With a Washington Capital team readying for the playoffs and attempting to climb above 100 points playing a Carolina Hurricanes team that entered with 79 points and staring at early-booked tee times for the second week of April, Friday’s match up figured to be tough sledding for the Hurricanes. But the Capitals looked more like a team resting before the start of the playoffs than a team preparing for them, and the Hurricanes pounced with a strong effort and a 4-1 win.
The Capitals entered with a 9-1 mark in their past 10 games and a seven-game winning streak that dated back to February 20, so despite its lack of significance at this point in the season, it was an impressive one.
The game started maybe as it was expected to go throughout with Washington scoring first on a shot from a ways out by Michal Kempny. But the Hurricanes responded quickly when Derek Ryan scored on a second rebound after Jaccob Slavin galloped the length of the rink for a great individual effort and put the puck on net. Joakim Nordstrom had the first rebound try, and Ryan finished on the third try that featured offense generation from the back end and two players going hard to the net. In a game that started evenly, the Hurricanes built upward while the Capitals continued to look lackluster. Another great individual effort from the blue line put the Hurricanes up 2-1 about midway through the first period. This time, it was Justin Faulk deftly walking around a defender up top with a toe drag and then labeling a shot past goalie Braden Holtby. With some help from Scott Darling, the Hurricanes would exit the first period with a 2-1 lead.
The Hurricanes dominated play overall in the second period but also had a decent volume of the intermittent break downs that have plagued the team of late. During the first two periods, Scott Darling’s saves included two breakaways, a player lost in front of him and a few other saves that required sharp anticipation to be in the right place early enough. Despite peppering Holtby with 17 shots on net in the second period, the Hurricanes failed to score. But by virtue of a strong period by Darling, the Hurricanes still led 2-1 entering the third period.
The Hurricanes were a bit tighter defensively in the third period and clung to their 2-1 lead through most of the period until Sebastian Aho notched his 28th goal on a play that saw him and line mates Teuvo Teravainen and Valentin Zykov carve a path straight up the middle of the ice toward the net. Darling continued to hold the fort on a solid night, and Brock McGinn added an empty-netter late to push the final to 4-1.
The game was an impressive win for the Hurricanes. The Canes were the better team in a match up against a team that has generally been better than whoever it was playing of late.
Notes from the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals
1) Scott Darling
His game in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss was what I would term an ‘almost.’ He allowed four goals and lost, but I think he was noticeably sharper for the most part. His rebound control left something to be desired, but I thought his strength as a ‘first shot goalie’ did show through on Tuesday. And though his rebound control could have been better, Darling’s four goals against were not bad on a night when the Hurricanes were widely outplayed by a desperate Devils team. So Friday represented an opportunity to try to pull the positives from a mixed bag and build on them. Darling did exactly that. He faced only 21 shots, but the Hurricanes offered up enough intermittent break downs, that the ingredients were there for three or four goals against if Darling was not sharp. What stands out most about Darling’s play on Friday and to some degree Tuesday was his level of anticipation. He had multiple saves that were made possible by the fact that he read the play early and was in position to make a tough save look relatively easy. He also seemed to read a couple breakaway moves early such that he quickly closed up an opening to score. All in all, Friday was a strong outing for Darling and qualitatively better than the modest number of saves would indicate.
2) Offense from the blue line
Justin Faulk’s individual move and snipe obviously represented scoring directly attributable to the blue line. Derek Ryan’s goal that featured Jaccob Slavin carrying the puck most of 200 feet before getting it on net for rebound chances was another big play by the blue line. For the young blue line to take the next step and emerge as a strength that drives wins, more contributions offensively must be a key component, so Friday’s game was encouraging in that regard.
3) Jaccob Slavin
In addition to his assist on the Ryan goal, Slavin had a strong night defensively. The Capitals offense looked relatively toothless on Friday, but a quick glance at the Caps recent results show that this is not the norm and should be credited to the Hurricanes defense with Slavin leading the way defensively.
4) Phil Di Giuseppe
He continues his run looking like a completely different player. It is hard to say if he is just hot, pressure to win a next contract is boosting him or perhaps chemistry with Elias Lindholm at center is propelling him right now, but his seven points in five games is astounding after only scoring four points in 40 previous games in 2017-18.
5) 30 is in range!
With his 28th goal on Friday night, Sebastian Aho is now within two goals of 30. A big game on Saturday with him being featured (sorry for messing up the date in the preview for this game) could see him hit 30 in front of a home crowd and on a perfect night.
6) Derek Ryan
Derek Ryan, who has been much-maligned of late, had a strong game offensively with his rebound finish early and an assist on Faulk’s goal.
Next up is a quick turnaround and the second to last home game of the season on Saturday night against the New York Rangers.
Go Canes!
1) I remember several C&C regulars making glowing comments about Darling after seeing him in the preseason. Then everything went awry. I truly believe that Darling can, and most likely will, get back to being a good goalie. Given what he has already overcome, it is reasonable to think he will regain confidence and smooth out some technical issues. If the team keeps him, he should get back to being the goalie that had so many Caniacs excited.
2) & 3) In addition to Darling, the other player who hasn’t lived up to preseason expectations is Slavin. He has been good this year, but remember quite a few of us were calling him a sleeper Norris candidate. For the first 60 games, he was the solid d-man of the past two seasons. Now for the last month Slavin has been playing at another level. In fact, most of the blueline has. Before his injury, Pesce was having his most productive stretch of games. Hanifin has been more noticeable lately. Even van Riemsdyk has had several grade A scoring chances the past two games. I don’t know if the coaches have changed the tactics, but suddenly the Hurricanes’ defense is playing better hockey.
4) This is the one point on which I am cautious–just not sure Phil Di Guiseppe can maintain this type of production. Even in the AHL he was what would qualify as a second-tier scorer. However, if he keeps it up for five more games he has earned extra consideration going into training camp.
5) Aho is the center for the top-scoring line. While his goal last night came from an opportunistic play, there were several sequences where the TAZ line (and sometimes Aho mostly on his own) controlled the puck in the offensive zone for an extended period resulting in one or more dangerous chances. Aho’s ability to move through opposing players seems to be at another level now that he is playing center. His play is also elevating his line mates. I noticed last night that Zykov is already making plays by “knowing” where Aho or Teravainen will be even before the play is established.
6) I have stated my appreciation for Ryan in the past. However, I don’t think he is part of the team next year. Three spaces need to open for Zykov, Foegele, and Necas. The obvious players to be replaced are Stempniak, Nordstrom, and Ryan.
There has been much discussion about three needs: a difference-making center, at least one more scorer, and how the “core” needs to change to get past the culture of missing the playoffs. The first is happening on the ice the past two weeks. Both Aho and Lindholm are proving to be more than capable centers. Neither was used in that role as the season was slipping away–it is truly a change. On the second, Zykov is going to be an offensive threat who complements Aho and Teravainen. I am not arguing he will be an elite scorer, but at this point I am convinced that TAZ will be an above-average top scoring line. Regarding the third point, more changes need to be made. Still, with Aho and Lindholm at center, one or two more prospects joining Zykov, and Slavin, Pesce, and Hanifin all being involved in the offense every night, the Canes are in fact changing their identity. Skepticism is warranted. But the improved hockey of the past two weeks is more than other teams no longer playing engaged hockey. While it can be argued that this March is much like last March, there are some significant differences. Skinner (with some help from Aho) was driving the offense last March. This year multiple players are producing points (Aho, Teravainen, Di Guiseppe, Zykov, Foegele, and yes Skinner). I would argue it is more improved team play than a “hot streak.” Let’s just say I a skeptically optimistic.
In the end I hope you’re right, ct. I weigh these games down the stretch a bit differently because the team has been out of the playoff hunt the last several weeks. Teams that are good, yet not great (traditionally our Canes) tend to play better when the games no longer matter as much. It’s a combination of less pressure while some opponents ease up a bit and look at our team as a game where maximum effort is not required. NJ the other night was the exception as they are fighting for position, but last night’s effort by WAS is a classic case.
Besides, the last 4 years this team has ended the season giving us optimism only to overstate what we truly have. This has led to non-moves in the offseason. That said, I believe we do have some good core pieces, but I also believe we need to stop the vicious cycle of hoping at season’s end that we see repeat performances of our players as they are playing down the stretch. Had these same players been playing this way in Oct/Nov I’d feel different. Whether it’s center or wing we need a scoring boost in our top 6. We may likely need veteran help on D and improved goaltending as well. The captaincy needs to be looked into deeper…this team was too fragile at various points of the year and part of leadership’s job is to unite the team through hard times.
I think changes, in some sort, are finally occurring regardless of this last stretch.
I still have my doubts about Aho as a center. There’s no doubt he has the hockey sense and creativity to be a center. He struggles in the faceoff circle and while not a lightweight, still not as “big” down low as you’d want him to be.
Surprised Ryan was also weak in the circle last night, 0-6.
Lindholm is a center and his play there is making PDG looks different and can help Skinner when Skinner wants to play within the system. If we could get a good haul for Skinner, I wouldn’t mind seeing him change uniforms. I think the system we have would allow a scorer like him to have consistent 30 goal seasons as opposed to the up and down he has.
On D, we finally saw the Justin Faulk we wanted all season long. Also, as CT noted, all the D have been much better, more engaged, both defensively and offensively. I don’t know how the coaches can get through to this collective group that they can play this way 82 games, not just the last 10.
I pretty much agree word for word with ct. In fact, I was one of those who were extremely impressed by Darling in training camp and preseason. But last night we saw the Scott Darling we thought we had signed, and he was impressively – as he largely was against NJ.
Aho in the face-off circle shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I think it is mostly practice–other young centers struggle (MacKinnon is under 45% this year and this is the first year Barkov has been over 50%). My guess is given his focus, Aho will become better than 50% soon. He is not big, but he plays with much more strength and tenacity than his actual size. Aho is the one chance the team has at having a point-per-game center.
All good comments above. That’s the Justin Faulk I remember. Slavin continues to amaze me. A head-scratcher – why does Skinner keep making the same defensive “drifting” mistakes over and over again? This must drive BP crazy. Goalies seem to be like baseball pitchers – one year they’re great, the next year they’re bad or mediocre. Let’s hope Darling gets some more confidence and rebounds next year.