3 keys to a win as the Canes visit Winnipeg

For the Carolina Hurricanes, this game begins yet another long west-coast road trip. This time, the teams have sightseeing stops in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Minnesota, but tonight they start the trip at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba to take on their former Southeastern division rival, Winnipeg Jets. Now that the team has discovered their scoring, the keys to this game are simple.

Do not relent after one game. We saw the Canes offense lash out at the Buffalo Sabres after their struggles finding twine. Make sure you keep the game close and score at will to put as much daylight and this very talented Winnipeg offense. It’ll work better for both fans and the team to try and run away with this gunfight.

Goaltending is so often the story in the NHL, and tonight Carolina goes up against one of the best in the NHL. Make sure that your own netminder isn’t overwhelmed. They’ve both been great when they’ve been dealing with illnesses and bugs. Be the best players for the team again, and this is a game that Carolina will have a chance to win. They’re built from the crease out.

Carolina will need to rely on its makeshift defense to see them through this game. It’s not long now until their big-time right-shot defensemen will return to the team. WIth them not being all that far away, this might be the last time we see some of the young guys for a while, so if they can leave us with a good impression going forward, it rewards their chances going forward.

This will be another tough test for the team, and if they win tonight, it speaks to how good they are and they need to be taken as contenders for the cup.