After a bad loss to the Florida Panthers the night before, the Carolina Hurricanes were challenged by their coach and the leadership team to respond and play the way they are supposed to.

The team answered the bell and responded with a 4-0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday night at Amalie Arena.

Here are my takeaways from the game:

Calm Kochetkov

Coming into the contest, Pyotr Kochetkov had gotten the short end of the stick. 

He was 0-3-0 with a a sub 0.900 save percentage and was averaging over four goals against per game, but it wasn't like he was playing poorly.

The Canes were bleeding chances in those games and Kochetkov simply was overwhelmed. 

But even still, regardless of the new defensive support, that was the calmest I've seen Kochetkov in goal.

He was tracking well, controlling his rebounds and removing himself from all of the brouhaha in his crease. 

It was what he needed to deliver and it bodes well for the future.

Yet Again, Special Teams

After a slow start to the year, the Hurricanes' special teams is rounding into form. The power play converted early to set the tone for Carolina, its sixth power-play goal in the last seven games, and the penalty kill went a perfect three for three.

The kill not only stifled the Bolts, but took all the wind out of their sails as the Canes put up more chances against them then they got themselves. 

It was complete domination on Carolina's part and is a big turn around from the struggles they had early in the season.

Buy In

This game was a perfect example of how to respond.

After a poor game the night prior, where your coach called you out for a lack of work ethic, the team came out hot.

They were winning puck battles, forechecking and doing what they needed to do.

They defended well, scored some goals, and got the goaltending. 

Now the question is can they keep this ball rolling and stay buying in?

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