In the not-too-distant past, games between the Penguins and the equally speedy Hurricanes invariably morphed into track meets featuring plenty of skating and end-to-end action. Games the Pens tended to win due to their superior talent.
As Bob Dylan once famously sang, the times they are a changin.’ Contests between the Metro front runners have turned into knock-down-grind-’em-out affairs featuring a healthy dose of puck battles and physical play.
The shift is almost entirely due to the ‘Canes, who’ve transformed from an all-skate team (think Jeff Skinner) into a heavy, structured and skilled bunch built very much in coach Rod Brind’Amour’s image. I confess, in scanning their lineup, I’m not overly impressed. But they’re definitely a club where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. And, man, are they ever tough to play against.
Yesterday’s contest…make that slugging match…was no exception. For the most part we were soundly outplayed, as the ‘Canes 43-22 edge in shots on goal (and staggering 71-32 advantage in shot attempts) will attest. The fact that we prevailed, 4-2, was a testament to our will and grit, not to mention Tristan Jarry’s phenomenal play between the pipes.
