Storm Watch: Hurricanes look to navigate 0-1 deficit against defending champs

The Carolina Hurricanes finished out their first 2021 playoff series with a 4-3 overtime win against the Predators and entered a series against the Lightning, who have been playoff contenders for the last decade and are defending the Stanley Cup.

Tampa Bay has made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons while the Hurricanes have made it in three straight seasons after failing to qualify for nine years. In the first game of the series, Carolina led in shots and power play opportunities but failed to get a win at home, losing 2-1 in a game where the Lightning showed their veteran experience. 

Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 37 saves and four penalty kills with his defense. The Lightning weathered the storm in the 3rd period where the Hurricanes tied it up on a power-play goal by defenseman Jake Bean before the Lightning struck back on a goal by right winger Barclay Goodrow. The Hurricanes were undefeated at home in their first series at home and were 20-3-5 at PNC Arena during the regular season. 

For Carolina to maintain success in these playoffs, it starts by winning at home, and Game 1 wasn’t the start head coach Rod Brind’Amour was looking for from his team. Right-winger Sebastian Aho led the Hurricanes in goals and assists during the regular season and they will need his heroics if they look to win this series and beyond. In a game where the Hurricanes had more chances, especially at home, Carolina cannot squander their opportunities against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Hurricanes will likely be missing right-winger Nino Niederreiter who has 34 points on the season. Against a stonewall defense for Tampa Bay, they will need all the offense they can get after an almost-perfect performance for Vasilevskiy, especially capitalizing on power plays which Carolina also defended at the third-best percentage in the NHL in 2021. 

For the Hurricanes, combining strong penalty kills with timely goals will be the recipe for success as they enter Game 2 on Tuesday against the Lightning.