Keys to the Game: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Carolina Hurricanes will host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
The Canes and Pens have nearly identical records so far and both have had stretches of hot and cold.
Lineups and Game Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Lineups and Game Preview
Here are my three keys to the game.
Force Pittsburgh to Defend
It's no secret that while the Penguins can be a really lethal offensive team, their defense can be exploited.
The Pens' blueline has a few big offensive names, but they shouldn't really intimidate opponents for the overall defensive game.
Therefore, the Hurricanes really need to commit to their tried and true team forechecking against Pittsburgh.
Get pucks in deep, go to work and force the defense to play on their heels.
Tristan Jarry can also be a very streaky netminder so the Canes will want to get to him early with both shots and traffic.
Build That Chemistry
The Canes have really gone the way of the blender early in 2023-24 season as they've struggled to find consistent forward lines.
Partly due to injuries, partly due to concerns over commitment to the overall team game, the Canes have had to really shake it up almost nightly it's seemed as of late.
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Eventually, head coach Rod Brind'Amour is going to have let the lines figure themselves out and build a bit of chemistry through time rather than trial and error.
Having a few good games can also go a long way in helping that gel.
Be Mentally Tough
The biggest problem for the Hurricanes right now is simple lapses.
The overall game structure is in place. They're generating chances, suppressing opposing offenses and for the most part playing cohesively.
However, the issues have just been guys making simple mistakes.
Whether it's losing assignments in coverage, trying to force a pass, stickhandling into a turnover, turnovers just in general, poor clears, those are the things hurting Carolina.
The team needs to stay mentally sharp and not lose their focus in game. It's a tough sport and things happen fast, but for the Canes to be successful they need to remain locked in for the full 60.
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