Hurricanes need more from top line entering Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final

RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes’ top offensive line was held without a point in Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Vegas in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

That has to change for Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis if the Hurricanes hope to win the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is Thursday.

“Your best guys got to get on the scoresheet,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said after Game 1 . “That’s going to have to happen if we’re going to get where we want to be.”

Late in the third period, Jarvis had a terrific scoring opportunity that Vegas goaltender Carter Hart blocked with his glove before catching. Vegas scored the game-winner about 30 seconds later. The scoring chance and that shift stood out against the group’s production for most of the night.

“They got to play in the other team’s end,” Brind’Amour said Wednesday. “Too much one and done and not even one a lot of time. They got to get a little more offensive zone time, kind of like that last shift they had. That was one of the shifts you could say, ‘OK, there you go. That's how it needs to look.’ We need them to get going.”

The production or lack thereof from the top line has been a consistent storyline in the postseason. The trio has 22 points in 14 games, including four empty net goals. 

It’s basically half of the 43 points that Carolina’s second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has produced. Stankoven has nine goals in the postseason. The top line has 10.

And the top line has been nearly matched by Carolina’s third line of Nikolaj Ehlers, Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, which had three goals in Game 1. The third line now has 20 points in the playoffs, including six goals from Ehlers, who had two in the opener.

“A game like [Tuesday], you’ve got to find a way to score one there,” ‘Aho said Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s  a different story. It’s not about work ethic or trying hard. It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to figure out how to produce in that game and help the team that way. It’s on us to figure it out.”

Aho, the team’s highest-paid player, led the team in scoring with 80 points in the regular season. Jarvis led the Canes in goals with 32. Svechnikov had 31 goals and 70 points. Svechnikov and Jarvis are third and fifth on the team in salary, respectively. They’ve been productive players for a long time. 

Hall, a former league MVP, said the team has confidence in the top line.

“I don’t think you go up to them and coach them or anything,” Hall said. “Those guys are great players, and I think they had their chances and their looks [in Game 1]. Some of the looks didn’t turn into chances, but we know how good they are, and we know how good they can be. It’s only a matter of time. This league is weird. You grip your stick a little tight and you get into a weird matchup and it can look worse than it is. But things can change on a dime, especially this time of year.”

Jarvis acknowledged some frustration after Game 1.

“Chances are there,” he said. “We’ve had our looks. We just have to capitalize now more than ever.”

The scoring issues are pronounced because the top line are on the ice for power plays as well. Svechnikov and Aho each have one power play goal in the postseason. The Hurricanes were 0-for-2 on the power play in Game 1. Carolina is converting on just 12.1% of its power plays, better only than three teams in the playoffs, including Philadelphia and Ottawa. Carolina swept both teams.

Aho said a review of the Game 1 tape showed some ways for the top group to improve.

“When it goes your way, it’s never easy, but it may be easier,” Aho said. “There’s also the part that you almost try to do too much instead of letting the game happen and letting the game come to you. Go out there [in Game 2] with the highest confidence, play the game, trust it’ll happen. Got to be a little bit smarter as well.”