Hurricanes’ Slavin & Brind’Amour on Defensive Expectations Ahead of Game 2

Heading into Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Carolina Hurricanes are seeking to even the series 1-1 before it shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Saturday. Despite the 5-4 loss in Game 1, the sense around the locker room is that this team is ready to secure the win with another bounce-back performance.

After the morning skate, Jaccob Slavin and Rod Brind’Amour answered questions about how the defense will make adjustments to their structured setup ahead of the game tonight at the Lenovo Center.

Jaccob Slavin

The Hurricanes’ defense made some mistakes in Game 1, including clearing attempts that turned into turnovers and some defensive breakdowns. However, they played well to stay in the game for the most part. They just came up a shot or two short of taking the win on Tuesday night (June 2). Over the last day or so, Sean Walker, Jalen Chatfield, and other blueliners have reviewed video and know what they need to do in Game 2.

Slavin has experienced a lot of firsts this season between the Winter Olympics and the Stanley Cup Final. The Hockey Writers asked him about those experiences and what he expects from himself and the blue line tonight ahead of Game 2. “Experience-wise, it’s been unbelievable,” he said. “As a kid, you dream of nothing else but playing in the Olympics, playing for a gold medal, and playing for a chance for the Stanley Cup. So, experience-wise, it’s been unbelievable”.

“What we expect tonight, we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be better in our defensive zone. We’ve got to tighten up a couple of things, and then we’ve got to break up our puck better. Obviously, they’re a good team, and they’re here for a reason. They’re going to bring their best again, and we’ve got to be able to bring ours,” Slavin added.

In four of the last five games, Slavin has logged over 21 minutes of ice time, taking 26 or more shifts over that span. He’s been at an even rating since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final. He will be leaned on as usual as the best defensive defenseman in the NHL against a Vegas Golden Knights team that can make opponents pay when they make mistakes.

It’ll come down to how the defense, along with everyone else, responds after their close loss on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes haven’t lost back-to-back games so far in the playoffs. There’s a sense that the trend will continue tonight in Game 2.

Rod Brind’Amour

Since the end of Game 1 on Tuesday, most of the questions posed to head coach Rod Brind’Amour were about the power play, goaltender Frederik Andersen, and how the team will rebound. Brind’Amour repeated that it wasn’t a bad game overall; they were one shot away from a win. It’s business as usual for the group heading into Game 2.

When asked about the conversations between him, defense coach Tim Gleason, and the blueliners shoring up the mistakes heading into tonight’s game, Brind’Amour said, “We made a few mistakes, but again so did they. I mean, it’s a pressure game that everyone is playing, and you’ve got to make plays. We had a few that I’d like to have back, and so do our guys.”

“The breakout of the puck is a crucial part of the game. Both teams are trying to get the puck quickly out of their end, and as efficiently as possible. That’s definitely an area we have to be better at. That’s something we’ve definitely talked about,” Brind’Amour added.

There is no doubt that the coaching staff will have their team ready to go in Game 2 tonight. It will come down to execution, response, and how the team will bounce back following the Game 1 loss. The Hurricanes do not want to go down 0-2 with the series heading to Las Vegas.