Three keys to the Canes winning in the Shark Tank

Tonight, the Carolina Hurricanes move into game four of their six-game road trip on the West Coast. They stop off at the Shark Tank in San Jose to complete their run of the California gauntlet. They’re 3-0 so far on this trip with victories in Vegas, Anaheim, and Los Angeles starting the trip off strong.

With the trip to the SAP Center meaning that the team will take on the San Jose Sharks, it’s going to be important for the team to survive tonight. San Jose holds an 8-8-1 record and is capable of scaring a team like Carolina so they cannot be taken lightly. Taking two points from a difficult building like the Shark Tank will require good performances.

San Jose has seen some difficult games during this season, but half of their team at one point was put into COVID-19 protocol. While they’ve gotten results, they have lost their last two games against St Louis and Washington. Carolina comes in when the sharks need a win to end their losing streak if they want to get back into the hunt for the playoffs in the Pacific

We’ve seen Carolina win a defensive affair in Anaheim, we’ve seen them win a shootout in Los Angeles. Whatever tonight’s game holds in store for the Hurricanes, they will have to be prepared. This Sharks’ offense can cause a lot of problems for anyone and even the 14-2 Carolina Hurricanes will need to play well to get a result.

With the Carolina Hurricanes expected to be able to ice a full lineup, we take a look at what the Canes will need to do to make sure they do not take this sharks team lightly and ensure that the winning streak progresses to 5 in a row, move to 4-0 on the road trip, and sweep the California gauntlet for the first time in what feels like forever.

Continue being Jarvelous, Seth!

If the Carolina Hurricanes are going to continue having success, they’re going to need some help from the teenager who has been one of the best players on the team in the last few games. They need Seth Jarvis to continue to shine for them. To say he’s been sensational for the team really doesn’t do the teenager justice. He’s scored on every game this road trip and has 2 game-winners.

Playing on the top line, Jarvis has only seemed to improve. If he plays in this game, it means he’s staying up for the year and they’re burning the first year of his entry-level deal. This is something the team hasn’t done for a lot of players. To say Jarvis is looking a little special is an understatement. He’s going to be a fantastic player in this league.

Tonight, Jarvis is up against two former Norris trophy-winning defensemen. While they aren’t what they used to be, that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of doing a job on the Canes rookie. If Jarvis can dominate in this game as his line has in the other games on this road trip, then the Carolina Hurricanes are in good hands for tonight.

Jarvis and his linemates can be the deciding factor in games like this. They changed the game in Los Angeles but were really quiet against the Ducks when the team played out in Orange County. Tonight, they could very much decide the game. If they can dominate the former Norris trophy winners, there’s a good chance Carolina wins this game.

Depth Scoring could be the difference tonight

Carolina’s elite top-end talent has the ability to change the game and put it beyond all doubt. But they also have the depth to step up and keep them in a game that’s getting away from them. We saw this against Los Angeles when every time the Canes led, the Kings pulled back level. That could very much be the case again tonight when they take on the Sam Jose Sharks.

We’ve seen the depth put games to bed, like in the game against Vegas. We’ve seen the depth scoring dry up at times, like the loss against Philadelphia. This could very much be another one of those games. With both teams having some top-end forwards, this could come down to who scores last. A lot like the game in LA, defense isn’t a strength for San Jose and this has the makings of a high-scoring affair.

We saw the fourth line get a pair of goals in the win over LA and we saw the third line grab the winner after the Canes coaching staff decided the lines needed to change. There are 13 forwards on this team that have put the puck in the net at some point this season. Considering we’re 16 games into the season, this is a very good sign. There’s no one being carried. Everyone is doing their part.

If the team can get a goal from each line in this game and spread the scoring around the lineup, there’s a better chance that the Sharks cannot keep up with them. San Jose’s offensive capabilities are very strong, but their defense and goaltending scream out as a major weakness. Get some pucks in that net early and force them to chase the game.