When a lead is erased in 27 seconds, it dampens the mood. However, when a game is lost within the first 12 minutes, it is deflating. That is what happened to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. It is a gnawing pain the team and their fans know all too well, but for many of the Caniacs waving their towels down in Raleighwood or shouting at their TVs across the world, they aren’t ready to panic – and they shouldn’t be.
An Uncharacteristic, Yet Familiar, First Period
The first period was abysmal for the Hurricanes. It looked nothing like the play that the Hurricanes are known for…except that it did.
The majority of the round against the Florida Panthers in the last Eastern Conference Final was notably similar. Defense was lacking, and the management of the puck was not prioritized. Instead, physicality and completion of hits appeared to be the main focus. The first goal from the Canadiens was a prime example of that, as Andrei Svechnikov had the opportunity to block a pass to the slot from Juraj Slafkovsky to the goalscorer Cole Caufield, but his stick was off the ice as he had committed to the hit on Slafkovsky.
Throughout the first frame, Carolina out-hit Montreal 17 to four. However, in doing so, they allowed 10 high-quality scoring chances, with all four of the first period goals having been generated off of them.
A Bruise Was Earned, But the Hurricanes’ Playing Style Returned
However, after the first frame closed and the second began, the Hurricanes looked like themselves again. Their game had returned for the most part, sustaining pressure in the offensive zone and getting sticks and bodies in front of pucks in the defensive zone. They owned the period, with 19 scoring chances for, and just six against, alongside seven high-danger scoring chances for, and only three against. William Carrier turned a rebound on a post-smacking puck in the defensive zone into a primary assist with a quick retrieval and stretch pass to the only goalscorer of the frame, Eric Robinson. The play was every bit marvelous from the Hurricanes’ bottom line wingers.
The third period wasn’t great for either team, with Carolina only putting two shots on net, and Montreal putting on six.
Though the game ended in a brutal loss, the Hurricanes were able to find the issues of the first period and turn things into a better direction in the following frames. To use an analogy; they tangoed with a stranger – but eventually danced with the girl they brought. It is an improvement from last year’s ECF collapse, which saw the same sloppy, contact-focused play continued throughout the series. The Hurricanes’ awareness of what was wrong and quick adjustment by the second period should give fans a little more hope for the next game.
Takeaways From the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final
The Hurricanes’ top line was great. Both Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho factored into Seth Jarvis’ game-opening goal, and the three continued to provide offensive generation throughout the game. It was one of their better games of the postseason.
Jaccob Slavin had a rare rough game, coming out of the night -4 in plus/minus. “Personally, I think I handed them the game,” Slavin said in the dressing room. “So, I’ve got to be better.” Head coach Rod Brind’Amour also discussed his performance, saying that he hadn’t seen him play like that in the eight years they’ve been in the postseason, but further stated his belief that his star defenseman would bounce back.
The Jordan Staal’s third line was fantastic throughout the full sixty minutes, with the Captain himself winning 10 of 15 faceoffs (66.7 FOW%), and his line putting up 13 shot attempts while facing only one from the Canadiens.
Despite the woes of the first period, Frederik Andersen played a decent game. All four of the first period goals he allowed were Grade-A chances from the slot. “I’m not going to blame him for breakaways,” Brind’Amour told the media when asked if he’d considered pulling him.
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