After a couple days for everyone to recover his/her voice after spending all of it on Monday night, the Hurricanes and Capitals will be back in action at PNC Arena for game 4.
It is partially from yesterday’s article also looking at the series coming out of game 3, but today’s Daily Cup of Joe has a list of players to watch.
Sebastian Aho
On Monday, the Hurricanes scored in bunches largely just by completely overwhelming the Capitals and generating scoring chances via brute force. If and when the Capitals are able to rebound and push back the jail break brand of offense that the Hurricanes relied on in game 3 is likely to slow a bit as the game tightens up. If that happens, the Hurricanes will need more offense at a time when it just lost two good depth scorers in Andrei Svechnikov and Micheal Ferland. Aho might be rising up just in time to meet that need. After an extended stretch of ‘meh’ hockey offensively with virtually nothing for goal scoring, Aho just might be catching his second wind. He chipped in a goal in game 2, but more significantly he looked rejuvenated in game 3. For the first time in awhile, he was wheeling around the offensive zone and generating scoring chances with his skating ability. As the Hurricanes player with the greatest potential to boost the offense, Aho is worth watching right now.
Dougie Hamilton
With the frenetic pace and physical play, Dougie Hamilton looks like he is a great fit for at times chaotic playoff hockey. His two goals in game 3 were the headline, but he also just looks to be dialed in more generally. As demonstrated on Monday, Hamilton has a good chance to score on the power play right now, and his fourth forward style of play has the potential to lead to scoring chances when the Canes turn the puck over and Washington is a bit slow identifying defensive marks in transition.
Petr Mrazek
He was tested only very early and late in game 3. It is odd for a goalie to pitch a shutout and not be named one of the three stars, but I actually think that was the right call. The Canes were so dominant that very little was asked of Mrazek until the game was decided. Nevertheless, Mrazek has been trending upward. At some point when the Capitals rebound, the Hurricanes will need Mrazek to be on the top of his game to hold the fort. Based on what he did in February and March, he definitely seems capable.
Jordan Staal
In a series that is becoming increasingly more rugged by the game, Jordan Staal fits the profile of what is needed on the Hurricanes side. Neither he nor anyone else needs to drop the gloves, but the Hurricanes do need to match the Capitals in terms of physical intensity from here on out. Any and all scoring would be welcome too, but the greatest need is for Jordan Staal to just do what he does best which is to defend and drive the puck into the offensive zone. Using his big frame to bang on the Capitals defensemen will also be a benefit as the series wears on.
Warren Foegele
After a mostly quiet 2018-19 regular season, Warren Foegele caught a spark late in the regular season that has carried over to the playoffs. He was the best player in the game in Monday’s win. He looked two steps faster than any of the Capitals defensemen whom he was forechecking and was consistently relentless in terms of going to the top of the crease and battling first for position and then the puck when it arrived. The blue collar scoring chances that Foegele generated in bunches on Monday night are exactly the kind with the best chance of beating a good goalie like Braden Holtby. Foegele is surging at the right time of year. Here is hoping he can keep it up.
What say you Canes fans?
1) If you had to make a Canes ‘players to watch’ list of 3-4 Hurricanes players, who would be on your list?
2) Who would you include on a similar Capitals ‘players to watch’ list?
3) Who do you predict will be the difference-maker(s) in game 4?
Go Canes!
Agree with comments on Foegele–except for the “mostly quiet 2018-19 regular season.” For most of the season I could get a pretty good feel for how a game would go in the first 10 minutes. If the Canes scored early, that was a good sign. However, in the games where they didn’t score, it was still obvious that the Canes were playing their best hockey if Foegele and Martinook were being disruptive. Sure Aho, Niederreiter, Teravainen, and Hamilton changed the Canes from a pop-gun team to a dangerous offensive team. But what made the Canes successful was the ability to harass opponents for 60 minutes. Foegele’s numbers were not impressive, but he was playing impactful hockey many nights even though he wasn’t on the score sheet.
For that reason, I think Martinook is the other Cane to watch tonight.
Off topic: Someone recently asked about Josh Wilkins, a college hockey player currently at Providence, who is from Raleigh.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2019/04/predators-are-the-favorite-to-sign-josh-wilkins.html
Done deal.
Despite the 2-1 lead in games tonight we will see a re-energized desperate Washington team. The Caps have a choice: use their skill, speed and experience to win the hockey game, or, start an alley brawl to win a war of attrition. We will know their intentions shortly after the puck drop. My guess: The first chant of “Ref you Suck” will ring out within the first 2 minutes of the first period, the first line brawl 2 minutes later. In or out, Ferland is currently too fragile to carry much physicality into the game, Faulk and Staal will be key in our response. Aho has an “in your face” style, much like Svech. Expect Seabass to be the major harassment target now. His ability to stay cool with that attention now on him will matter. Patrick Brown, if in the lineup, will have his metal tested on his first and every other shift. His NHL future could battered or accelerated by his performance tonight. While needing to play physical, the Canes need to keep this a test of hockey not boxing. Their appropriate response will be pointing at their lead on the scoreboard, while not allowing any Capital to dictate terms of a boxing match. On the Caps side, expect Ovie to be the worst offender. He knows his reputation as a leading star of the NHL comes with a “get of jail free” card. The refs let him be a goon when he chooses. He will make that choice often.
I will be watching Greg, Jordan (Martinook), and Saku. Last game, Greg was visible as an energy player. As such in this game, he will likely draw fire from cheap shot artist extraordinaire, Brooks Orpik. Maybe this time the refs will be keeping their eyes open and whistles out of their pockets. Saku and Jordan (Martinook) will be called upon to create energy and draw fire from the Caps other cheap shot artists; Ovi, Wilson, Backstrom, and Oshie. Of course, we will also be annoying them with Fogele, TT (with his frustrating two-way play), Staal, Nino, and Brown.
Our defense will have to keep the slot and the crease clear. This will be where our Haydn will have to ascend from “serviceable” to competent and “edgy”. His cross checking penalty last game shows he has it in him.
If Ferland plays, it won’t be to take a skate. He will be ready to sacrifice his body for the team. If he goes down, he will take at least one of the Caps goons with him.
Tonight will either be a reprise of Monday, or a disaster. No middle ground for my heroes. We will either be awesome or embarrassing.
Go Canes!
Tonight I expect a repeat of game 3 habits, namely the Canes establishing their forecheck, smart cycling of the puck, finishing checks while disrupting the Caps elite off their game, and exposing the Caps defense for what they are. The Raleigh crowd will be fired up!