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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Rolling on in Chicago

By Brandon Stanley

Mar 27, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) celebrates his second period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) celebrates his second period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 04: Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes plays the puck during the third period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena on March 04, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 04: Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Carolina Hurricanes plays the puck during the third period of their game against the Detroit Red Wings at PNC Arena on March 04, 2021 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Having a Third Defenseman

All three of the previous games against Chicago have seen James Reimer get the nod. Tonight, Alex Nedeljkovic gets the nod, and with it comes a very intriguing showdown between two of the best rookie goalies in the NHL this season.

Both have been stellar on the year, but “Ned” provides an edge beyond his ability to keep the puck out of the net – his fantastic puckhandling ability.

As previously mentioned, the Blackhawks effectively beat the Canes at their own game back on February 4, doing so with a heavy forecheck and team-wide relentless motor level.

They were constantly harassing puck carriers and caused very little flow through the middle of the ice, then players like Patrick Kane made them pay on the counterattack.

This type of play style should sound familiar if you watch a lot of Carolina Hurricanes hockey.

Enter Nedeljkovic. One of the more underrated aspects of his puck playing ability is the fit that aggressive, always-looking-to-move-it style has within the Hurricanes system. The ability to make a good, clean first pass before a defenseman has go all the way below the goal line with his back to the play to retrieve the puck is invaluable.

Quicker breakouts mean less pressure from the opponent, which means fewer mistakes and cleaner offensive rushes. For a team that wants to possess the puck and get to work on its own forecheck as quickly and frequently as possible, this marriage is perfect.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ blue line is mediocre at best; Connor Murphy and Calvin de Haan are serviceable veterans, but Duncan Keith‘s best days are long past, Nikita Zadorov can be taken advantage of with speed, and Nicolas Beaudin and Adam Boqvist are young and inexperienced.

This is a defense group that is susceptible to mistakes (which can be said for basically all of them, to be fair), and taking advantage of this plays into the Hurricanes identity perfectly.

This gameplan is close to what they pulled off against Tampa Bay. If the Hurricanes can do it against Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev, then you like their odds of pulling it off tonight – especially with Ned helping expedite those rushes.

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