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Shoot,Pray, Win. Carolina/Washington. From Chris Shaleesh |
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Shoot, Pray, Win
For most teams, game one of a series is a feeling out process. A time to strategize and determine which method of attack one will take. However Rod Brind’Amour’s Carolina Hurricanes adjust to no one.
The Canes came out of the gate in total control in the series opener, sticking to their shoot first ask questions last mentality that has led them to this point. The first period saw Carolina attempt over 30 shots in the opening 20 minutes for the 70th time this season(the next closest team had done such just 37 times).
Despite numerous blocked shots by the Capitals, the Canes stuck to their plan.
Despite surrendering the first goal to the Capitals, the Canes stuck to their plan.
Despite couch sitting critics such as myself saying “sometimes it should be quality over quantity, no?,” the Canes stuck to their plan.
That plan eventually paid off.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Aliaksei Protas, who was on a very short list of Washington’s effective players in game one, made an inexcusable decision in his own end. Protas, hesitant to rim the puck around the boards and take a potential icing, Protas forced a pass into the skates of one of his teammates in the slot. The puck popped right to Carolina’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi who then fed Logan Stankoven who rifled it past Logan Thompson to tie the game.
While this was the highest quality attempt that the Canes would have all game, it was undoubtedly built off of the quantity approach. Carolina wore down Washington physically and mentally in this game and with 10 minutes left cashed in on their relentless work.
When overtime began, it was again Carolina again with a shoot everything approach. Just over three minutes in, a quantity shot won it for Carolina. A half wind up, slap/snap by Jacob Slavin found its way through traffic and into the net, for a game one win.
Spencer Carberry and the Washington staff seem to have a few adjustments to make if the Caps are going to make this a series.
The Capitals were outshot 33-14, nearly doubled up in offensive zone time (33:28-16:51) and nearly tripled up in shot attempts (94-34). Washington was unable to gain the zone easily, and when inside, ferociously pressured by Carolina’s swarming defense(especially on the PP).
On top of being pinned in their zone for most of the game, the Caps were outhit 44-31(a little odd considering you can’t hit a team that doesn’t have the puck) and forced to block 32 shots.
The Caps staff will have their hands full over the next day or so. New Jersey was unable to adequately test Carolina goaltending in round one, leading to a quick departure. If Carberry cannot come up with a plan to control more of the play, the Capitals departure may be just as quick.
Siri feels far from over.
Sent from my iPhone
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