How does video help the Carolina Hurricanes win? Let’s take a look at the replay
Before Andrei Svechnikov scored in overtime, before the Carolina Hurricanes took a 3-2 victory Monday and 2-1 series lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final, Chris Huffine was a showstopper.
Huffine is the Canes’ video coach and a man who head coach Rod Brind’Amour has repeatedly called one of the MVPs of the team’s success and its string of eight straight playoff appearances.
“He’s a video coach, technically, but he’s a coach,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s a huge reference and a comfort for me.
“He knows what I need to see. In the eight years I’ve been here, he’s the guy I lean on the most.”
Huffine did what he does best in Game 3 at Montreal’s Bell Centre. Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson had scored eight minutes into the third period for an apparent 3-2 lead and the teeming arena was loud.
But Huffine had spotted something on the replays: Montreal forward Cole Caufield appeared to be offside on the Habs’ entry to the offensive zone as the scoring sequence was beginning.
Huffine relayed the information to the bench. A coach’s challenge was made. After review, it was ruled Caufield was offside. The goal was overturned and the decision announced to the Bell Centre crowd, quickly ending the cheers.
“All the teams, they’re on it,” Brind’Amour said. “As soon as the entry goes in they’re already buzzing you if it’s close. I give credit to (Huffine) because that was a bit of a tricky one.
“They did a great job there. Obviously, it was a huge point in the game.”
The man with the key information
Huffine is not the type to claim credit for such things. He quietly goes about his job, breaking down film, looking for tendencies, analyzing systems, looking to compile talking points for the coaches. He’s a resource for the players, providing them with video clips of all of their shifts in a game, if requested.
Forward Seth Jarvis, is 22, Gen Z, growing up in the age of constant video. He relies on Huffine’s work.
“I like watching goalie video a lot,” Jarvis said. “I like to see how a goalie operates, maybe where their weaknesses are.
“He puts in a ton of work. He probably stresses himself out a little bit but he puts in a ton of time making sure we’re prepared, what we need to look out for. He probably puts in the most hours of anyone in the organization in terms of doing the job.”
Huffine, smiling, said he’s a “little obsessive/compulsive” when it comes to video, saying Brind’Amour “pumps my brakes and keeps me in check.”
“We try to cover everything without beating anything into them,” Huffine said of the players. “We try to keep it short and to the point so their attention spans are sharp.”
Digital preparation in NHL playoffs
After the Canes swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the playoffs, there was the long wait for the Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres to finish up their second-round series. Huffine had the video ready on both teams.
“One night I’m focusing here and the next night focusing there,” Huffine said.
When the Canadiens won Game 7 in Buffalo, finally setting up the conference final with Carolina, it meant for another long night.
“I had downloaded the game and once it was over I started breaking down the layers of what we need and what we need to work on in practice, what the coaches need to see,” he said. “In the playoffs, you’re just trying to get a good base on everything and make sure nobody is surprised by anything. We’ll know after the first game what adjustments we need to make and what they’re trying to do.”
The Canes’ first game against the Canadiens was a mess. The Canes made mistake after mistake, the Habs took a 6-2 win in Game 1. Huffine went back to work and the video sessions the next day were said to be super intense with Brind’Amour not holding back.
“You’ve got to take what Roddy is saying, not how he is saying it, knowing it’s coming from a good place,” Jarvis said.
Much of the video was prepared by Huffine.
“He works his tail off for us in helping us prepare,” forward Jackson Blake said. “If I had one word for him it’s ‘preparation.’ His passion for our team is like no other.”
A Canes employee from the early days
Huffine, who has been with the team since the days in Greensboro, has his name on the Stanley Cup as a member of Carolina’s 2006 championship run.
“To be honest with you, I never dream about me holding the Cup again,” Huffine said. “There are guys in our locker room I’ve watched every NHL game they’ve played and it would be more to me to see them hold the Cup.
“Roddy held it up in 2006 as a player. I’d love to see him hold it as a coach.”
Huffine mentioned assistant coach Tim Gleason, a former Canes defenseman. He mentioned Jorge Alves, the Cane’s longtime equipment manager and part-time practice goalie.
“Guys who give everything they have to this organization,” he said. “Those are the guys I would treasure seeing lift the Cup, guys who went through the lean years that helped us build what we have now.
“It would thrill me to help put my brothers’ names on that Cup.”
That would make for a special video.
