K’Andre Miller and Seth Jarvis each scored twice as the Canes beat the Devils 6-3 on opening night in Raleigh. The new guys played well. The “old” guys did, too, as Sebastian Aho led the way in the 3rd period. Miller was noticeably good all night long and gave fans a glimpse of how he could thrive playing here. Equally important was the way Alexander Nikishin played while paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. It was also a good night for the Jesperi Kotkaniemi line as the Hurricanes used their depth to beat New Jersey. Oh, and there were at least five ringing posts. So many posts.
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8 Comments
Enjoyable game Miller and Nikishin were very pleasing
Great start to the season! Boys were absolutely buzzing. Ehlers and Miller look like great additions. Taylor Hall and Ghost will be our X factors this year. Let’s go Canes❤
Enjoyed the entire game! Great final score! Closer than the final 2 1/2 minutes played out.
Happy for Miller. He got thoroughly trashed by the Rangers fan base and press. He might have found his dream home in Carolina.
Some missed defensive assignments but that'll get cleaned up. We looked more creative. Passing was much better. Miller is looking like he's going to be everything we hoped for. Ehlers can freaking play. That man can find the open skaters.
I am glad to say this on two fronts. I was wrong! Ehlers looked good on the top line. And the third pair did not look that bad as I was worried about!
That second pair of Chatfield/Miller are going to be awesome. First period was sketchy but as they got more reps they started really clicking! Chatty is going to explode this year. Miller looked very comfortable with the system and good on the PP and PK.
Ghost looked good. Yes I said it. Nikishin looked a lot more comfortable as well. The skating of that D-core is amazing! This is coming from a power skating coach. So yes I really liked what I saw!!! Slavin and walker are going to be great.
As someone who watches all games including the west coast teams, I had my doubts on how he would fit. To be honest last night was one of his best games I have ever seen him play without scoring.
Aho looks like he has jump to start the season that we have not seen in the past as he is usually a slow starter. Jarvis built a game as he went.
The second line looks very good but Stanker is less dynamic at center.
4th line that really should be the 3rd line was great. Hall KK Robinson looked dangerous all night while being good defensively. THIS IS A TRUE THIRD LINE!!!!! Something the Canes have not has in a long time. They have had 2 4th lines. 4A and 4B.
Cons-
I didn't love Stankhoven at center. Sorry but he is much less dynamic at center as we have seen him on the wing. I said this during preseason when they were playing AHLers. Now I did like Blake and Svech and the line as a whole.
The Staal line………… Very slow. THIS IS YOUR FOURTH LINE!!!!!! Marty and Carrier were great but Staal looked old and slow! However this is normal for him to start the season.
Overall a very good first game of the season. Very fast pace. NOT BORRING!!!!
Some of the KK faceoff losses were by design. I have seen them doing this at camp. Robinson explodes anticipating the loss. One one of those you can see KK actually push the opposing centers stick and puck forward. It may have been on the first goal. Crosby and Malkin have been doing this for years.
Someone please take the reins off of Chatty!!! When he gets the puck and starts racing up the ice it is beautiful!!! But then he pulls himself in and passes the puck. When he starts he gives me flashbacks of Brian Leetch in his prime!!!! I know it's defense first but let Chatty fly!!!!