It’s the third straight game the Canes have lost in regulation, as they are topped 3-2 by the Ottawa Senators as their offense could not get the puck into the net against Ottawa. As they amassed 49 shots, they could only manage two goals as they ship three to suffer yet another loss. But this one will be infuriating as there’s not much more the team could have done.
If the Carolina Hurricanes want to be a Stanley Cup contender in this league, then they need to figure out a way to get pucks into the net. Their recent scoring record is awful and it’s not good enough for a team that started 9-0 and looked like the team that was going to stomp their way to the Stanley Cup when the season started. Now, this looks like a Canes team from 2016.
In terms of panic, it’s not time to start worrying just yet. The Canes have a six-point cushion to the Pittsburgh Penguins within the division and the team doesn’t have to worry about being pushed out of the playoff spots with that kind of lead on an opponent. However, this doesn’t mean the team can slouch and relax. They will not make the playoffs if they try to take it easy between now and the end of the season.
It’s vital for the team to get back to putting pucks in the net and winning games, or else there’s a very real chance that the Carolina Hurricanes will not make the playoffs and waste one of the best starts they have ever made. This roster is too talented to do that, so something needs to change. As for now, let’s talk about what actually happened in this game as the Canes lost 3-2 to Ottawa.