Having moved from Edmonton to Carolina Jesse Puljujärvi the future in the club looks bright, if the words of Carolina’s management are to be believed. Urheilu’s hockey experts Ismo Lehkonen and Karri Rämön according to Puljujärvi, however, they need to grab themselves by the neck as the playoffs approach.
The Finn may have charmed the supporters of the Stanley Cup-seeking club, but there is plenty of room for improvement in the rink.
Before Saturday’s Buffalo match, Puljujärvi had played 13 matches in a Hurricanes shirt with an output of 0+1. According to Lehkonen, it has to start happening now, because the playoffs are already around the corner.
– However, that is the toughest series in the world, where extremely big things are played in, for example, Carolina, Lehkonen said at ‘s NHL evening.
Carolina’s fast-paced style of play is one of the most challenging in the series. According to Lehkonen, Puljujärvi has room for improvement in the hairball game. You have to block your own man, but at the same time you have to be able to quickly read where the opponent might pass.
– Carolina is very active in the offensive play. The puck must not pass through that area. It must not pass him every time in such a way that it is a pass to the shoulder. You have to get stops so that the puck stops.
– When Carolina plays a man-on-man game, the own defender must be blocked. It must not be available. The charging must be on, so that when the supply starts, it can be cut off.
Lehkonen reminds that when playing at the end of the offensive zone, the stick must be used strongly and duels must not be lost.
– The mother must be pushed out of the game.
In Saturday’s game against Buffalo, Puljujärvi scored his second power point in a Carolina shirt. Carolina’s Finnish trio scored a great hit in the second period when Puljujärvi and Teuvo Teräväinen played discus To Sebastian Ahowho finished.
Lehkonen was not convinced of Puljujärvi’s moves based on the performances of the first set.
Lehkonen also questions Puljujärvi’s skating and stick use without pucks.
– It’s been said all along that Puljujärvi is good for skating, but is the general skating skill that good?
– These are video meetings that Puljujärvi has to attend in Carolina. No wonder self-confidence is a little tested. When the playoffs start, these little things and details in that halved rapid chess must be right. When the playoff series begins, the head coach Rod on Brind’Amour can’t afford to go out to play at all. They are all goal games.
The question is what kind of role Puljujärvi will play in the future.
– To Sebastian Aho it’s obvious what kind of player he is. It feels like nobody knows about Jesse. Carolina’s GM said he has shown signs and deserves a spot in the lineup, but it’s up to Jesse if it’s in the No. 1 or No. 4 spot. There, too, it is not crystal clear what kind of player he is, Karri Rämö said.
– Simply working and trying on the ice is no longer enough. Yes, there must be a result. It doesn’t necessarily have to be goals and assists. Keeping one’s own man and interrupting, so that one’s own does not rattle. Now you can’t even see that.
Rämö pointed out that Puljujärvi skated to the bench faster than his teammates in the opening set of the Buffalo match.
– Clearly not in the same condition as others. Will he be able to play the same style of play, especially with Aho.
Playing in the first team, Puljujärvi logged 16.42 minutes of ice time, while Aho played 21 minutes and Teräväinen 20.
Buffalo to victory in the final set
Carolina lost to Buffalo 3-4 in Saturday’s match. of Buffalo Casey Mittelstadt scored the first goal of the game when he picked up the puck with his knuckles Antti Raannan over. However, Carolina came by Seth Jarvis and Jesper Fastin with lightning goals alongside and over in the 15th minute of the game.
The Finnish goal of the second set was Carolina’s only hit of the set. Buffalo hit twice, so I started the third set with a 3–3 tie. Only one hit was seen in the final set. Tage Thompson scored his 43rd goal of the season, which was enough for Buffalo to win 4–3.
Buffalo’s Mittelstadt scored two goals and a teammate Rasmus Dahlin your book 1+2. You can see the goals of the match below.
– We talked before the match that they have a couple of unique players. We caught our breath for a while and they immediately put the puck in the net. We are in a situation where we are struggling to score goals. We had enough chances, head coach Brind’Amour said.
Carolina has already secured its spot in the playoffs. Buffalo’s next games would require a small miracle. Ahead of that, Pittsburgh, Florida and the Islanders are fighting for the Eastern Conference wild card spots.