Can the Hurricanes finally overcome the playoff hump?
Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes, who clinched their eighth consecutive playoff appearance with a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Rod Brind’Amour’s group has been a model of consistency ever since he took over as head coach ahead of the 2018-19 season, making the postseason and winning at least one playoff series (if we count the qualifying round from the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season) in each year under his direction.
The problem, however, has come when Carolina gets deeper into the postseason. Despite making the conference finals three times over the past seven season, the Hurricanes have not reached the Stanley Cup Finals in that span. If there was ever a year for the Hurricanes to break through the proverbial ceiling, though, it could be this one. Carolina sits atop an otherwise mediocre Metropolitan Division, and should be favorites until at least the Eastern Conference finals.
On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed whether the Hurricanes are poised to finally make a run to the Stanley Cup finals.
Tyler Yaremchuk: What do the ‘Canes need to do this year to finally get over that final hump? I also think, and I’ll add one more point on, you look at their path through the Metro, that might be the easiest path of any division. Pittsburgh, New York potentially in the second round. They should steamroll one of those two teams.
Carter Hutton: I also think, if there was a scale to look at right now, it’s how hot the Columbus Blue Jackets have been, and then they just lost two straight games handily to the Carolina Hurricanes, and last night only generating 10 shots on goal. Freddy Andersen has played in this league a long time, that might be one of the easier games he’s ever going to play in. They come in swarms, they make it hard on you. I thought it was great to see Logan Stankoven getting two last night in different ways. He tips one in and then the other one he goes to the net on a rebound. It wasn’t a typical high-end skill play, getting to those tough areas, which is going to be their nemesis come playoff time because it’s going to tighten up.
It’s been a swarming defense that I love watching them play. Brandon Bussi is trending in the right direction, I know he’s been a bit of a question mark post-Olympic break, but he’s played much better as of late. There’s going to be a challenge, and it looks like they can run through the Metro, but can they get over that hump and generate offense.
You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Friday’s episode here…