For complete transparency, we here at Cardiac Cane have used the statement ourselves in analyzing and writing about games. I believe, though, that that is too simplistic to explain why the Hurricanes have had rough first periods this season. Last night I was lucky enough to be offered a ticket to the Islanders game, and watching my Hurricanes in the first period reinforced what I’m about to throw out here for discussion.
By all accounts the first period against the Islanders was bad. It wasn’t just the first quick goal by Kyle Okposo, or the second on a breakaway by Nikolay Kulemin.