Yesterday, part 1 of my Canes versus Caps series preview focused on the Capitals side of the ledger.
Part 2 of my Canes versus Caps 2019 NHL playoff series preview looks inward at the Carolina Hurricanes as they forge into post season play.
1) Attitude is everything
In his post-game speech after the Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour briefly complimented the team on what it had accomplished and then very quickly started into a mini-rant with “We’re not done” as its focal point. The Hurricanes have had a great 2018-19 season already. Nothing that happens from here forward can change that. But for the Hurricanes to add to the initial accomplishment will require the team to temporarily put the regular season success behind them and look forward with the same hungry attitude as from January to March. Anything short of that will certainly doom the Hurricanes in round one of the 2019 NHL playoffs.
The burning question(s): Especially if things do not go well at points of the series, will this Hurricanes team take solace in what it accomplished this season or will it instead double down on determination and hunger?
2) Re-finding the highest gear
Thus far in the 2018-19 season, the Hurricanes played their best hockey in February. The team’s 12-3-0 record in February was better than March’s 9-6-1 mark. More significantly, the Hurricanes wins in March much more so relied on goalie heroics or catching a break or two and finding a way. The steadiness in February seemed to give way to a model that was more opportunistic than truly great. I have to think at least part of that was just some players being completely gassed after an extended run of winning hockey under pressure. Sebastian Aho has been noticeably quieter of late, and in total the team has not consistently played sound hockey. To beat a good Capitals team four out of seven games, the Hurricanes will need to re-find their peak play from February.
The burning question(s): Can the Hurricanes muster another big push in terms of quality of play?
3) The 3 Fs — Five on five and the forecheck.
The Hurricanes are at their best playing 5-on-5 hockey and using an aggressive forecheck to win puck possession and tilt the ice down into the offensive zone. When that goes well, the game looks easy for the Hurricanes, The Hurricanes can attack in waves, generate opportunistic offense and generally just not have to play as much defense with the play in the offensive zone. In the two recent losses to the Capitals, the Capitals were able to clog up the neutral and force a messy game without much chance for the Hurricanes to become faster and more mobile.
Burning question(s): Can Rod Brind’Amour and his staff make small tactical changes that enable the Hurricanes to more effectively move the puck from its own end?
4) Heroes rising up
Inevitably, winning a playoff series requires heroes rising up. Of late, Justin Williams has netted a few huge goals. Jordan Staal has also been producing at a high rate. And after a quiet middle part of the season, Warren Foegele is scoring goals. On the other side of the ledger, Sebastian Aho has faded a bit down the stretch. Here is hoping that it is the Canes can muster a couple timely heroes who can be the difference between life and death.
Burning question(s): With so many inexperienced players playoff-wise, can the Hurricanes muster enough heroes to lead the way in close games?
What say you Canes fans?
1) If you had to describe the Hurricanes just a couple of bullet points like I did, how would you do so?
2) What do you see as the Hurricanes biggest determinant of success in the first round of the playoffs?
I think the biggest/best characteristic of this team is that high gear you mention. When they have it, they can beat any team. When they don’t, it’s a struggle and they need either outstanding goaltending or a bounce to go their way. It’s tough to maintain, but they’ve been playing the RBA way most of the season.
I’d be surprised if Canes look good in Game 1, because they’ve been their worst in games following several days off. But winning one game in DC is absolutely critical.
To me the biggest determinant of success will be coaching and the adaptations made by coaches to not only outwork but outsmart the Caps. The Caps are talented, fast and hard to play against. Offensively they are more talented than the Canes. Defensively we are more talented than they. Even though Mrazek is the wild card in this series, the Caps have the better goaltender. They are the Stanley Cup champs, virtually the same team as won the Cup. Coaching is key.
While the ability to adapt and adjust a game plan before and even during a game is very important the honus still comes down to the players performing at or even better than they have thus far.
My biggest concern is the physical nature which becomes a major aspect of any playoff game. For years the Canes have been a very “soft” team in comparison to other more annually successful teams. While they have seemed to step up a notch or two this season even if just in the Team Toughness aspect their lack of down and dirty physical playoff experience will either sink them or help bring some of the young guys out of their shells and surprise some people.
Either way… LET’S GO CANES!!!!
To be successful, we have to both be solid on the forecheck, and clean up our play in the d-zone when we are trying to move.
From the article I posted yesterday all the stats point to the Canes being the superior team, just lacking the ability to finish which the Caps clearly have.
First round playoff series tend to be the most physical and we are lining up against one of the heaviest playing teams in the league. The Caps will notch it up – we can’t be intimidated and our own physical players – Ferland – Martinook, Staal, Foegele, McGinn – have to rise up to meet that particular challenge.
LeBrun had an article yesterday in which two anonymous head coaches opinionated on each series. The Canes were considered to be in the “happy to be here” mode and were predicted to be lose in 5. Hopefully when the team says they are in it to “do damage” they mean it.
Also, an interesting comment was made about Mrazek in that his career is marked by 2-3 months of stellar and then a reversion to mediocrity. It will be interesting to see how he continues to play.
The Canes will do well if they throw away all doubt and play hard, play fast, play to win, play fearless.
Most pundits have the Caps winning the series in 5, that outcome wouldn’t surprise me if the Canes put too much thought into it.
But if the Canes get their best jerks attitude on, forget about nerves (the’ve already accomplished everything that was expected of them and more) and have fun, anything can happen.
The Bruins swept the 08/09 regular season series, it didn’t look good after game one either, but the Canes knocked them out.