Why Fans Shouldn’t Be Worried After Hurricanes Fall Apart in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Final
When a lead is erased in 27 seconds, it dampens the mood. However, when a game is lost within the […]
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 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.