Carolina Hurricanes: Three takeaways from game vs STL
By Conor Power
Offense from the defense
If I made you predict which Hurricanes defenseman would score a game-winning goal on the second half of a back-to-back against a red hot team and a Stanley Cup Champion from 3 years ago, how many of you would have said Brendan Smith? If you would have, you’re either lying to yourself or need to sell me your crystal ball. Either way, that was the case in this one.
Shots from the point seemed to cause a lot of trouble for the St Louis netminder all night long, which probably stems from the mass of humanity that was between the St Louis crease and the puck at the blueline. Carolina got bodies to the net, followed up with pucks to the net, took away the goalie’s eyes, and played good fundamental hockey in this one.
It wasn’t just Smith that looked dangerous either. Both of the other pairings looked deadly all night long and could have had more. Jaccob Slavin had a breakaway in this game for the love of all that’s holy. He showed a burst of speed I didn’t know he had to be honest, so if the stay-at-home defenseman is getting breakaway chances, you can tell the defense could have had a few bunches.
Smith got his first as a Carolina Hurricane and the game-winning goal in the third period and the Carolina Hurricanes are now 11-2 as they pack up to head on a long road trip starting with a stopover in the Entertainment Capital of the world, Sin City. It’s a date with the Vegas Golden Knights at the fortress in Nevada.
We will have the keys to that game closer to puck drop, but for now, thank you for reading. Your Carolina Hurricanes are now 11-2 and just a point back from the Florida Panthers at the top of the league. We will find out if Carolina can go to the top of the league when the team plays in Vegas, but until then, thank you for reading, and LET’S GO CANES.