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Carolina Hurricanes: 3 keys to beating red hot Ducks

By Conor Power

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 01: Derek Stepan #18 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 01, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 01: Derek Stepan #18 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 01, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 23: Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates after the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on October 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 23: Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates after the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on October 23, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Carolina welcome back Brett Pesce

Carolina will have seven defensemen take warm-ups, as the only injury concern on the team is listed as a game-time decision. That means that, if he’s in the lineup, Brett Pesce will make this a full team. Healthy, they’re able to beat anyone when they’re at their best. Welcoming back a player as vital as Brett Pesce is a welcome boost to any team, but that’s a very welcome sight.

Pesce was the leader on the team in time on ice before his injury after a bad collision with the boards in the game in Chicago. Carolina’s premier name on the right side of their defense core has missed too long for the liking of their coach, but re-joining the lineup in a crucial game like this one against the Ducks will do wonders for the team.

Carolina has suffered both losses in their record during the absence of the Tarrytown, New York native. With their premier defensive defenseman back in the lineup, this Carolina Hurricanes roster becomes so much more difficult to beat. When the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice with Brett Pesce, they are a better team and they are more difficult to beat with the defender.

Slotting him back into the second pairing, the top penalty kill unit, and the second powerplay unit will help rest some of the other players on the team. Pesce really does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to this roster, and he’s good at it. He gives the Canes defensive stability and that’s what they need with a forward core that is as murderous as theirs is.

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