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Carolina Hurricanes: Series Preview vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

By Conor Power

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 19: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jake Gardiner #51 of the Carolina Hurricanes fight during a game at Amalie Arena on April 19, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 19: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jake Gardiner #51 of the Carolina Hurricanes fight during a game at Amalie Arena on April 19, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 04: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during the second 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: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during the second 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) /

The Blueline

Tampa is viewed as one of the most complete teams in the salary cap era because they are balanced throughout the lineup. Their blueline is no different. While the Lightning house a former Norris winner on the back end, it’s not like it’s just one defenseman on their tremendous unit. Tampa’s top four are as good as anyone in the NHL.

Victor Hedman is a former Norris winner and an incredible defenseman at both ends of the ice. Ryan McDonagh is the former Rangers’ captain and is still a defenseman capable of contributing at both ends. Mikhail Sergachev is a young defenseman still coming into his own, and Erik Cernak has become a fantastic shutdown defenseman as well.

Tampa Bay’s top four is outstanding. Their 3rd pairing, however, is a weakness for this team. Luke Schenn isn’t the fastest defenseman; Jan Rutta could have the same statement applied to him. While they did acquire David Savard, who is a top-four defenseman in his own right, there’s still a weakness with their final defensive pairing.

When you look at the Hurricanes, there’s not that same weakness. Jaccob Slavin is a defensive mastermind. Dougie Hamilton is one of the best offensive defensemen in the National Hockey League, and Brett Pesce has been a mammoth on the Carolina blue line so far this postseason, stepping up big time in round one. Brady Skjei has what Tripp Tracy calls “an eternal lung” and has been fantastic in Slavin’s absence.

While Carolina’s top four is still fantastic, it’s the third pairing that’s worth looking at. Jake Bean and Jani Hakanpaa aren’t perfect, but they’re not exactly liabilities either. They’re fine as a third pairing to eat minutes when the top four need to rest and you don’t want to fall further behind. Hakanpaa will hit anything that moves, and Bean is still growing as a player trying to find his feet as an offensive defenseman.

Both bluelines are loaded with talent, but the edge here goes to Carolina. Its talent at the top end is better than Tampa Bay. Hedman is the best defenseman in this series, but Hamilton and Slavin are better than anyone else on Tampa, and Pesce is very much in that conversation, too. It’s very close, but I’d lean Carolina here.

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