Playoff Notebook: Turning The Page

NEWARK, NJ. - Five years ago today, Rod Brind'Amour was named the 14th head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

An undoubted turning point in the history of the organization, the club's former Captain changed both the direction of the team's on-ice performance and the philosophical approach behind the scenes.

One of the most patented behaviors in the Brind'Amour era has been to not get too high with the highs and not to get too low with the lows. Each day is a new day and what's in the past is in the past.

And following Sunday's 8-4 thumping at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, it wasn't the least bit surprising to hear that both Brind'Amour and the players have turned the page, and focused their attention on Tuesday's Game 4.

Learn From It & Leave It Behind

Sunday afternoon was the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Canes allowed eight goals in a game, serving as a humbling reminder that anything is possible, despite having dominated the first two games in the series.

"It's never fun to come off of games like that," Jaccob Slavin answered post-practice after the team returned to work on Monday. "All you can do is flush it and learn from it what you can. We've got a big game ahead of us tomorrow night."

The group spent a significant amount of time breaking down video before taking to the ice, dissecting what the Devils did well and what their unit will have to amend for tomorrow.

"The effort was there, I think it was a lack of attention to detail," Seth Jarvis provided as an assessment. "There were a lot of 50/50 battles that we lost. We weren't quite as tight as we were on them in the first two games, which allowed them to make plays. They did what they do best - play fast and make plays."

Recognizing their own faults is one thing, but were there things that New Jersey did differently that allowed them to have as much success as they did? The resounding answer was yes, and Lindy Ruff's group deserved credit for what they were able to accomplish in Game 3.

"They did a great job of getting pucks in deep on us. Roddy always talks about the stress game and that's what happened," Slavin continued. "They got more pucks in deep than we did. We couldn't establish our forecheck and that's our bread and butter. We have to make sure we're putting the stress game on them."

Focused On What's Next

As for what changes for tomorrow? It begins with a better start for the Metropolitan Division Champions.

"We need a better start. It's not a lack of effort, it's not any of that. It's just inches here and there that flip the momentum," Sebastian Aho pointed out. "We want to be sharp right off the bat tomorrow and I'm sure we'll do that."

After allowing just two goals in the first 120 minutes of the series, New Jersey put up a trio in the opening 12:31 yesterday, despite Carolina having a quality opening few minutes.

"We've been pretty consistent all year for the most part. To spot them (three goals) in the first period like we did is never a good thing for us, especially at this point in the year," Slavin chimed in. "We can't take it back now, we just have to move on from it and can't do that in the next game."

The Canes allowed three tallies in the first period just one time in 82 regular season games, on March 17 in Toronto.

"You can't change what's happened in the past. All you want to do is look forward and bring your best effort tomorrow night. I like where our team's mindset is," Aho wrapped up with.

While New Jersey fell behind 0-2 in their first-round series against the New York Rangers and now has an opportunity to climb out of that hole once again, Jarvis and the group are cognizant, but not fearful of it.

"They're a good team. They're going to find stuff (to make them successful), but we're a good team too. We're here for a reason," the 21-year-old forward shared. "I think we're confident in our abilities and in our group. We'll bounce back and have a strong showing tomorrow."

Notes From Skate

All things considered, there were not any wholesale changes at Monday's practice at the Prudential Center.

There was no overhaul to the forward lines and no massive structural changes, but there were a few things worth pointing out.

Worth A Click:

Round 2, Game 5 Tickets On Sale Now

First Goal Program Registration Now Open

Teravainen Undergoes Hand Surgery

Burns' Impact & Experience In His First Season As A Hurricane

Learn More About Season Ticket Memberships For The 2023-24 Season