Five points for the Hurricanes going into Game 3
1. ‘WE’RE WORKING ON IT’ What can you say about the Hurricanes’ power play at this point, after sliding to 3-for-32 in the postseason despite 85 seconds of five-on-three Sunday? The Hurricanes couldn’t get shots from the point through in Game 1, couldn’t generate shots at all in Game 2 and continue to operate almost exclusively from above the faceoff dots. It’s time to try something new, because this just isn’t working. The good news: The Hurricanes had their first full practice in 13 days, so they actually had time to work on it.
2. YIN AND YANG Petr Mrazek earned the right to start the playoffs and has more than earned the right to stay in the net, but his injury could have one beneficial side effect: In this much tighter-checking series than the first round was, McElhinney’s calm in net could settle a Carolina defense that has gotten a little scrambly at times against the Islanders. The only question is how well his 35-year-old body can hold up playing every other day – and potential Games 6 and 7 are back-to-back.
3. THE OTHER NET Robin Lehner is a Vezina finalist for a reason and has given up a mere three goals in 121:52 of action this series, but he’s 0-5-1 in his career against the Hurricanes and Thomas Greiss always looks like Marty Brodeur against them. Does Barry Trotz go with the German in Game 3?
4. BY THE NUMBERS The Hurricanes absolutely dominated the Capitals five-on-five, analytically speaking: 59.4 percent possession, 58.1 percent expected goals, 56.2 percent scoring chances (per naturalstattrick.com). They’re up 2-0 on the Islanders despite 49.7 percent possession, 40.7 percent expected goals, 43.5percent scoring chances, albeit all on the road so far. The Hurricanes need to get back to their game and get those numbers turned around at home.
5. NEXT MAN UP It looks like Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Martinook will draw back in, restoring some of the physical edge lost with Saku Maenalanen’s injury. But the Hurricanes will sorely miss defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, who was playing some of his best hockey of the season. Haydn Fleury played sparingly in the first three games of the Capitals series before Calvin de Haan returned, but the Hurricanes’ other defensemen aren’t as fresh as they were then. Fleury will have to do more.
Islanders at Hurricanes
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh
TV: NBCSN
This story was originally published April 30, 2019 at 2:13 PM.
