Carolina Hurricanes: Three keys to beating the Blue Jackets

Another Keys to the game means that it is also another gameday for the Carolina Hurricanes! With the team going to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, Carolina are about to face an opponent, unlike anything they have faced so far this season. Columbus is an NHL mystery box. A young team with a solid defensive core and capable goaltending can do anything in this league.

Carolina travel to the home of the NHL’s cannon with a 3-0-0 record on the year. Now that the Canes are 3.6% of the way to a perfect season, it’s important for us to look at what needs to happen for the team tonight to make it 4-0-0. Columbus is a team that is known for not rolling over for opponents and the Canes will have to work hard to overcome their 2nd divisional foe of the season.

Columbus’ season has started in a very similar fashion to the Canes. Columbus is 3-1-0 on the season after beating the New York Islanders in their most recent game. A lot of Columbus’ players have impressive point totals inflated by an 8-2 victory in their first game of the season over the Arizona Coyotes so it is difficult to know how good their forwards will be. One thing is for sure, this will not be an easy game.

Carolina will have to be at their best and start to play well from the defense out if they want to escape tonight with 8 points in the standings. It cannot be a slow start, and the team will have to compete for 60 minutes. Keeping the cannon fire quiet could decide the game. Whether this finishes 1-0 or 6-5, this should be a very entertaining game.