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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Stealing More Points from Tampa Bay

By Matthew Nidiffer

Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) push each other during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (22) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) push each other during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) jumps out of the way of Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) jumps out of the way of Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Can Reimer Remain Steady?

James Reimer is getting the call to the starter’s crease tonight after Alex Nedeljkovic played in and won two consecutive games.

This is exactly the way Reimer should be utilized going forward: as a backup, at least until Petr Mrazek returns.

Reimer has not been bad by any stretch of the word. He does give up the occasional bad rebound, and his puck-tracking has been subpar for a majority of this season, but he has been serviceable in Mrazek’s wake.

On the flip side, though, the Carolina Hurricanes have not won a game with Reimer in net without scoring more than 3 goals.

This is definitely a concerning trend, but the strange thing is that Reimer definitely had a hand in keeping the Canes competitive in those games, despite also having a largely equal hand in giving up the goals that led to the Carolina Hurricanes’ goalscorers being in a tight spot in the first place.

Needless to say, Reimer, alongside the Canes’ offensive corps, will need to be at their best tonight to beat not only the best team in the Discover Central Division, but the best team in the NHL.

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