Carolina Hurricanes need to reset and refocus before Game 3 in Eastern Final
Carolina Hurricanes (via Getty Images)
Having lost the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final on home ice — including the shocking 5-0 defeat in Game 2 — the Carolina Hurricanes are tested on Saturday night in Florida for the pivotal Game 3.
They have the players and the system to recover. But to recover, they'll have to return to what has made them successful: intelligent checking, clean structure, and aggressive forechecking.
Carolina
Hurricanes
falling behind due to defensive breakdowns and undisciplined play
Can the Hurricanes get back in the series?
All three even-strength goals Florida scored in Game 2 were avoidable. On each, the Carolina Hurricanes' defense either overextended itself or wandered out of position, and the Panthers capitalized. The Carolina Hurricanes are behind 2-0 against Florida and need to straighten out their defensive mistakes and get their forechecking identity back to prevent digging themselves into an even larger hole.
On the opening score, a turnover on Andrei Svechnikov and poor positioning on defenseman Sean Walker left Dmitry Orlov vulnerable to a three-on-one down low — a bad breakdown at this level of hockey.
Goal number two began with a Svechnikov turnover and ended with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk setting up a 2-on-1 down low off a high chase by Orlov, leaving the net front unprotected.
On Sam Bennett's goal that pushed it to 4-0, Brent Burns was caught too far up the ice, with Bennett able to skate alone into the slot for a tap-in following a Verhaeghe wraparound.
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The refrain? Carolina's defensemen were too aggressive at the wrong times, and as a result, layers broke down and the man-to-man system was exposed.
Florida Panthers
controlling physical tone and tempo
Florida has taken the first two games not only with execution but also with work. The Panthers were getting pucks first, were more physical (56 hits in Game 2), and more disciplined, including frustrating key Hurricanes such as Svechnikov, who took an expensive roughing penalty that resulted in another Panthers power-play goal.
The Panthers' power play is 4-for-5 in the series now. You can't give this team that many opportunities.
What must Carolina do in Game 3?
Tighten up defensively: The Hurricanes must stay within their system and avoid overpursuing pucks, especially in the high slot. They rely on a layered defense, but when one man cheats, it opens up the interior.
Reignite the forecheck: Carolina prospers when it is persistent under the dots. Florida is currently getting out of its zone too conveniently. The Canes need to pressure harder, create turnovers down low, and then go down-to-up for point shots — their bread and butter.
Develop offense off the rush: Florida tends to over-funnel on the backcheck at times. That creates room for a trailing late trailer to join the charge. If the Hurricanes can get their zone entries more timed and employ a fourth man high, they will create more quality chances in transition.
Play fast, play smart: Carolina requires more urgency and pace, but not the desperation that creates cheating. Stay true to their game, and the goals will follow.
Stay out of the box: Svechnikov, especially, needs to stay away from retaliatory punishment. He's being compensated to score goals, not fight Tkachuk's fights.
The Hurricanes have now lost 14 straight Eastern Conference Final games, a mental burden that may be growing heavier. But the right way to respond isn't to chase the game. It's to control the game—one shift at a time.
Also read:
Carolina Hurricanes spiral into 14-game Eastern Conference Final skid following blowout loss
Carolina demonstrated in the previous rounds that they are capable of imposing their will when they play disciplined, quick, physical hockey. That's the prescription they need to get back to if they're going to get back into this series.
Game 3: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL | Broadcast: MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC
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