Carolina Hurricanes: 3 keys to a win in Sin City
Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes start a six-game road trip predominantly on the west coast with a stopover in the Entertainment Capital of the world. A battered and bruised Vegas Golden Knights team awaits the Hurricanes, but the Knights have seen an improvement in their fortunes since the acquisition of the former Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel.
Vegas is coming into this game on the back of three straight wins. Not a team to be dismissed. This is with their entire first line on the injured reserve. Vegas as a team is certainly not someone you want to take lightly, because they have the ability to put games out of reach. Specifically at the fortress that is T-Mobile Arena on the Vegas strip.
Carolina is coming into this game coming off the back of a strong 3-2 win over the St Louis Blues back in Raleigh. Carolina will now get the chance to move to the top of the NHL standings with a win in Las Vegas and get to put a gap between themselves and the Washington Capitals at the top of the bloodbath that fans get to call the Metropolitan division.
With the Carolina Hurricanes fighting for a chance to move to the top of the NHL, extend their lead in the Metropolitan division, and continue their hot start to the season, a win tonight can do a lot more for the team. Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes get to prove that they are the best team in the NHL and against one of the best teams in the National Hockey League.
Carolina’s third line against Vegas’ reduced bottom six
Vegas’ forward core has suffered major injuries. That’s bad enough, but the talent of some of the players they are missing is ridiculous. They’ve always had a major weakness down the middle of the ice, but now the team is missing one of their first line wingers, and another key piece in the top six. That means players in the reduced roles on the third line are going to have to play top-six minutes.
This means that there will be a lot of call-ups for the second-newest team in the NHL, and with Carolina expected to be in much better shape than they were in their win over St Louis, it’s going to be important for the bottom six to really control the game when they’re out against their counterparts. Tonight is going to be a game of who can grind out that win.
When Vegas has to use their bottom six, Carolina will need to dominate and pin the Golden Knights into their own end. This is a game that favors Carolina while it is being contested between the bottom lines. Carolina’s depth gives them a strong edge in this tie, but that’s only if the team plays up to their expectations. We know Carolina’s depth can settle games, they did it last time out.
Tonight, the third line needs to be the dominant force. We know that the third line can shut down a game when tasked to. Tonight, they’re going to be given the job of providing some offense too. Given that this line is centered by the Carolina Hurricanes captain, this is a great example for this trio to lead by example. Perform how everyone else on the team does, and get your job done. There, success starts.
Upping the Antti
With the projected starter tonight expected to be Antti Raanta, there will need to be a big goaltending performance from the Canes number two. We have seen how strong the Canes big Danish free agent addition to the crease and it’s time to see what the Finn can do. Raanta has only started one game after being knocked out of his relief appearance in Florida on a big hit.
With the Rauma, Finland native manning the crease, Carolina will need a big performance from him. He’s been solid in his two appearances as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes thus far, but that is not a pass for the Finn to take this lightly. This is a rare chance for him. In the 14th game of the season, this is his second start. They do not come around often. Seize this chance and give your team a chance to win.
Now, it’s known that Raanta has the ability to be a fantastic shot-stopper. Although his body has suffered a lot to this point of his career, the Finnish goaltender has shown that he can be reliable, and this Vegas top six can still hurt you. Even if most of it is on the injured reserve or COVID-19 protocol list at this point in time.
This is a big chance for Raanta to establish himself as a true contender for the starter’s job. We’ve seen this coaching staff choose to use a two-goalie rotation in the past, but this season has firmly seen Raanta act as a backup to Carolina’s starter who was the third star of the month in October. Raanta needs to step up big time if he is to seek more playing time.
Start strong when Vegas can’t
Carolina is one of the best teams in the NHL, and they are getting a trio of players back from injury. Vegas still have 5 players listed as out for tonight’s game and three more who are questionable. Vegas is struggling to ice a lineup right now, and it’s showing. With the team having a whole multitude of players up on an emergency recall basis, it shows the true extent of Vegas’ injury woes.
Carolina needs to be heartless here and take control of this game against a strong but undermanned opponent. With Carolina’s talent in their front 12, a whole number of players know how to bury the puck on an NHL-caliber goaltender. It’s why the team has scored 10 goals in their last 4 games is a little concerning, and they’re going up against a former Vezina-finalist netminder.
Vegas boasts some of the best talents in the NHL when they are healthy, but that’s been the struggle for the Knights. Their injury list reads like Charles Dickens’ novel right now. Players are out with COVID, out with back surgery, out with little knocks. It’s a whole resume of reasons that means Vegas isn’t able to ice their best 20 guys right now. Carolina needs to exploit that.
Start on time, and start strong. This is the first of a 6 game road trip that will span across the next two weeks, so a win tonight would go a long way to solidifying this road trip as a success for the organization. And this building in particular has been somewhere that Carolina has felt very welcome in the past. Winning there this year would aid their push for the division title.