The Carolina Hurricanes are in some unknown territory in their second-round series against the New York Rangers.
After Vincent Trochek scored the double-overtime winner in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, Carolina finds themselves down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.
The Hurricanes have been arguably the most consistent team in the NHL over the past six seasons. Since Rod Brind’Amour took over as coach in 2018, Carolina has made the playoffs in each season and made it to the conference finals twice.
Plus, let’s not forget some important recent history here.
In the 2022 playoffs, Carolina took a 2-0 series lead at home over the Rangers in the second round. New York won four of the next six and took the series in seven games.
More recently, the Rangers dominated the New Jersey Devils last spring, jumping up 2-0 in enemy territory. The Devils won four of the next six and the series in seven.
So what is the concern level right now for the Carolina Hurricanes? Can they fall back on how good of a team they are? Or are there some real problems here?
Frank Seravalli: If you’re talking on a 1-10 scale based on how these games played out… What is your level of concern 1-10 for the Canes being down 2-0 heading home?
Colby Cohen: I would say a five, or maybe even a four… Until you lose on home ice when you are the Carolina Hurricanes, I don’t think there’s a major cause for concern…
The issue and the reasons that I have concerns right now… Special teams has been a major, major problem… They had five penalties in the first game, seven last night… They’re not getting Conn Smythe-level goaltending. They’re not getting big A+ efforts out of Frederik Andersen… Right now, Igor Shesterkin is coming up with the two extra saves a game… While Andersen is not playing poorly, he’s not coming up with that extra save.
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