Thoughts From My Couch: Carolina Hurricanes v. Nashville Predators, Round 1, Game 6

We officially have our first elimination game of the series and the Canes are on the right side of things. After a great come-from-behind win in Game 5 capped off by a Jordan Staal winner in overtime, the Canes are the proud owners of a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 moving to Nashville. The home team has won every game in this series to date, which would seem to play in the Preds' favor for tonight's game. Because I'm a bit of a history nerd, I did some research on the team in Game 6's. The Canes, since relocation, have played in 11 Game 6's, going 6-5 in those games. The Canes held a 3-2 advantage in seven of those games and have gone 4-3, meaning they've finished the series in six games four times. In the three prior instances where they lost Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead, they won Game 7 each time, in fact, the Canes have won all five Game 7's since moving to Raleigh. 4-3 is also their record on the road in Game 6. If you believe in jinxes or worry a lot, some of these things might frighten you, but there are some things to be optimistic about heading into this game. Looking past how they now have two chances to finish the series, the Canes are putting the same lineup on the ice for Game 6 in Nashville, meaning Jaccob Slavin is healthy and will play. Ned is getting the start in net and he's played well for the most part in this series. Nashville is going to be the more desperate team hitting the ice tonight. The fans are going to be a major factor in how this game goes momentum-wise. It'll be up to the Canes to rise to the challenge and finish off the series in hostile territory.

1st Period: Hurricanes 1, Predators 1

Yet another game where Nashville is on the board first and early. Nashville has been buzzing in this game as if they are the team on the brink of elimination. Erik Haula fed Nick Cousins out front for an easy goal to open the scoring just over a minute in. This time the Canes didn't wait until the end of the period to respond and tie the game. After Ned made a huge save with his blocker, the Canes went the other way and Brock McGinn outwaited Juuse Saros to even up the score less than five minutes into the period. After that, each team had their chances, but nothing came from it. Ned made a couple big saves late in the period, including a glove save on Mikael Granlund and a save as time was about to expire. I didn't think the Canes had much of an edge in the period. That might be because the fans make it feel different or just because Nashville needs this win to stay alive. Nashville spread the ice well and each team looks like they have a little bit more room to skate which hasn't felt normal so far this series. The Canes took the only penalty of the period but killed it off without too much struggle. These two like to be tied after a period. It has been 1-1 after the first period several times this series. The Canes need to find a way to score early and make sure they come out of the second period with at least a one-goal lead. They need to make a statement early and often without going to the box. Scoring first would be a good first step.

2nd Period: Hurricanes 2, Predators 3

Everything I said the Canes needed to do in the second period, the Canes did the complete opposite. Nashville scored first early after Ned failed to clean the puck and it took a fortuitous bounce off the board to the Preds' blueline. They passed it out front to Mikael Granlund, who was all alone on the doorstep, and he put it past Ned to take a 2-1 lead. Then, after the Canes drew a penalty, Dougie Hamilton was called for interference, and soon thereafter Sebastian Aho was called for a slash, giving Nashville another 5-on-3 in the series. They would capitalize on the front-end, with Ryan Johansen tipping home a pass from Roman Josi to give the Preds a 3-1 lead, their first multi-goal lead in the series. The Canes would manage to get one back on the power play with Aho tipping home a pass from Hamilton to cut the deficit to one at 3-2. Nashville outplayed Carolina in almost every aspect, so for it to only be a one-goal game is incredibly fortunate for the Canes heading into the final period of regulation. The Canes have been very good in third periods in this series and it isn't the first time they've been trailing going into the third period, so how they start is going to be extremely telling as to how this game is going to finish. The first step is ensuring Nashville doesn't score early for the third time in this game. In fact, it needs to be the Canes who eliminate this deficit early. They really need to step it up.

3rd Period: Hurricanes 3, Predators 3

Do these guys not realize how late it is here? We're getting extra hockey for the fourth consecutive game. The reason for this extension is another late goal from the Canes, this time courtesy of Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton's struggles in this series are well-documented, but this play manifested beautifully off the faceoff thanks to the work of the top defensive pairing. After Nashville iced the puck, the Canes win the faceoff back to Slavin, who skated it down low and fed Hamilton for the tap in goal. Hamilton went down undetected and he buried it to tie the game up and force overtime. Each team had their chances to win in regulation, but nothing came from them and we're going to an extra period with more stakes than any other overtime to this point in the series. Nashville has won two of the three overtime games in this series so far, both at home, while the Canes won the most recent overtime game. Both of Nashville's wins came in double overtime, while the Canes won theirs early in the session. The Canes dominated most of the third period yet again, so the momentum should be with them, especially with the late goal. Nashville was also without Roman Josi for the end of the period, so it'll be interesting to see if he's back for overtime. The Canes have a nice history of OT winners in Game 6 on the road, just ask Martin Gelinas (ECF 2002) and Cory Stillman (ECQF 2006). 

Overtime: Hurricanes 4, Predators 3

It took only 66 seconds, but the Carolina Hurricanes are advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After winning the draw, Sebastian Aho tipped an offering from Jaccob Slavin over the shoulder of Juuse Saros to give the Canes the series-clinching win. I initially thought it was going to be Slavin's goal, but the slo-mo replay confirmed it was Aho's goal that gave the Canes the win. Not too much happened since it took 66 seconds. I'm still in a little bit of shock.

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Dougie Hamilton- 1 G, 1 A (GTG in w/ 6:01 in the 3rd Period)

Hamilton has been lambasted all season whenever he goes through rough stretches, especially on defense. Hamilton is not the shutdown defender Slavin and Pesce are, but there is no denying just how great he is as a facilitator on offense. He kept the puck in on the power play and sent a slap pass to Aho that cut into Nashville's late in the second period. Then he netted his first goal of the series on a beautiful face-off play to tie the game late in the third to force OT. He was a valuable part of the team's win tonight.

Second Star- Sebastian Aho- 2 G (PPG & GWG in OT)

Aho is almost always the best forward on the ice for the Canes on any given night, but he was largely quiet early in this one. Honestly, he was the benefactor of a perfectly placed pass from Hamilton and a deflectable shot from Slavin. Either way, he netted two huge goals, including the game-winner. While he clinched the series win, the goal in the second period on the power play was a major boost for the team. Being down two goals for the first time in the series, this goal cut the deficit to one before the end of the period and kicked off the comeback that he helped to end in the extra session.

First Star- Jaccob Slavin- 2 A (primary A's on GTG and GWG in OT)

If this isn't a perfect example of why Slavin is so important to this team, I don't know what else could. He played over 25 minutes (25:42) and set up the final two goals. His defense was impeccable, his passing was crisp, and he was just wonderful. Having him back has been a major boost for this team and tonight he was the biggest key to ensuring the team could advance. 

Final Thoughts

It was looking real bleak there for a minute. Tonight wasn't going to be the night, especially after Johansen made it 3-1less than halfway through the second period. But the team rebounded and rattled off three unanswered goals to win 4-3 in overtime. This was only the third time in NHL history a series had gone to overtime for four consecutive games and the first time since 2012. This was the most important overtime session to date and they finished it in 66 seconds. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention just how great this series was and how hard Nashville made it. Many had predicted the Canes would win this series, but most of the people making these predictions didn't watch the Central Division close enough this season before making their pick. Nashville came into this postseason on fire and had battered the Canes in the final two regular season games. They underperformed all season and snuck their way in on the back of Saros. They were going to be a tough out and they absolutely were. You don't just play four consecutive overtime games for the hell of it. Nashville is a good team and they fought hard. They deserve major kudos for how tight this series was. But the series is over and the Canes are moving on to a date with Tampa Bay. This is going to be a heavyweight battle and I'm all here for it.