Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to beating Coyotes in the matinee

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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 08: The Carolina Hurricanes exit the ice following Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena on June 08, 2021, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Do not start late

The puck drop for this one is at 1 PM EST. This might throw a lot of players off their gameday routines. Hockey players are creatures of habit and this early start really does throw a spanner in the works as far as the routines will go. If the players do not show up to play when the puck drops, this will be a far more difficult game than it has to be.

Stay out of the box early, work hard. This is the third game in four days, but it could also be the third win in four days. A struggling team is coming into PNC Arena, and Carolina has the best home record across the league since the start of last season. On paper, this should not be a very difficult contest. If the Hurricanes show up early, this won’t be a difficult contest, but you cannot afford to relax early.

If the work ethic from the Canes is not there early, then it’s going to be a struggle. We all know that in this sport, an early goal could be the difference in this game. If Carolina scores in the first minute, that could put the game to bed. With how well Carolina’s starter has been playing and Arizona’s scoring trouble, this could be over quickly.

However, the Carolina Hurricanes are unbeaten. Teams are going to be excited to play them now because they will want to be the team to end their hot streak to start the season. Teams are going to target the Canes as a team because they are now one of the big scalps in the NHL. Claiming that you beat them will inspire a fanbase. It’s why the Canes recognize there’s no easy game for them.

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