Right Here, Right Now: More grit can help Hurricanes score more goals

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters made changes to his lines as the team prepared to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC Arena on Friday.

With the ever-present challenge that Carolina has experienced in scoring goals on a consistent and timely basis, and during a current four-game winless streak, there’s no time like the present for this team to generate its offense off of the play of its role players.

The fourth line that will skate against the Leafs will consist of Jay McClement centering Nathan Gerbe and Brad Malone.

All three haven’t hit the marks they built up last season, so they’re hungry to help their team by playing hard and heavy to increase turnovers and translate those into scoring opportunities and goals.

Just by infusing more physicality and emotion into this team’s play, particularly against the Maple Leafs, this line’s play could provide the very catalyst that the Hurricanes need to increase scoring and wins as they near the 20-game mark of the season.