The Carolina Hurricanes will play the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday evening at PNC Arena.
Lineups and Game Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Hurricanes are coming off of a tough 8-2 loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Columbus Blue Jackets are winners of their last two.
Here are my three keys to the game:
No Freebies
While it might be easy to want to blame the goaltending for Friday's disaster-class, the truth of the matter is that Carolina's skaters made it easy for Tampa's forwards.
Wide-open bombs on cross-ice passes, net-front tap ins, blown coverages and missed assignments.
The Lightning were able to win because the Hurricanes gifted them so many goals.
That can't happen against Columbus.
Tighten up, plays smart and stay focused.
That mental toughness has been elusive for Carolina this season and they desperately need to find it on a consistent basis.
Clean up Special Teams
Special teams was cruising for Carolina heading into the holiday, but the last two games have not been banner nights.
A shorthanded and power play goal against and no power play goals for against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and then four power play goals against and just 1-for-six on their own power play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
The talent is there for both the PP and PK to be successful, they just have to go out and do it. The team needs to just lock in, keep it simple and not think too much.
They've been successful, they just have to stick to what they know works.
Stick to the Game Plan
Despite the results, the process of Friday's game is one the team can build success off of.
It won't be very often that you completely shutdown a team at even strength yet they still score on over 50% of their shots.
The Hurricanes had the game plan in place, they just need to believe in it, stick with it, but simply remove the bad penalties from the equation.
They do that and they'll start to string together more wins.
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