After six gruelling, physical playoff hockey games, the Carolina Hurricanes are leaving Long Island with a four to two first-round series win over the New York Islanders. There were ups and downs in this series. Each side had a dominant win, but most games otherwise were tight affairs. With the Islanders back-stopped by a Vezina calibre goalie, and mostly shutting the door in game six, it was a Paul Stastny shot from the goal line that found its way into the back of the net to clinch the series in overtime. Beyond the heroics of the Stastny overtime winner, let’s take a look at what went right for the Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders Round One Ends in Six
As we looked at in our pre-series and mid-series articles, the story going into this series was two defensively focused teams with strong penalty kills, weaker power plays, and overall similar styles of play. The difference was that the Hurricanes focus was more on their relentless forecheck and suffocating defensive style while the Islanders was more on their star goalie. If the Hurricanes were going to win, they had to figure out how to beat Ilya Sorokin.
After three games, the Hurricanes finally broke their playoff road losing streak in game four with a big five to two victory. At that point, it was actually the Islanders controlling a lot of the play the way most expected Carolina to do. Antti Raanta was playing excellently and was a large reason the Hurricanes were in the place they were. With a chance for Carolina to end the series at home, the Islanders came back with a big three to two victory in Raleigh.
Back to Long Island, game six was a game that went somewhat as people would expect from these two teams. A defensive shutdown on both sides with Carolina winning two to one in overtime. Somewhat as a surprise, the Hurricanes started Frederik Andersen in net and that turned to be a smart choice. After allowing the first goal, Andersen kept the Hurricanes in the game even though the Islanders outplayed them most of the first two periods. Stopping shot after shot, and with Sorokin also standing tall on the other side, Andersen was a big reason for the game six victory. Rod Brind’Amour even stated that it was the best game he had seen Andersen play given the circumstances.
Trust the System, Unless A Goalie Is Needed
Carolina’s system has been a large reason for their success this season. It was also one reason for the Hurricanes round one victory. I say one reason because at times, they played their system and it produced. However, there were also lots of times they did not really play their system. In those circumstances, fortunately they had goaltending there to carry them through. Sometimes this was evident in the same game, such as game six.
In game six, Carolina did not really get above the Islanders in xGF until mid-way through the third period. The eye test would tell you the same without advanced statistics. But Andersen turned away shot after shot until the Hurricanes got to their game in the third period. He put up a .971 SV%. In game five, Carolina really played their game and controlled most of the game from start to finish. After about five minutes in they led the Islanders in xGF for the rest of the game. With Raanta also playing a great game, and sometimes taking less shots against can be tougher for a goalie, this was the Hurricanes most dominant performance of the series.
Game two was opposite as the Islanders lead most of the play but the Hurricanes pulled out a four to three overtime win. That one was sort of an outlier as the Hurricanes actually won by having a positive goals scored above expected, something that is mostly atypical for them. I wouldn’t necessarily say that was Raanta’s best game, but they won. Game one saw the Hurricanes win by both controlling play with a higher xGF than the Islanders and a great performance by Raanta with a .962 SV%. Both of Carolina’s goals in that game were on the power play. All of this shows that with the exception of game two, each Hurricane win saw them either control the play in their system or have decent goaltending to allow them to grind out a victory.
Special Teams a Difference for the Hurricanes in Round One
To get more specific, one key to the Hurricanes round one victory was special teams. Mostly their penalty kill, but also their power play at times. The Hurricanes penalty kill was a strength all regular season. It was expected to hold through in the playoffs. With the exception of the backbreaking power play goal by the Islanders in game three, the Hurricanes penalty kill excelled. They lead all teams in the playoffs through their game six with a 94.4% penalty kill. Time and time again they were able to kill penalties and managed to get one shorthanded goal as well.
Conversely, the Islanders penalty kill was at 80% and Carolina’s power play was at 20%. This was practically the same as the Hurricanes power play percentage during the regular season. Not really a power play percentage that will break any records but was good enough to give Carolina an edge in this series. Game one was won by virtue of all of Carolina’s goals coming on the power play. The Hurricanes also put in two goals on the power play in game four. While there were times the Hurricanes sure would have liked to have converted more, and probably need to in order to have further success in the playoffs, they were able to convert enough to sway a few games.
Overall, one big difference in this series came down to special teams. With two defensive focused teams who typically do not score at a high rate, taking advantage of a power play, and stopping the other side’s, can make a difference. And a difference in this series it made.
Sebastian Aho
For the Hurricanes to have playoff success following the loss of Andrei Svechnikov, and now Teuvo Teravainen, they need both depth scoring and their star players to be, well….stars. Sebastian Aho is one of their stars and he stepped up in this series. From a stats perspective, Aho had four goals and three assists in this series. This included a power play goal in game one to get the series started. He passed Eric Staal as the franchise leader in power play goals this series too. He also leads the franchise in playoff assists and points. For a team looking for some offense, Aho was there to pickup some of the slack without Svechnikov and Teravainen.
But Aho carrying this team through the first round was more than just the numbers he put up, it was how and when he did so. In game one, it was Aho that made a smart move to get in position to one-time a Brent Burns pass on the power play. This set the tone for the game and the series. In game six, when it seemed like the Hurricanes couldn’t figure out how to beat Sorokin, it was Aho who fought his way to the net and banged in a rebound to tie the game.
The Islanders were gunning for him all series, constantly throwing the body, and he continued to push forward unafraid. Notably, in game five, Aho took a puck to the face that required some stitch work. Most probably thought he was done for the game. But no, Aho returned and scored a goal that almost ignited a Carolina comeback.
While Aho does not put up the numbers that many other teams’ top players may, there is no denying his heart and his importance to this team. Round one was a team effort through and through, and hockey is very much a team sport. But with the injuries Carolina was pushing through, Aho almost carried the team on his back. This is especially true considering the shuffling of line mates Aho played with and the consistency he still showed.
A Game of Inches
The Stanley Cup Playoffs always bring along crazy moments, unlikely heroes, and unexpected stories. It is truly a game of inches too. An extra second, a failed clearing attempt, a shot two inches to the right, a missed empty net….they all have their place in the “what if” realm of playoff stories. For the Islanders and Hurricanes in round one, it was no different.
In game five, Brock Nelson scored on a rebound from a shot that would have gone wide but hit Aho in the face and bounced right to him. The Hurricanes piled it on later in the game and hit multiple posts and crossbars. But it was Stastny’s series clinching shot was the revenge for the Hurricanes. After standing like a brick wall all game, Sorokin surrendered a goal that most would say should have been a routine save. A shot on the goal line on the ice and it finds its way to the back of the net. Like I said, a game of inches that proved to be the winner for Carolina.
Next Man Up
But it was not just that one goal that sealed the deal for the Hurricanes. Going into the series without really a true goal scorer due to injuries and maybe other factors, many doubters had the Hurricanes pegged for an upset by the Islanders. And frankly with good reason. The end of the regular season for the Hurricanes was not something to write home about.
Then, in game two Carolina loses top six forward Teravainen with a broken wrist and in game four depth forward Jack Drury. The Islanders were playing a physical game and trying to get to the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had to do what they frankly will have to do to have any success in the playoffs this year, dig deep and have the next man step up.
Veteran Paul Stastny provided timely goals and was second on the team with three through this series. Mackenzie MacEachern, in his first NHL game this season, scored a goal and an assist. And Stefan Noesen, having a resurgence of a career, chipped in with two goals and was a bright spot on the power play. The goalies stood tall and Brent Burns at times looked like he was going to take the game into his own hands. Dangling guys at the blue line and driving the net like a forward. Even though he didn’t score, he was second on the team through the series with five points, all assists. So, while the injuries keep piling up and the lines getting thrown in a blender, the Hurricanes truly utilized the next man up mentality and pushed through.
On to the Next One
The Hurricanes round one is over and they will now move on to play the winner of the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils in round two. Either opponent will be more than a challenge for this Hurricanes team. The Devils are a young, speedy, offensively driven team that is pretty opposite of the Islanders. If he keeps it up, the Devils goalie Akira Schmid is playing at Vezina calibre levels as well. Meanwhile, every Hurricanes fan knows the Rangers from last year’s round two. Their typically lethal power play and goalie Igor Shesterkin can provide trouble for anyone. Either way, it will be a tough test. By a lot of metrics it is one that may favor whoever the Hurricanes play. However, by the sticking to their system, solid goaltending and game changing moments from their top players, and the team digging deep….never say never.
Main Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
