Hurricanes Taking Lessons Learned From Games 1 & 2 as Series Shifts to Vegas

After a thrilling first couple of games in Raleigh to begin the Stanley Cup Final, the series is tied 1-1 as we shift to Las Vegas for Games 3 and 4. Regarding the Carolina Hurricanes, while they lost Game 1 on Tuesday (June 2), they came back in Game 2 for another dramatic overtime battle. That said, what can the Hurricanes learn from the first two games in the series before tonight’s Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena?

Adjustments From Games 1 & 2 Ahead of Series Shift to Vegas

One of the main things that stood out from the first couple of games was the Hurricanes acknowledging that they have to make adjustments against the Vegas Golden Knights. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour did say following Game 2 that they’re always making adjustments, but it’s more evident because the Golden Knights are a different animal compared to the teams they faced in the Eastern Conference.

During the Hurricanes’ off-day media availability on Wednesday (June 3), one of the things they noted that needed to be better was the execution of breakout passes. Sean Walker stated, when asked about what the team can do better defensively, “I think just some of the things, execution-wise, we can get a better job of. Key points: breaking out the puck; most of their goals were being scored from the inner slot. A lot of quick plays; that’s something we’ll be looking to shut down next game, for sure.”

Jaccob Slavin added to that following morning skate on Thursday (June 4) that the expectation for the defense is to play better in their zone in Game 2. “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.”

Defensively, the Hurricanes played better in Game 2 compared to Game 1, but there seems to be a sense that there is more work to do. However, they are trending in the right direction. They did not crumble when down 2-0 with less than 10 minutes left in the game. The Hurricanes kept at it, and ultimately won 4-3 in overtime to even the series at one apiece. Now it comes down to carrying that sense of holding their own against the Golden Knights on the road for the next two games.

Something else that stood out from the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final is that the Hurricanes were always in both games. It was not that they were blown out or playing their worst hockey of the playoffs. They were playing a very good Golden Knights team, who just swept the Presidents’ Trophy Colorado Avalanche, and who are a deep team as well. That said, there is a ton of confidence in this team, and they are looking to carry that into Games 3 and 4 on the road.

Seth Jarvis, during the postgame, following his huge Game 2 overtime-winning goal, stated, when asked how huge it was for the team heading to Las Vegas, “Yeah, it’s big. You never want to lose two at home. To get that one is really big for the group. As you said, it carries us into Vegas and keeps it going.”

Shayne Gostisbehere mentioned how Game 1 felt like it was a feeling-out process, and that Game 2 was a tighter game, but the team sticking to their system was huge. Now it’s about taking what they did in Game 2 and keeping it going for the next one.

Ahead of the team traveling on Friday (June 5), Gostisbehere stated, “Game 1 is definitely a feeling-out process for both teams. You got to get a feel for the tendencies of each team and whatnot. You saw in Game 2 how it was a little tighter. Just waiting for that one mistake or that one turnover and pounce on it. There was not a lot out there. Just sticking with it, just getting those results. It’s really uplifting in the sense that you got to believe and just keep going.”

Even Rod Brind’Amour gave some insight into how the team is viewing the first two games: how they played well, but that the Golden Knights are, too. It’s about keeping to the system and playing how they can give themselves chances. The confidence is there; it’s about starting over with a tied series and keeping at it.

“Obviously, there’s a lot more good vibes today than it could have been. But I think we understand how we have to play to give us a chance. I thought we got to that to start the game, and at the end of the game. Now it would be great if we could do that through the whole 60 minutes. It’s probably not going to be that way. They’re a very good team. I think that we’re confident. I mean, we should be; we played two good games. Now we’re starting over. That’s the way I look at it.”

It’ll be interesting to see how things play out in Game 3 on Saturday night, as the Hurricanes seek to take a 2-1 series lead. While they did win four straight games after losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens, the Golden Knights are on another level. The Hurricanes will need to play a full 60 minutes of their system that has gotten them this far.

As Brind’Amour stated, if they can manage to play closer to that for a whole game, they will be in good shape. It’ll come down to execution, discipline, and making adjustments as the game and series progress in Vegas.