Ending the Slide
It's been just over a week since the Canes last tallied in the win column, but they're not pressing the panic button just yet.
No, results haven't fallen their way, but the process has been positive, at least 5-on-5.
"It's 82 games, but you don't want to let things snowball and go the wrong way," Justin Williams said after a 3-1 loss to Colorado on Saturday. "The trick is to not let it become bigger than it is. Nip it. As long as we approach it that way, we'll be fine."
"It's a long year, and you're going to have ups and downs. At the end of the day, it's the process of how we're playing. I don't want to be negative or anything because I think our game is there. It's just a matter of getting a couple of bounces," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "You don't want the losses to bleed and make it feel like, oh my god, we're not playing that well, when, in my opinion, we're playing pretty well and getting really good efforts out of most of our guys."
A key to ending the slide might be kicking special teams play into gear. The power play is just 2-for-30 on the season, and, as tough as the bounces might have been, the penalty kill has surrendered the game-winning goal in two straight games.
"Special teams is something that's kicking us in the butt right now, but we'll rectify that," Williams said.
"We're rushing shots on the power play. It's clear," Brind'Amour said after practice on Sunday. "That's what happens when guys know they have to score when they get out there. We have to just keep emphasizing to relax a little bit."
Mrazek Returns to Detroit
Petr Mrazek played 166 games for the Red Wings from 2013-18, posting a 72-58-20 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and 13 shutouts. He had his best season in 2015-16, when he finished 27-16-6 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, helping to lead the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Mrazek is 1-2-1 with his new club and probably had his best games of the early season in regulation losses in Winnipeg and Tampa Bay.
Back in Black
After debuting their new third jerseys in an 8-5 win over the New York Rangers on Oct. 7, the Hurricanes are taking their black kits on the road for one night only. Monday marks the second of 15 games (and only one on the road) that the Canes will wear their third sweaters this season.
The Opposition
After starting the season 0-5-2, the Red Wings topped the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime for their first victory. Detroit currently owns a league-worst minus-17 goal differential.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS KEYS TO THE GAME
