stormTRacker Podcast
...stormTRacker Podcast is your home for in-depth analysis of the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Wolves & Hurricanes' prospects around the globe. Host, Tom Ray, gives his insightful perspective & is joined by Hurricanes' "Insiders" Erin Manning, Katie Bartlett, Nick Bass (Canes Prospects) & Andrew Rinaldi (Chicago Wolves), as well as special guests, to cover all the top stories for your Carolina Hurricanes. Tom is also active on "X" connecting with Hurricanes' fans on a regular basis. (@stormTRacker24)
You should also check out stormTRacker Website (www.stormtracker23.com), your home for all things Carolina Hurricanes, including videos, stormTRacker Podcasts, stormTRacker bloggers section (stormTRacker Journals) & stormTRacker Shoppe, which includes a variety of stormTRacker branded merchandise.
stormTRacker Podcast
Hurricanes Charge Ahead with a 2-0 Lead Against the Devils!
The Carolina Hurricanes have stormed out to an impressive 2-0 series lead against the New Jersey Devils, showcasing why they're legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this season. While the scoreboard tells part of the story, the true strength of this Hurricanes team lies in their remarkable depth and strategic versatility. Carolina Hurricanes' TV Analyst, Shane Willis joins Erin Manning, Katie Bartlett & Tom Ray to talk about that & more on this episode of stormTRacker.
Rod Brind'Amour's squad has found success through balanced contributions across all four lines. Jordan Staal's line has been particularly impactful – with Logan Stankoven scoring twice in Game 1 and Jordan Martinook delivering a momentum-shifting shorthanded goal in Game 2. These veterans aren't just producing points; they're setting the physical tone and demonstrating the playoff mentality required for deep runs.
• Jordan Staal's line has been vital for Carolina, with Stankoven scoring twice in Game 1 and Martinook netting a shorthanded goal in Game 2
• The Svechnikov-Kotkaniemi-Hall line is playing a simplified, physical game but needs to generate more offensive chances
• The Hurricanes defense has been solid, with Gostisbehere and Walker emerging as an effective third pairing
• Freddie Andersen has been outstanding in net, while coaches consider when to utilize Pyotr Kochetkov
• Alexander Nikishin is practicing with the team but faces challenges with language barriers and system familiarity
• The Hurricanes' poor road record (16-21-4) is misleading as many losses occurred during goaltender injuries.
• Carolina enters the playoffs remarkably healthy compared to previous seasons, giving them a significant advantage
Watch Game 3 Friday night as the Hurricanes look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in New Jersey.
Well, lots to be excited about if you're a Carolina Hurricanes fan these days. After all, canes have jumped off to a two-game lead versus the New Jersey Devils as they head back to the Rock for Games 3 and 4. Chicago Wolves, led by a number of Canes' top prospects, have returned to the playoffs after missing last year, and much-ballyhooed Canes phenom, alexander Nikitian is practicing with the team, getting ready to jump into the Canes lineup when called upon Joining me to talk about that and more. Star Tracker insiders Aaron Manning and Katie Bartlett. And we have a special guest, carolina Hurricanes TV analyst, shane Willis Howdy. Everybody Morning.
Speaker 2:Tom.
Speaker 1:Okay, so I thought we'd talk for just a couple of minutes about the end of the season. The Hurricanes basically decided to rest a number of players. They didn't fight hard to move up in the standings which I think would have been a smart move to give them home ice advantage but they decided to go with some of the youngsters. What did we think about that and what did we see in some of these young players? Shane, you want to kick it?
Speaker 3:off. I loved it. I think it was the right move and again I have a little bit more of an inside track because I think going into the playoffs and no matter who you're facing. Home ice is extremely important but, more importantly, health is even more important and we've seen over the past few years the teams that make a deep run and the ones that hoist the Stanley Cup are healthy teams and Rod Brendamore is a competitor and he is not a guy that wants to take anybody out and players don't want to come out.
Speaker 3:But when you're dealing with situations as this team was, and looking ahead, the most important thing is game one. You knew you had home ice in round one and I think that gave them the flexibility to pull guys out and say we're looking at a bigger goal here, something that's a lot bigger than playing in two final games and maybe getting past Toronto to have home ice. You weren't going to catch the Capitals and I don't think anybody thinks that the Montreal Canadiens are going to knock out the Capitals. So the rest was important. Health, even more important, of your top end players that were able to rest for that last week.
Speaker 4:Erin thoughts. Well, well, I have to agree. And it was so much fun to see the kids. Um, I, I think that, um, I was really impressed with the bradley nadeau's release, good heavens. I mean, that shot is something else. It just those are the kinds of things that if you're not able to watch the wolves on a regular basis, you don't get to see all the things that they're doing down there, you don't get to see how these guys are doing. So it's always fun, and I think that matters more, like you said, than the wins and losses in a couple of last season games that are already pretty meaningless as far as achieving any goals for the Canes. So I have to agree. And then the rest, like you said too, it's, it's. Uh, that was a question I had for you for later, but we'll get back to that. So any further thoughts?
Speaker 2:katie um, obviously we've heard a ton about morrow and nikisha and we're super excited about them. Really impressed me with his way he was able to control the puck and move it out of his zone efficiently and even sometimes into the offensive zone. So it's it's encouraging to know that it's not just those two guys on the back end that we have in the system, but there are others that could potentially come up and contribute in the future. So he was the one that pleasantly surprised me, because I'd heard about all of the others and been familiar with their game, but I was not familiar with him.
Speaker 1:Dominic Fensore. To me he's incredible. He played 19 minutes average in the two games he played. He's not a big player but boy, he's smart out there and he's quick. And the other guy that I think really did well was Skyler Brindamore. He was awesome in the faceoff dot and I thought he surprised a lot of people. I know a lot of folks on X were saying, hey, come on what's with Brindamore?
Speaker 1:I thought he held up quite nicely and he's had a great season in Chicago as well. So kind of fun to see those guys. Sometimes you don't know much about them and we got a chance to see them firsthand with the Canes. Okay, so let's move on to the playoffs and let's talk a little bit about the forward crew for a minute. There's some things there I thought we could touch on. One of them was let's look at the Stoll line for a minute. Those guys obviously are always critical to the Kane success. First game, logan Stankhoven had a couple of goals. What do we see from them? Do we think they can do more? Where do we see them in the series going forward? Shane thoughts.
Speaker 3:Vital. I mean this line is extremely vital. You saw it in game one, with two goals from Stan Coven. In game two, I look at it as where you talk about leadership with this group because the first period was not their best. It's top to bottom. Not just that line, and Jordan Martinuk talked about it with Hannah Yates in between periods, and any time you hear either Jordan Martinuk or Jordan Stahl talk about a bad period, look out, because you know they're going to be the line that starts the second period and they're going to look at the bench and play this is now how we're going to play.
Speaker 3:So, leadership standpoint, you cannot match what these guys do on a nightly basis. And then the effort level of Jordan Martinuk and what he meant to that game not only scoring shorthanded the way he did, but that entire penalty kill. And he made a great quote after the game, saying the playoffs are about stepping outside of your box and really doing things you don't like to do. No one wants to get in front of a shot that's coming 100 miles an hour, but he laid out two or three times throwing his body around to make sure that puck didn't get to Freddie Anderson. And that is the difference between elite level players and teams that make it to Stanley Cups and the ones that don't. It's the ones that are willing to do that, and that line really brings it to the table on a nightly basis.
Speaker 3:And for a young player like Logan Stankoven, what a way to learn from two players sitting beside you knowing this is how we have to do it. And he is learning vital pieces besides scoring some big goals right now. And I talked with Trip Tracy about it the other day, saying that was a little bit like my career. You know, I had the benefit of playing with Rod Brendamore and Martin Gelina and all I had to do was follow their lead, the way they worked, their effort level. Obviously, their skill was there as well, but there were nights. I remember being a young player and you're having that fatigue factor and everything, and all you have to do is look to your right and Rod's looking at you saying, are you ready? And your answer better be yes, because they're dragging you into the fight each and every night. I think those two players do that with Stankoven right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no question Now. Katie, you had some very interesting information on hockey stat. What did you find out about these guys?
Speaker 2:Well, it's interesting because if you spend any time on X looking at different posts, you see the hockey stat cards and if you just go by those cards, it looked like Jordan Stahl had an awful game. He was at the bottom of the card for the hurricanes, while martin irk was at the top, and that's very unusual to have guys on the same line so far apart. When you dig into it, it just had to do with the fact that he was dinged for that one penalty that was called on him and the fact that he lost face-offs. Um, because he's sure you gotta give credit to he sure. He sure is really good in the face-off dot and he won a lot of face-offs. You take that out and he jumps from the bottom of the stat card up to the top of the stat card.
Speaker 2:So, you can't take those types of things as gospel. They're an interesting tool, you can learn a lot from them, but ultimately, at the end of the day, how many points did Hesher and his line put on the board? You know they didn't. They didn't score, um, they had to split up. In fact, they had to split up brat from he sure, in order to create any kind of offensive opportunity for the devils, because unfortunately, the, the boat the devils are in right now is they are limited on offense because of who's not in their lineup currently, and so stall and his line made a huge difference in preventing the other team from getting on the board. And so you can look at the stats all you want, but at the end of the day, you dig into it and you see that Jordan Stahl and his line have so many more intangibles that you can't quantify in a stat sheet.
Speaker 3:It's a great point, katie, and the one point now as you go into New Jersey is Sheldon Keefe will now get his matchups. So does this line become more offensive and dynamic, because Jordan Martin loves playing against the Devils? Does Jordan Stahls, as you talk about those numbers, do they go up? Because he's not facing Heischer anymore? Maybe he's getting another centerman and he's dominating in the face-off circle. So that line is going to be real key in game three, as Keith gets his matchups to where he thinks benefits his team, and I don't think he's going to put Heischer on the ice with Stahl. I could be wrong, but I think he tries to shake things up to avoid that line.
Speaker 1:No, I think you're right. I think you're right, shane, and for sure, martinuk seems to have the devil's number, as we know. Know, he seems to. What do you call him, martinuk, gretzky Aaron?
Speaker 4:that was the comment from last year. The famous broadcast call. All of a sudden he's Wayne Gretzky and he scores. That was such a classic moment.
Speaker 1:So yeah, he's Gretzky Martinuk well, he definitely takes his game to another level and I think the good news about this game was that, you know, I don't think it was Jordan's best game and again he struggled a little bit in the faceoff and if he can get back to what we normally see with him, that's going to help a lot in terms of possession time for the Hurricanes, so I think that's good news. So let's talk about another line and this line. We've had high hopes for Big line. You've got Taylor Hall, You've got Yosferi Kokuniemi and, of course, Andrei Svechnikov. We had huge high hopes for these guys Starting to show a little bit Shane. What are you thinking about these guys?
Speaker 3:The obvious in my mind would be you need more. And you know those guys will tell you the same thing. If you ask them, they're like we have to be better, we have to give more, we have to create more chance in the offensive zone. The one area where I think I liked them more in game one, where I thought they struggled in game two, was more the rhythm of the game. And if you go back and every time I talk to Rod he always makes this comment go back and watch, go back and watch.
Speaker 3:The hard part for an offensive player like Taylor Hall and Andre Svechkov is breaking up the rhythm of your shifts, five on five, and they come over the boards. They're playing five on five. All of a sudden there's a penalty. So now the line gets broken up. Svech is on the first power play unit. The other two guys are on the second power play unit, which wasn't getting many touches.
Speaker 3:Then the stall line comes out, then the Ajo line. Now you're back to the Kokonemi line again. There were times in the second period where I didn't see him for five minutes because of the stalls going back and forth. I think that really affected that line last game. So going into game. Game three and I say this all the time this team is dynamic five on five. If they can stay there, I'm not even worried about the power plays at this point. That allows this line to utilize their speed. Now will they get a tougher matchup in new jersey? I go back to that again because you may see sheldon keith put he sure's line with brat against that line yeah so don't get caught up again of they didn't get on the score sheet tonight.
Speaker 3:They may be called upon to be more defensive if that line is their matchup. So we always want goals. That line has enough skill to do it. I really look at the rhythm part of it because, being an offensive guy myself, I was on the power play but I didn't kill penalties. So if we kept taking penalties I just sat on the bench, yeah, and you finally get back out there. Now you're trying to get back into the game. I really felt the rhythm of the game, for the Cokie Ami line struggled in game two, but my hopes are still high that they are a big factor, not only in this series but as this team continues to move through the playoffs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Aaron, now you are a big Isbury Kokuniemi fan. How are you feeling about his play so far, what you've seen in the first two games?
Speaker 4:I think that from the time he first played in a playoff game at the age of 19,. The thing that Kokuniemi has loved about playoffs is the physicality and being able to be part of the hitting parade. Because during the regular season he's said before you know, I can't go around doing that because it takes me out of the play too much. You know, if I'm, you know, delivering big hits all the time, and in the playoffs it's a different animal. Everybody on the line has to be responsible for hitting and you know I think I mentioned that that line in particular last game, game two Sveetch had four hits and KK had five, so nine between them, and Taylor Hall didn't have to have any. There wasn't a need for it. So it's not like that's what you. You know, the bad part about seeing those hit numbers means that they didn't have the puck. So that's where you've got to. You know they're hitting to get the puck back, but at least it's working and it's effective in helping to do that. So that's what you want to see when they don't have it, when they play away from the puck, when the other team has the puck, that's what you want to see from them and I really like Svechnikov on that line, because we've talked a little bit about his struggles this season.
Speaker 4:This has been a down year for him. He's playing very simple. He's playing very simple. To me it seems like he's playing a much more simple direct game in these first two games of the season, I mean of the playoff season. Yeah, I want to see that continue with him. I want to see that because you know that's where he's going to find his biggest success. It's not the fancy playmaking, it's not the East-West game, but if he's just playing that simple, direct hockey with a lot of physicality involved, I think that it brings out the best version of Andrei Shetchenkov. And we really need that, we really do in the playoffs.
Speaker 1:Now one question, speaking of Svetch. One question that a lot of folks are asking is what's the issue with Markstrom, with the Svetch and Shane, what are you? Thinking about that. That seems to be quite a little tool going on.
Speaker 3:We have fielded that question a lot lately and I go back I don't remember in game one or game two, where there was a bump where they ran into each other, anything, and I was trying to think back into the season. I don't remember if Markstrom was just losing his temper because of Svetch being around the net, but I have not seen anything that jumps off the page to know why Jacob Markstrom keeps going after Andre.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was very noticeable.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and from Andre's perspective, this is great If he can get Markstrom off his game, and that's going to be critical Markstrom. You know, shane, when we talked a lot about, you know, going up against the Devils, one of the things we talked about was Jacob Markstrom. He's that wild card. He's a guy that when he is on his game and is hot, he is tough, he's extremely tough and he made a lot of great saves in these first two games. So you've got to get him off his game and I think what Svetch is doing is right on cue Just get in his face and hopefully maybe tip a few in while you're at it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he was good in both game one and game two.
Speaker 1:In game two, he doesn't get any spotlight because of how great Freddie Anderson was at the other end.
Speaker 3:Markstrom has been good for them. There's no question that he'll start game three. They go down 0-2, and the worst scenario for a coach is do I change my goalie now? What do I do? And I think he's held them in this series to keep them even close in either one of those games.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't see any possible way that he's not in game three for sure. Okay, so one of the lines that we've talked a little bit about is this fourth line, and you know we were really interested in the fourth line.
Speaker 1:You've got some size, you've got Carrier back now and he's a guy that we're really excited about, because you know lots of experience in the playoffs, had some great success with Vegas and played a very big role there and, as we've learned, a lot of folks are pretty complimentary about that. And you've got Eric Robinson, who had a career year. So you've got a couple of guys that can get out play heavy. And we were quite surprised to see Jack Roslevic moving into that center spot. You know, at first glance we thought, gee, that doesn't make sense, and then took a little step back and started to look at some stats. Aaron, you saw something on the Ross Libby thing that I thought was interesting. When they made the decision to go to him, what did you see?
Speaker 4:Well, the two main things that I hadn't thought about before because we were talking about it. We were looking at his defensive stats and saying, are they going to want to put him in right away in the playoffs or not? But his role on the second unit, on the power play, is really hard to replace. And then the fact that he's the only right now he's the only right-handed center on the team, or right draw center on the team. So they need someone who's going to win face-offs on that side and they need. He's got I think you had his stats, tom at 54.1% on draw.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's in the face-off this year.
Speaker 4:So that's something that you don't want to just set that aside and say well, you know, we don't need that because you do need that. So I mean, I could see them making adjustments as the season, I mean as the series goes on, if they need to. But I think that I wasn't thinking about those things. And then, once he started, I thought, well, gosh, yeah, they would have to put someone else on that second unit power play and they would have to have someone. They don't have anyone else who's taking right draws. So that's probably the reason the decision was made, Shane your thoughts.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you're exactly right as I talked to Rod about it and not an easy decision. It's kind of a luxury to have a full roster. This team hasn't seen this over the past couple years. But not only the luxury to have a full roster, but to have guys who are playing as well as Mark Jankowski was for this team. And how hard it is for Rod to have that conversation saying I'm going to take you out and put Jack Roslevic in, but your two points are exactly right. One, because he's right-handed and that power play unit.
Speaker 3:It's tough to give up a guy who's got 20 goals. It's tough to take a guy out of the lineup. When it comes to playoffs, you have to score and power plays are extremely important. Right now it has worked. And as we go into New Jersey, I go back to what I talked about earlier. Look at matchups, especially in game three. I would assume Rod does not change anything, but if New Jersey exploits a matchup with Roslevic at center with one of their lines, do we see Jankowski, who's bigger and stronger, coming in game four to try and handle that matchup?
Speaker 1:in a different way. Katie, what are your thoughts on that fourth unit?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know that. I have a whole lot new to add. Definitely would like to see Jankowski at some point. I think he's played well enough for the Canes that he'll get a look at eventually. But don't fix what ain't broke.
Speaker 3:Agreed.
Speaker 1:One thing about Rostovic and yeah, he had, I think, a career year in the faceoff. We talked a lot about his challenges in the faceoff previously this year, but he has really been firing the puck. He brings an offensive spin to that line as well, and just by virtue of them, being able to keep play in the offensive zone and get chances as a fourth line is fantastic. So so far I'm with everybody on this, but I do think we'll see Mark Jankowski at some point as we move into the playoffs and that will give them a very substantially sizable line, adding Jankowski to Robinson and, of course, carrier. So that's exciting stuff and, as you say rightfully, shane, it's a great luxury to have.
Speaker 1:I think the Canes going into this playoff round are in pretty darn good shape from a health perspective. So here's an exciting thing. The Canes have done this without much from the top line. So we've got Ajo and Blake and, of course, jarvis out there and we saw some great, great play from them as the season wound down, but haven't seen much so far. Shane thoughts. So Shane thoughts.
Speaker 3:Still creating, still generating. Obviously, their shift led to the first goal with Goss's bear last game and game two to tie it in the second period. I think they continue to control the puck in different plays. I think again. I go back to the word of matchups. What does that end up being for this line in New Jersey, and does it become a better fit for them, or maybe even a harder fit? But those are the scenarios I think a lot of people forget to look at is when we look at those matchups do they want more, without a doubt.
Speaker 3:I think they've kind of just taken a step back into where they were for a few weeks, where they're creating and they're just not finding the back of the net. But, as we know, with offensive players, they get one or two earlier in the game. They could really take off and explode, and I almost look at moments there's never going to be a game, whether you're in the first round against a team that you're supposed to beat, or, as the playoffs get longer, how difficult it is to score, even for top lines to create and make those goals happen.
Speaker 3:So I would be more concerned I think we talked about this before if they weren't generating opportunity and you know katie would know best, you know going into the stats of how many high danger chances they had and looking at game one and game two.
Speaker 3:You know I get those things fed to me through my ear so I don't have to study as much when I'm on tv. But I've liked the way they played. You know they're going to compete on a nightly basis and when it comes down to a moment when the game is on the line if it's tied, maybe you're down one the cream rises to the top. And we know what Sebastian Ajo and Seth Jarvis do in those type of moments if it gets late in the game or even to overtime. Jarvis do in those type of moments if it gets late in the game or even to overtime.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, that's an interesting discussion point we've had this year Seth Jarvis. Of course we really believe he's doing what we would expect him to do both ends of the rink defensively and of course he gets that empty netter but sometimes we think that we should see more from Sebastian Ajo. He had no shots the other night. Yes, they're getting chances, but he doesn't seem to be the same dominant player that we've seen in these situations in the past. Is that something we're misreading or is there something here that we're missing?
Speaker 3:No, but I think also, teams are queuing in on him way more than they ever have. Okay, that's true, as a dynamic elite level player, you have to work harder to find those open spaces, but I think teams, even if they're not getting the initial matchup on a start of a shift defensemen, are jumping off the ice to get a certain guy to match up against sebastian. And I think you're gonna have certain years and, trust me, I've talked to sebastian a lot and this guy competes like no other and he's as frustrated as anybody at certain moments. He knows where his numbers are, he knows where he wants to be and I think that when you look at this team and if things progress in a positive light and if they're having the success to move through the playoffs, sebastian will have to be a part of that. He will have to score at some points, but it's still by committee and this team is always going to win as a group. It's never going to be a night where we need Sebastian to score three times. We need.
Speaker 3:Sebastian to have one assist, maybe two assists. You want him to get those shots. I almost go back to the power play. I think this weighs on so many of these offensive guys. If they can get that thing clicking, that kind of just rolls into your game five on five and we're kind of. We've taken a little bit of a couple steps back to where it wasn't great again. So that's the pressure point for me going into game. Three is on the road in someone else's building. The penalty kill is phenomenal. I'm not worried about that. Our play needs to score in a key moment. It needs to be a difference maker for this team.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes for sure, and you know, we did see some light at the end of the tunnel on that a few times. I mean, they were definitely moving the puck extremely well and, I think, getting some looks and that's encouraging. And again, one of the guys that's driving that and I think he's playing just really strong hockey right now is Shane Gossespierre. Now Goss had an interesting thing. He scored that beautiful goal the other night. But he had an interesting thing to say and was talking about actually having some opportunity with the top line and, as you know, they don't see a lot of ice with the top line just the way it works out on the D course. They don't see a lot of ice with the top line, just the way it works out on the D course. Now, katie, you had some interesting data on that, looking at Ghost and his time with the top unit.
Speaker 2:What are you thinking with that?
Speaker 2:Well, there's a hockey viz chart that shows players' expected goals for and expected goals against when they're on the ice with other players, and so you want to be further right for the expected goals for and further towards the top, cause they do it inverse for the expected goals against, and Ajo and Goss despair are in that top right corner where they are creating tons of chances together and not giving up a whole lot of chances as a result.
Speaker 2:And so I just really found that quote from ghost particularly interesting, that he doesn't see a lot of time with Ajo, because I wonder if perhaps that goal will perhaps encourage more opportunities, especially if there's a face off in the Ozone that Rod might take and say, ok, let's go ahead and put Ghost and Walker out there with Ajo in his line and see what they can generate, because that goal, that that line and that deep pair put together was really, really important and looked really good, and if you have multiple weapons out there for Ajo to feed the puck to, then all the more opportunities there are to get on the score sheet. So I definitely would be curious going forward to see if we see more of Ghost and Ajo out there together, since they seem to create a lot of success together.
Speaker 1:Well, they do and you've got, I mean, ghost. His offense speaks for itself and we've seen so much from Walker this year and I don't know how many times he's driven the puck deep into the zone or made you know great plays to get good shots and unfortunately he was thwarted. But I think those two guys are playing wonderful hockey for the Canes as a third pairing. It's just incredible. What are your thoughts on those guys, shane?
Speaker 3:I think they've been very good for the first two games and I always go back to. They're not necessarily trying to match up the D pairing with the offensive unit. The D pairing is determined on who's on the other side of the ice, so whoever is getting the Ajo line, Tim Gleeson is saying well, I need Slavin and Burns here because it's Heischer in those situations.
Speaker 3:But I think Walker and Gossespierre have been the cleanest pairing through the first two games as far as D zone exits and the chances against. I think they were, you know, some of the lowest of the six guys, especially in game two, but I love the core of this group. All six of them bring something a little different to the table, but both those guys skate so very well to create chances and the movement in the offensive zone really helps on the offensive side of things.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, and that brings up an interesting question.
Speaker 3:When we look at the other two pairs.
Speaker 1:You know a lot of concern with Brent Burns. You know this is another long season for him. We've seen different periods where he wasn't quite as sharp as what we would expect, you know, and we've got Dimitri Orlov and Chatfield, and sometimes Orlov will make incredible plays and then sometimes he'll do something which we're shaking our head about. What do we think about the rest of the crew? Are they going to be able to get it done?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean I have no problem. I think of the difficult matchups that Brent Burns has to face every night because his partner is Jacob Slavin. I might walk into the room and be like can I play with someone else or do I have to face the best players?
Speaker 1:of the other team.
Speaker 3:I don't know if that's ever been a conversation, but I know how much he does, because the other factor you have to think of the two guys that start a penalty kill is Jacob Slavin and Brent Burns.
Speaker 3:What he does on the penalty kill? Sure, there's mistakes made. Five on five, that's the name of the game. Who makes mistakes? And sometimes they're magnified more than others in certain situations, and it's the same as dimitri orlov. No one's going to play as physical as this guy is going to, and when he's on his game he's up and down the ice and he's shooting.
Speaker 3:Are there nights when he's off? Without a doubt, but I think that's when everyone's factoring in and I know we're going to get to the nikishan talking a little bit, yes, but everyone's like, oh, I can't wait. I'm like this kid has never played the national hockey league and you're going to take out a guy who's won a stanley cup and put him in the light that doesn't make sense to me of where people were assuming this was going to be a quick flip. Besides the fact the head coach is all about the system and where they play. So orloff and burns are the guys and I always look at. Experience is huge this time of year and in a moment is someone going to make a mistake. In the first period, second period, sure, but in a moment when the game is on the line, I'm in complete comfort with the six guys that are sitting to the left on the defensive side of things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I mean they've been there all year, and rightfully so. We've talked a lot about Dimitri Orlov this year and our general consensus is that for most of the time he is very, very effective and sure he does. Every once in a while he'll do something we can't figure out, but that's okay. Chatfield, I think, has been solid all year long and we've asked both of those guys to do a lot more this year. You know their minutes are up a couple of minutes more per game. They're playing in the toughest situations. So I think they've come through quite nicely and I guess where we sit on the decor is that we really want to see that third pair take some of the pressure off those guys. Uh, they can, they can play more ice.
Speaker 1:I mean, uh, you know when, uh, when sean walker was playing with philadelphia and I think that was his best year to date he was playing close to 20 minutes a game. So he can, he can definitely eat up the minutes. But um, yeah, let's talk about alexander and akishan for a minute. So so, alex, in with the Kings. He's working out with them. We love the whole kind of saga of getting him over and signing him.
Speaker 1:We were just delighted, and I think you know you look at a guy like this and all you can think of is we can't wait to see him on the ice, but rightfully so. As you said, and I think we agree, shane, that you know he's got to kind of work into this and there have been some rumors that he may end up going to Chicago for a game Not sure where that sits, we'll maybe get your feedback on that but here's a guy that, for the future of the Canes, is going to be huge and if there's injuries, I would expect we might see him. But until such time, as you rightfully say and I think this is probably the direction we'll see is that the six guys who were in the right all year long and have brought the Canes to where they are will continue to do just that. And any further thoughts on that, shane?
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, I have a lot. I hate to break people's hearts all the time when I get information, but let's go into the number one problem of a player who's going to try and learn Rod Brittenworth's system. I mean tremendous player. Let me start there. This guy on the base is big, he can skate and he has a heavy, heavy shot. I've watched him in practice. So skill level, let's be excited. Let's be ready to see this guy one day put this jersey on. Now, from a reality standpoint, the first thing and Eric Tolsky clarified a little bit yesterday saying the player is not officially signed- They've agreed to terms but he's not signed.
Speaker 3:So technically he cannot even play for Chicago or for us. Being agreed to terms, a contract has to be signed, which hasn't happened yet. I think there's a lot of behind-the-scenes paperwork that's still being done when it comes to visas and those type of things. So that's one hurdle. The second hurdle, which I think is major and I enjoyed watching it because I love seeing Rod talk to the new guys but zero, I mean maybe a negative factor when it comes to English.
Speaker 3:So when you're going to try and learn a system and play in the national hockey league but you don't speak English, it's hard and I didn't realize that everyone always talked about a player coming over to them to the U S to play and they talk about hard is for them. I'm like how hard is it? It can't be any easier. Until I went to Europe and I played in Switzerland and no one spoke English. Right, you figure out? You're like, okay, I feel bad because I always made fun of those guys. Why didn't I figure things out faster?
Speaker 3:So the English factor is one to learn the system, but it's a difficult system to play. He has the skill level and ability to skate and play in the system, but it will take time and there's nothing worse that if you're going to throw a young kid and he is a kid in a situation that's set for failure. You don't want to see that for any player to start his career. And I still think because people are like, oh, someone gets hurt. I'm pretty sure and tom, we've talked about this guy before scott morrow would have something to say about who goes in the lineup. Um, as he plays for the wolves in the playoffs right now as well. So extreme excitement for Nikitian to be a Carolina Hurricanes player. I just like to dial things back, saying it's probably not going to be in this playoffs unless something drastic happens.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I mean he brings, as you said rightfully so, he brings size. Well, I mean, he brings, as you said rightfully so he brings size, which is something that, as these series get tougher, and playing in a lot of foreign rinks because of course it looks like after this series, the Canes may be losing a whole nice advantage in these series. Maybe, you know, at some point we might see him because of that. But I tend to agree with you too, shane, that you know we'd love to see him, but let's not do something that doesn't make sense for the team or for the player for sure. Again, our excitement on Nikitian is huge, so we'll keep tracking that one very, very closely. I was kind of hoping he would play with the Wolves at the end of the season.
Speaker 3:There was a lot of discussion on that that could still happen, if a contract gets signed and the paperwork's all where it needs to be. You could see him with the Chicago Wolves if they're able to move on out of the first round or here, like you said, if there's enough injuries. Some of the best stories are all of a sudden some guy becomes a playoff hero because he gets thrown into the fire. I'm not saying this guy's got enough skill level that it could happen, but it would take some of those major things to happen before he gets in there.
Speaker 1:Well, the fortunate thing too, of course, is that he's got some fellow countrymen who are there with him, and that makes a big difference. Now, katie, you recall a certain player that joined the Avs at some point and made quite a splash, and you can maybe talk about that.
Speaker 2:I mean just for a moment. I'm originally from Colorado, Shane, in case you didn't know, and so I started as an Avs fan before I moved out here to the Carolinas and have been following them. And, of course, Cale McCarr made his big debut with the Avs, coming straight out of the NCAA playoffs and coming in and scoring a big goal. So you know two different types of defensemen, not expecting them to be the same type of player at all, but for the storylines it would be fun to have something along those lines where he can come in and in a I think it was a game five against Calgary that McCarr. It would be fun to have something along those lines where he can come in. I think it was a game five against Calgary that Makar came in and scored his big goal. So it would be very, very fun to see something similar along those lines with Nikitian. But, like we said before, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and we would like to see our six guys stay our six guys and continue on being strong throughout the playoffs.
Speaker 3:I mean that's some of the best storylines that always come out of the playoffs. In moments like that, I think and didn't know you were an Avs fan before, but you had to. I mean, being from there, I was watching the excitement kind of just the feeling I had last night watching Gabriel Aniskog step on the ice in that building. I mean it was electric and I think you know what it takes as a player. You know what it takes to not only get to the national hockey league but to face an injury like he did, to not play for three years, continue to grind away. What a moment for him and his family and that building as a whole. It's probably one of those things that might have took too much out of the team.
Speaker 3:Knowing that and losing a tight game like that, I expect them to bounce back, but what a moment in Colorado last night.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's exciting. And now, speaking of Russians jumping into lineups, of course, erin, you had the thrill with Ivan Demidov joining the Habs Erin also a Habs fan. So, yes, we've seen some very interesting starts for some of these players Just really quickly, because I know we're short on time.
Speaker 4:That does kind of go back to Shane's point, though, because Dominoff speaks English very well and he even speaks a little French, but he is being a little bit in these early two games. He's been very overwhelmed by the moment. The playoffs are huge and it's a lot when you're coming in and you've only played a couple of games with the team and then all of a sudden, guess what we get to? You know, kill each other out here. Now it's. It's a lot for a young player to adjust to. So I just kind of, when you were talking, I was thinking, yeah, we don't want that situation for nikishin, if we don't have to have it so well.
Speaker 1:And demidov is a younger player, so uh you know he has a bit more experience, which is good. Yeah, now I want to hit one more thing, if we can, with you, shane, before head off, and that's the goaltending situation. And you know we've been ecstatic with Freddie's play. He's just been lights out, but we're wondering when are we going to see Piotr?
Speaker 3:It's a great question and the water cooler talk. For the last few days, even going into game two, I was set on Piotr. I'm like I need to watch Piotr play. I want to keep the back and forth going because I'm looking further down the road. I'm expecting his team to move on. I'm expecting them to move deep into these playoffs. So it's hard and that's why they alternate during the season and the playoffs are even harder, even though you get a day off. I like to keep everybody fresh Now. Obviously we leave for New Jersey today, where it's a two-day break, I'm going to assume.
Speaker 3:Going into game three, it's going to be hard to take Freddie out because of what he just did. But is the fact that game four is less than 48 hours afterwards that you go to Piotr in game four Just for the rest factor 48 hours and it's Tuesday Again, if you go Piotr in game four, whichever way it goes, you either close the series out if you've won game three or you're coming back home with a very fresh freddie anderson. So I would say game three stays the course with freddie. Game four will be the harder conversation for rod and paul schoenfelder of what do we do now.
Speaker 3:It's hard. I mean as a head coach. It's hard that a guy that's playing like he did in game one and two to say I'm gonna go to the other guy, especially right now. You have everything, that everything's on the line now, right to win or lose and move on. But I do believe peter will be used at some point whether it turns into a back and forth or it's that one game to give freddie an extra three days off. Because I think if you go back to stats, I'm not again, I'm not a big stats guy, but if you looked into the window of Freddie's win losses after three days rest or two days rest or just one, what is the difference? And that plays a factor. You're going to play the analytical role of saying Freddie is unbeaten when he gets three days off.
Speaker 3:So I'd be like I'm'm gonna give him three days off every week so he's ready to go. I think I'm at the at my best when I get three days off. My boss hasn't bought into that yet, though, so yeah for sure, and and uh, but yeah I think we agree.
Speaker 1:Uh, for sure we want to see, see Piotr, I think last year some of us were not happy we didn't see more of him in the playoffs and earlier and we think that that kind of weighed heavy on Freddie and we saw kind of how it ended.
Speaker 3:Well, and the other factor when you look at Piotr, you can't have him sit too long Right and then throw him in and expect him to be sharp. You have to get him some reps, you have to get him into a game. So my focus for him would probably be game four. But again, that's no inside knowledge from my side. I just think it would be a good spot to put him in. You know, closes out the series. He gives him another little boost if we've won game three. Um, but on the flip side, if you happen to drop game three and then you throw him in, there's a lot of pressure because if he loses, deer's just tied at two.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know the other thing, just as we wrap this point up. The other thing is he's on the right. He carried the load a lot this year.
Speaker 3:Freddie being out, he had a last couple weeks. He was off off and he would tell you, and he was frustrated, he was fighting it. But I agree with you, he's dynamic and I love his enthusiasm, I love his energy when he's in there and he is really shown in big moments and I said I wish new jersey had a russian goalie because he dominates those guys at the other end, if it's just you know he'd probably play the whole flor Florida series because he beats Bob all the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good point. Well, he definitely has an ability to make incredible saves.
Speaker 1:He's phenomenal in high-danger chances. As we know, he's one of the best and he had that stretch. I don't know if you recall. He had the four games where he was lights out. He had a .99 goals-again against average and some kind of ridiculous save percentage. So he's shown he can do it. But, yeah, great with you. Hey, I know you've got to run, Shane, so we're just delighted you could spend time with us and we'll certainly make sure we do this when you have a little bit more time as the playoffs continue.
Speaker 3:Well, I appreciate it. Enjoy joining the show, enjoy what you all do promoting our team and our brand across the airwaves, and we look forward to game three and hopefully another meeting soon when we're in round two.
Speaker 4:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:You got it. Thanks everybody.
Speaker 3:Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1:Shane, thanks. I wanted to touch base on one thing that we didn't get a chance to talk to with Shane, and that was this whole concept of a healthy squad coming into the playoffs, and, you know, previous years we've had those late-season injuries. Last year, of course, jesper Foss went out. In the last game, we had some injuries with Svetch, you know, and some other problems that have come up. How do we feel about the advantage that this might be giving the Canes this year? Katie, you want to kick it off?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, you start with the advantage of we didn't have anybody injured in the final game of the ones that played, and we definitely protected Ajo and Jarvis and Slavin and Blake and some of those guys which, which is very good. There's a part of me when we were having that conversation with the Ajo line if perhaps that's part of the slow start for the Ajo line is you sit, guys, when they're in a particular team and they're used to doing things a certain way and now all of a sudden they're not playing.
Speaker 2:They're the ones in the press box or the ones staying at home while the rest of the crew goes on a road on the road.
Speaker 2:So I wonder if it's just, maybe games one and two they're shaking off a little rust and now we'll really get to see the engine start to go. The ghost goal kind of got them started, got that, that, you know, wet their appetite for that and already got that, that, you know, wet their appetite for that. And we'll, now that they're back in their routine, we'll see things going. But yeah, you just, there's no, there's no contest for health, especially when you look across the other side of the aisle at New Jersey and what they're having to deal with, because not only did they start shorthanded and unhealthy with the, with the injuries they had, they have now gained injuries, especially to their back end, and it's really, you know, in some ways it's impressive that they've been able to hang with the Canes as long as they have because of the guys they're having to have fill in, and I think they've even made some more call-ups. So New Jersey's in a pickle and makes you appreciate even more what the Canes have been blessed with.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, you look at, you talk about the injuries there. Brian Dumoulin, I don't know, did he end up close to 30 minutes or 27 minutes or something. The other night it was insane.
Speaker 2:They can't keep doing that, I mean that's, you can do that a game, and then you're you know you're done, agree with you.
Speaker 1:I mean, I don't remember the Canes going into a series with this much depth.
Speaker 4:Well, I think that we've, you know. The real shocking point to me was when they showed the injuries and scratches list at game one and the only person's name on the list was Jesper Fosd, who hasn't played all year and he did the horn he did the horn yes.
Speaker 4:The siren. Yes, so I mean they are. And we want to go back to kind of what Shane was saying about that too, that there's really no substitute for coming in with a team that's that healthy when you look at the injuries that have riddled other teams and how that's going to be an advantage down the line, you know. And then, just coming back real quick to what you said, katie, about the Ajo line, and then just coming back real quick to what you said, katie, about the Ajo line, I had one more thought about them too, and that was that just watching again watching the Habs play and the young players, it's amazing that we don't think about this.
Speaker 4:But you know this at Jackson Blake a little bit differently, and you say, you know he's really doing very, very well, even though the line isn't producing, and perhaps some of what we're not seeing from Ajo is that Ajo may be, you know, trying a little bit to make sure that he's paying extra attention to where Blake is and what's going on. I mean, we saw him get targeted with a big hit. You know, it's just we don't want him to be put in a situation where he's going to be run over and that's a lot of responsibility for Sebastian Ajo to be, you know, looking after a 21 year old who's have in his first playoffs. So that was something we didn't even think about when we talked about that first line. But as they click and get back together, I don't think that's going to be a factor going forward. It's just, you know, those first couple of games are kind of a I mean, it's a trial by fire for the young players. They've never experienced anything like it.
Speaker 1:So Well, and that's right and, and you know you take a look at, I mean, I really sense that with a, you know, just a different animal. Now he's played some significant games in the past, for sure, oh sure, the college ranks and so on, but this is a different animal and I think you know you could see, in the second game he was starting to get a little bit more confidence. We know that. You know, blake is really at his best when he's fearless, moving the puck wherever he wants to go and finding that open man, and he started to show a little bit of that.
Speaker 1:I think, frankly, that it's all about what you said, that he's just got to find his way in the playoffs. It's a different game, it's a much tougher game, you know, and we still have to take a step back on that top line and say, are they going to be big enough? And that's a concern we've had for months and we're going to see as these series go on. You know how do they fare and it might be at some point that they're going to have to put someone on that line that brings a little bit more size. So you know, brenda Moore is not afraid to make changes, as we know.
Speaker 4:Sure, but you know Brenda Moore is not afraid to make changes, as we know. Sure, tying that back into the injury thing, what you were talking about the remarkably good health that the Canes have started the series with and the playoffs with the important thing is to keep that going. So if they feel like that top line is going to get targeted too much, especially in the road matchups, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw changes made. So you know we'll have to see how that goes.
Speaker 1:Well, matchups. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw changes made. So you know, we'll have to see how that goes. Well, one of the other things you know, talking about the depth of the team, is that they can manage the minutes a lot better. Yeah, I mean I thought as an example, I mean in previous playoffs and it might get to this at some point, but the stall line used to play huge minutes and you know, yeah, and you counted on those guys to do that and I, you know again, the first couple of games not so much. And you've got four lines you can roll. There's not a concern with any of those lines. There's not a concern with any of those lines. And you can see Rod, he was rolling them right to the end. He had no concern putting them out over the boards and I think that's an advantage the Canes have. We've talked so much in the past about a fourth line being a differentiation in the playoffs. It's a big differentiator and you look at teams that have done well and won the Cup.
Speaker 2:Guess what They've usually had a pretty darn good fourth line.
Speaker 1:And you know, as we watch the playoffs, it's these third and fourth liners that you know seem to show up on the score sheet. And you know it's such a different game because so much attention is paid to the top players. You know you've got matchups on them in home ice. You've got your top defensive guys, your top faceoff guys out there against them, and that's part of what Shane was saying. I mean, the attention to Ajo's line is huge and they're playing up against some big, heavy people and they're pushing and shoving them like crazy. Now, I loved the discussion about putting Gostis Fair and Walker with those guys. I really could see a difference with that. The discussion about putting Gostis Fair and Walker with those guys. Okay, really, I really could see a difference with that.
Speaker 4:I think that Katie's right, though, like it'll be, it'll be those moments when you have a real offensive opportunity, because what Shane was talking about with the matching the defensive pairs to the other team's line, that's important to remember. So like, for instance, if there's an icing and it happens, you know, new Jersey ices the puck when their fourth line is out, that's the ideal time to put the top line with Ghost and Walker out there, and I hope we see a lot of that kind of creativity going on, because that's exactly when you want them, you know, because you've got the other guy's weaker line trapped out there, you don't have to worry about the defensive matchup as much. You can just get your offensive guys out there and try and score, and I hope that, opportunistically, I hope that the team starts doing a lot of that, because I think that would be a huge, as we saw from that goal. I think that would be a huge way for them to get on the score sheet. So we'll see, yeah, for them to get on the score sheet.
Speaker 1:So we'll see, yeah, and you know what and we talked a little bit about this I don't feel like throwing Walker and Gossespierre creates a huge defensive liability at all.
Speaker 1:No, no, I think they've shown to be extremely strong in recent months, and particularly Ghost. I mean he has surprised me with some of his great defensive play and again he's just playing hard, he's playing in your face, he's getting in the gaps, he's doing the right kind of thing. So I think that's exciting. And you know, I want to see the other guys get less ice time.
Speaker 1:They play the heavy minutes, as Shane was saying. Of course the first group usually over the boards on a penalty kill is Burns and Slavin, and we know, look Burns, he's going to be in there, they're going to play him. He's playing 20 minutes a game. This is going to be hard as these series go along, and I think the more that you know Brendan Moore has confidence in that third pairing and kind of balances out the minutes a little bit where he can. I think it's going to be a smart move.
Speaker 1:So, good stuff. Now everything's going great, but the last game didn't start so well. It's one of those questions where you know Rod loves to start on time. As we know, they didn't really start on time. What do we think about that, katie?
Speaker 2:Well, there's a saying out there that both teams have a say in the outcome, and I just think that New Jersey came out a little bit more determined, a little bit more hungry, and would we have liked to have seen the Canes give a little bit more pushback early, sure, but despite letting in the early goal, they, they responded well. They stuck to their systems, their energy, their leaders brought the message and backed up that message with their play. And so there are going to be times where things don't go perfectly according to script, and as long as the team doesn't totally unravel, when that happens, it's fine. Get back, you know, get back to the message, get back to the basics and move forward, and that's exactly what the Canes did. It's why they were able to pull out a 2-1 win. That and Freddie, so you know, not too concerned.
Speaker 1:No, I mean I think you're right, and the one thing you have to remember is I mean, I mean, I think you're right and the one thing you have to remember is I mean, this New Jersey team has got some very talented players. They've had a pretty strong season this year. You know Sheldon Keefe has changed the look and feel a little bit of the team. So they're not you know, they're not. It's not like you're just going to have an easy out. I mean you're going to have some games where it's not going to be so easy and heading into their barn, you know that they're going to be firing on all cylinders and they've got some players who can hurt you in a hurry. So I think, again, kudos to the Canes for fighting back and you know a great play by Ghost to get a goal and then, of course, martin coming through. So it's going to be from all sides. You're going to need the committee, as Shane calls it. We've talked a lot about that with the Canes this year.
Speaker 1:It's going to be by committee and probably every night we're going to see somebody different when they're winning stepping up. But most importantly, of course, it's going to be goaltending.
Speaker 1:But most importantly, of course it's going to be goaltending, and right now we have lots of reason to be optimistic because Freddie looks outstanding. He just looks great. So now, as we mentioned a minute ago, here we go Game three out to the rock A tough part to play in, of course. How do we feel about these next two games? Do the Canes have to win one of these? Do we think they can Erin?
Speaker 4:I think that they can. I don't know. I think you know the way they're playing. They should have a chance to win any night, so I think that they could win both games if it came to that. You know, I don't know. I will say, though, that one of the things people forget is that a sweep is actually a lot harder than you think. A lot of teams take the first three games and then it takes them until game five or game six or even game seven to complete, Because, once the team is, the other team is desperate and facing elimination. A lot changes in how they're focused and what they're willing to sacrifice in order to try to win.
Speaker 4:So the ideal game for me would be for them to win game three. I would love for them to win game three, but then whether or not they win game four would just be up to whether they can close it out that fast. One of the things that we've talked about is the Canes' record on the road this season.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 4:And, as we know, they went 16-21-4 on the road. That's not a good record. If you simplify that to just wins and losses, it's 16 wins and 25 losses. Yes, so I did a little something last night, way too late, looking at the statistics from those road losses, just to see like, where were we in the season, what was going on, who were the goaltenders, et cetera. Okay, they lost one road game in October, just one. Okay, that was it. So that one.
Speaker 4:We can even kind of put that one aside and look at the other 24. 12 of the other 24 games that they lost on the road were lost between the time that Freddie Anderson went out for knee surgery and then that includes the time that Pyotr Kuchetkov was also out with concussion protocol between November 23rd and December 3rd, right, and when Freddie returned on January 17th. Twelve of the 24, half of the road losses took place during that time and five of the goaltenders in net for those 12 losses were either Spencer Martin or Dustin Takarski. Now, when you look at that you have to say, okay, you know what. They're really not as bad on the road as we think they are. Some of the late season road game losses after they had already clinched and after they had already clinched, home ice for this first series.
Speaker 1:You can't even count those.
Speaker 4:You can't even look at those. Those don't even count. If those five games with Martin or Tarkarski had been played by Anderson and Kachetkov in their usual rotation, I think they would have won those five. And then you're looking at a road record that's fairly similar to what they've done over the last few years. You're not looking. And then you're looking at a road record that's fairly similar to what they've done over the last few years. You're not looking at this terrible record. So I think it's a kind of a narrative that we've all fallen into, because it used to be a thing for the canes, right, it used to be that they were bad on the road.
Speaker 4:It hasn't been that way for probably at least the last three years yes, exactly if they've been just a little bit weaker, it's probably because of the changeover between the Shea and Pesci defensive pairing on the second pair and the time that it took to integrate the new defensive pairs. But surprisingly, that first early loss in October was the only road game they lost before Freddie was injured. So I think that realistically, I'm actually more hopeful having looked at that, because I don't think they've been as bad on the road as we think they have. I think they were impacted by, you know, substandard goaltending, and that's nothing against Martin and Tokarski. They're great goaltenders in the AHL. They're actually fabulous, you know but they're not full time NHL goaltenders and anytime you have to rely on that, you're not in the same place. So I know I went on too long, but it was fascinating to me that it was that clear, because I didn't expect it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I agree, and I mean for sure. The Canes are a team that's built to be able to be successful both at home and on the road. You know for sure they are, and because they play by committee, because you know you have a lot of different folks who contribute, that gives you a real advantage. And I think you're right, I think you know. Yeah, we're looking at it and we're saying jeepers, that's a terrible record, but we're not used to that with the Canes, particularly with the last few years, they've been extremely good on the road. So I don't know, katie any thoughts.
Speaker 2:Pretty much right there, along with what Aaron said.
Speaker 2:I think they can definitely take at least one of them Hopefully it will be game three and really put them in the driver's seat and then, like Shane was talking about, if they go up 3-0, it makes it all the easier to say okay, let's rest ready, let's give Piotr a chance on Sunday, and then you're playing with house money Sunday.
Speaker 2:It feels like I mean, you don't want to take anything for granted in the playoffs, sure, but the key for the Canes is going to be to be the hungrier team. Even being up to nothing, they want to be the ones to come out and say this might not be our barn, but we're going to play like we're in our barn and we're going to take it to New Jersey and we are going to give them everything we've got and do our best to overwhelm them. Because where the Canes are going to get themselves into trouble is to say well, we're just going to play our normal forechecking style and see what happens and then adjust from there. I don't want them to be reactive, I want them to be proactive in the way that they approach the games and I think if they can be proactive and they go on the attack, and they're the ones that make New Jersey have to adjust to them. They will put themselves in a really good position to win at least one, if not both, of those games in New Jersey.
Speaker 1:Well, and one of the big things that we're going to be looking for, of course, is that they start on time, if they can get out in front of the games and I think you're right, totally on this Katie, that if they can get in front of these games, they make it very, very difficult for the other guys to prevail and they get the crowd out of it, and you know that that's in these playoffs. That's probably one of the biggest things. We've talked a lot about. The manic crowd that goes on in, uh, with the caniacs in in lenovo center, uh, not so much in some of the other barns. They can get, uh, you can, you can neutralize them in a hurry. And I think, uh, I think, if, if the canes came in and we know that the devils are brittle uh, if they can come in and and, uh, boy, get a quick lead in this next game, it's going to be interesting, okay, so let's, uh, let's look at closing comments. What do you got for us, erin?
Speaker 4:I think that we're just uh excited to see what happens next. Um, I think for me, I mean, one of the nice things about um tomorrow, friday night's game, is that it's going to be at a reasonable time. That's something that the Canes have not had so far, and I've heard I don't know if this is true, but I've heard that for the older players it's especially difficult to have to constantly adjust their game day schedules. They're just so used to following that routine and getting that game day, you know. So there were the usual jokes about, you know, when the first period start didn't go so well about. Oh well, it's because they had to shorten their pregame nap, or oh, they don't think the game starts till seven. You know, they just kind of missed the first hour, yeah, so I mean it's going to be now.
Speaker 4:It's a little bit later, I think on Friday, isn't it? Is it 8? But that's still within the realm of you know. It's a normal weekend game time, so that'll be nice for those of us that are watching too, because it's been kind of fun trying to figure out how to watch these early games with these strange times and Easter Sunday and all the rest of it. So I'm excited, I want to see them win and you know, I think it's going to go well.
Speaker 2:What about you, katie? Yeah, I just, I'm ready. I'm ready to see what they have to give on Friday. They're in a good place, they're building good momentum. They've from the back forwards, you know, from the goaltenders to the D. There's plenty to like and just a few places to nitpick and improve on, and I think, if they improve on those areas, that they are going to be a whole lot more than the devils can handle. So, when, when? To get through this quickly, decisively, if not in four, no more than five, because once you get the boys rested up and prepared and ready to go for the capitals or the Canadiens, if they were able to have some sort of comeback miracle, which would be fun, I wish I'd be able to be a fly on the wall in your house, erin, if that happened, because I know you would be absolutely torn having to watch both your teams play each other.
Speaker 2:It's a sweet joy and also very yep very, the thrill of victory, the agony, of defeat right, no matter which team they go against. If they're healthy and they're playing well and they've got a lot of good momentum, then no matter whether it's the caps or the haves, I think the canes are in an excellent position to be very competitive in that series, if not just go ahead and win it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know the advantage the Canes have right now is, you know, this New Jersey team is hurting. They could not ask for a better situation in terms of, you know, the fact that, as it's turned out, some of their key players are out of the lineup and that's an advantage for the Hurricanes and I think, as you suggest, the sooner they can wrap this up, that's great and I'm really hoping that your Habs, erin, can lay a beating for a couple of games with the.
Speaker 4:At the very least, I want them to make it a long series. That would be to our benefit.
Speaker 1:Yeah at least take it to six games. Absolutely Sure, I mean. I fully expect, and we know what it's going to be like in Montreal. The folks will just be crazy, and one of the things we've seen in Canada and I've really appreciated this is that they have as many fans outside at the rink looking up at the big screen as they do inside the rink.
Speaker 1:It's really something to behold and I expect that we're going to see the same thing in Montreal. So hopefully that gives a boost to the team and they can lay a couple of beatings on the Caps. And you know, so far, watching the Caps, they are definitely beatable and I think you know if the Canes can do a quick measure, five or six games, wrap this this up, let's move on and, uh, and you know, get ready for the caps. I think that's going to be great and and then we'll see where it goes from there. But yeah, so far, so good.
Speaker 1:Uh, we wondered, trailing one to nothing. Uh, the other night I was a little bit, uh, taken aback. Uh, after that first period I was kind of anxious a little bit, but but they showed their mettle. And don't forget, a lot of these folks have a lot of playoff action, and that's. The other thing we haven't really talked about is that they've got a lot of playoff experience. And boy, the ones that have been with the Canes for a while, they're grumpy.
Speaker 4:Coming into the playoffs. The Carolina Hurricanes members of the roster for this year had, if my math was correct and that's always an if had a combined 1,111 playoff games of experience, and to compare that, the Montreal Canadiens had less than 400. It was like 395. So that is we have. You know, the Canes are in a great place with players that have played in the playoffs before and they know what it takes. And I think the only other thing I would add that I want to see for these next two games in New Jersey can we please score some power play goals? I'd like that very much.
Speaker 1:Well, we've talked a lot about special teams in the past. We know how important those are in the playoffs to kill the penalties, which the Canes did, and then get a shorthanded goal.
Speaker 3:And they've also had a power play goal.
Speaker 1:This is what will separate them from the other guys, and I think you're right, and I've been encouraged by the power play, as I mentioned earlier, and for sure, a PK is as good as it gets. So we're going to be in pretty good shape and, yeah, can't wait for Friday night.
Speaker 1:I know For the next episode for sure, and as always, ladies, it was great. It was fun to have Shane on board with us today and talk, talk, canes hockey, and I know we'll have him back as things progress here later on in the series, so that's excellent For those of you who've been listening or watching. Of course, aaron Katie and I are delighted you're here with us. If you like this episode, please press the like button. If you have any comments or just want to say hi or you've got some thoughts about us or the hurricanes, please put those in the comment section down below. And finally, if you want to be alerted of future episodes of Storm Tracker, please press the subscribe and the bell button and we'll make sure that you are aware as soon as those are available. As always, erin Katie and I thank you so much for joining us and look forward to getting together soon right here on StrongTrack.
