin on the side, readying for one-timers. Brayden Point posts up in the middle of the ice, and gets to plenty of loose pucks in front of the net. Victor Hedman has a bomb from the point, as does Mikhail Sergachev. They have so many weapons.

If Carolina can stay out of the box, I always like their chances with how fast they are. But if they don’t, Tampa Bay won’t be shy to strike a man up.

The Hurricanes’ power play has been excellent this year. Drawing penalties is a key tonight and with the form the man-advantage has been, it poses a serious threat. The screening of Jordan Staal and Vincent Trocheck has proved to be very effective and even with Teuvo Teravainen out tonight, the likes of Martin Necas, Jesper Fast, and Nino Niederreiter have stepped up.

Special teams are a key every game, but tonight especially, they are crucial to make sure the Hurricanes come out with the two points. With both teams in the top 10 in power play percentage, I expect one of them to make the opposition pay tonight.

Game Notes:

Expected Lines:

Svechnikov-Aho-McGinn

Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas

Foegele-Staal-Fast

Paquette-Lorentz-Martinook

Slavin-Hamilton

Skjei-Pesce

Fleury-Bean

Reimer

Nedeljkovic

Goalie Matchup:

Lightning: Vasilevskiy

Hurricanes: Reimer

Score Prediction:

With how the Canes have played defensively, I can’t pick against them. They are getting depth production throughout the lineup and causing problems for teams from all four lines. If they stay out of the box, this could be a third straight win for Carolina.

Question for CC Readers: Who wins tonight’s tilt in Raleigh?