As the common saying goes, you must play for a full 60 minutes if you intend to win in the playoffs.
However, as the Carolina Hurricanes showed on Saturday night, sometimes a solid 30 minutes is quite sufficient. After a slow and listless start on their home ice in Raleigh, the Hurricanes rediscovered their form, completely taking control of the momentum in a decisive 4-0 victory to grab a 2-1 series lead at home. This win pushes their perfect home record this post-season to 4-0.
Here are the key observations from the contest.
Hurricanes Find Another Gear, Capitals Can`t Keep Up
Raleigh`s Lenovo Centre is notoriously challenging for visiting teams, but for a significant portion of the first half of Saturday`s game between Carolina and Washington, the Capitals appeared quite at ease. As the third game of the second-round series unfolded, the visitors held all the momentum, their possession-heavy style closely resembling the game we usually see from the Hurricanes.
Carolina looked unorganized and lacking energy, while the Capitals outshot, outskated, and generally outplayed the Hurricanes using Carolina`s own methods. Despite several excellent chances, Washington couldn`t convert. Even with no goals on the scoreboard after the initial period, it was clear the Capitals were in control at that point. It seemed only a matter of time before they would be rewarded.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was direct when asked during the broadcast about his assessment of his team`s effort midway through the matchup.
“`We haven`t gotten to (our game) all night. We`re hanging in right now,` Brind`Amour commented from the bench during a stoppage halfway through the second period. `We`ve got to find another gear.`”
Perhaps everyone on the bench heard him clearly, because his team wasted little time in doing precisely that. Less than three minutes later, Andrei Svechnikov broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal off an offensive zone faceoff at the 12:34 mark of the second period.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen was outstanding, making 20 saves to earn a shutout. Forward Jack Roslovic contributed two points, and Andrei Svechnikov`s goal proved to be the game-winner, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-0 triumph over the Washington Capitals and giving them a 2-1 advantage in the series.
Tristan Blackwood