Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Rolling on in Chicago

Trap Game Alert!

These two teams are headed opposite directions.

In previous meetings, the Blackhawks youth was clearly very hungry; they basically beat the Canes at their own game. They clogged the middle of the ice, consistently won races and puck battles, and their forecheck did not give the Hurricanes an inch to breathe.

But, those young players are now learning what a grind an NHL season – specifically this one, with a truncated schedule – is, while the Hurricanes have surged (puns woohoo) behind their own young stars.

However, this is prime “trap game” territory. Although it is easy to sit in the stands or on our couches and scream into the abyss about not taking an opponent lightly in the NHL, it is almost human nature.

How can you not take your foot off the gas a tad when you go from a hard-fought, close victory over the defending cup champions to playing a team that is likely outside the playoff picture come season’s end?

And on the other hand, the Blackhawks will likely come out firing after losing their last two games in Nashville to get leapt in the playoff race. This is a big opportunity for them, to immediately bounce back and beat one of the best teams in the league.

They will be eager to protect their home ice, as well as potentially jumping back ahead or keeping pace with Nashville, who plays Dallas tonight.

The Hurricanes should be prepared for a big push from Chicago. The team needs to start on time, quickly dash any hopes of an upset victory, get to the blue paint and make things difficult for the star young goalie in the Blackhawks’ net, and simply keep the pedal down.