3 takeaways from Canes historic win in the Buckeye state
By Conor Power
Early domination still left the Canes in a hole
Carolina dominated this game from start to finish. I do not care what the scoreboard said. Carolina controlled the puck, controlled the scoring chances, and controlled the shot counter. They found themselves down 4-0 in the 2nd period, and this game looked over, but not for a lack of outplaying Columbus. Just because they couldn’t get the puck in the net. It looked like those old demons would continue to haunt the team.
With the first goal, just kind of letting the Blue Jackets star defenseman walk in and score with no real resistance was not great. None of the next two goals in the period put the Canes’ insane talent on display. They were so good in terms of game control but couldn’t put it together to establish their scoring in this game. It was such great play without the scoring rewards.
Carolina’s game plan worked but they couldn’t get on the board and we’re leaking at the back. Even when they brought in a new netminder for the 2nd period, the Blue Jackets still scored on a freak bounce that went through his pads. Carolina had been so unlucky to find themselves in this game.
Until they decided to start scoring at will about midway through the 2nd period, Carolina really looked like they were going to lose a game they dominated. Yet, they never got frustrated, they never lost their composure and in the third period, they did the impossible. We will get to that in a second, but how big a hole the Canes were in cannot be overstated. They were dead to rights. It was over but the final horn.