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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Recovering Against Tampa Bay

By Matthew Nidiffer

Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) defends during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) defends during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Nedeljkovic Needs to Start Again

As Holland said in his takeaways article for last night’s game, Alex Nedeljkovic was the sole reason the Carolina Hurricanes didn’t get entirely blown out by the Tampa Bay Lightning last night, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Ned has more than settled in, and if you ask me has 100% earned the true backup goaltender position when Petr Mrazek fully recovers from his thumb surgery. Whether or not Rod agrees and puts him in that slot is a whole other story, but I have little faith in that arena.

Nevertheless, Ned has done his part to show that he can not only perform as an NHL goaltender, but is capable of standing tall against even the defending Stanley Cup Champions and come out the other side unscathed.

My confidence in James Reimer was at an all-time high prior to this season; now, however, you can tell that his workload and injury history have fully caught up to him. I believe the Canes will start Reimer tonight, but I’m still holding out hope Ned finds his way in somehow.

I fully believe that Reimer is still capable of pulling out some wins here and there, but the Carolina Hurricanes’ best chances of winning tonight lie with Alex Nedeljkovic.

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