For a team built on grinding their opponents down in all three zones, relying on skill and cheating on offense will not get them wins. This is the same team that said they had \u201cno spark\u201d following their 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 30, to close out 2025. <\/p>\n
Since a three-game stretch of blowing leads in December, the Hurricanes are playing Jekyll and Hyde hockey \u2013 they rise up to a challenge one night and then show up the next with no life. In a very tight Eastern Conference race, there are no off nights, and there are no easy teams. But this has been an issue for weeks. <\/p>\n
Related: Hurricanes In Unfamiliar Territory by Not Closing Out Games<\/a><\/p>\n When asked about Staal\u2019s comments following their first shutout loss of the season, head coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour<\/a> said, \u201cIt was obvious, right from the start, we had no life. You could just see how we were turning pucks over. It\u2019s not how we play. They capitalized. They played a good team game. Structured, how they\u2019re supposed to. We were trying to do other things, and that never works.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hurricanes have been turning over pucks, suffering defensive breakdowns, and their transition game has been up-and-down, forcing their goalies to cover for their mistakes. In back-to-back games against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday and the Blues last night, the forwards and defensemen left Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi out to dry multiple times. Of the seven goals given up in the two games, only one might be blamed on the goalie, at most. <\/p>\n Brind\u2019Amour said, \u201cWe were trying to do other things, and that never works.\u201d<\/p>\n Every team has stars on its roster. Every team can make their opponents pay when they try to cheat on preparation or positioning. Every team is also playing a heavier schedule with the Olympic break next month, and every team is dealing with injuries. It\u2019s about getting ready mentally for every game, and there are no nights off. <\/p>\n Brind\u2019Amour noted, \u201cThis is part of being a pro. We\u2019ve gone through this with other games too this year, where we\u2019ve had these stretches of three (games) in four (days), and travel, and we have the same result. This is where you have to buckle down and not look the other way\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n There are no easy games, and every game matters. <\/p>\n Related: Hurricanes\u2019 Jackson Blake Living Up to Expectations in Sophomore Season<\/a><\/p>\n This season, every team in the Eastern Conference is over .500<\/a> except for the New York Rangers (20-21-6). In the West, only five teams are under .500, including the Blues. The Hurricanes rank fifth in the NHL with 60 points in 47 games. They\u2019re one win from jumping into third over the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Minnesota Wild. The Blues are 29th with 44 points.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes must know they cannot underestimate any opponent in today\u2019s NHL, heading into a match with the mentality that \u2018we\u2019ll outscore them, we\u2019re going to get our few chances, we\u2019ll give them a couple, and we\u2019ll see what happens.\u2019 Not today. The Blues proved that. <\/p>\n If the Hurricanes want to make another deep playoff run and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, they need to be ready for every game. When they play the right way, the Hurricanes\u2019 way, led by Brind\u2019Amour, they can win the Stanley Cup. But they need to understand it will never come easy. <\/p>\n It\u2019s about preparing every night and showing up for 60 minutes each game. They need to stop cheating and looking for easy wins from teams below them in the standings. When they figure that out, they will be unstoppable. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Sebastian](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nick-Bjugstad-Blues-Sebastian-Aho-Hurricanes-1200x800.jpg\")
St. Louis Blues center Nick Bjugstad faces off against Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (Joe Puetz-Imagn)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Hurricanes_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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