By AIDAN JENSEN
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When you look at the Carolina Hurricanes roster, names like Sebastian Aho, Brent Burns and Antti Raanta might come to mind first.
Aho, an alternate captain, is currently leading the Canes’ (3-2) offensive attack in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with three assists and a team-high three goals.
Brent Burns, Carolina’s key trade deadline acquisition, leads the playoff passing attack with a team-leading five assists. He is also the Canes’ most-utilized player, leading them with 23:15 minutes per game.
Raanta started the first five games of Carolina’s opening-round matchup against the New York Islanders in goal, currently carrying a 3-2 record, 2.59 goals against average and .906 save percentage.
How about a guy like Mackenzie MacEachern?
He’s currently a left-winger on Canes and spent most of his playing career in the minor leagues, scoring 11 goals and dishing out 19 assists for the Chicago Wolves, the Canes’ AHL affiliate. He’s seen limited NHL action in years past, tallying 11 goals and eight assists over four seasons with the St. Louis Blues.
MacEachern might not be a household name, but he’s been a major reason that Carolina is one win away from the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Needing a physical presence and an extra winger due to injuries, the Canes called up the 6’2”, 190-pound MacEachern from Chicago before Game 4. He was expected to hold his own and give Carolina some valuable ice time.
Yet MacEachern did far more than that, contributing a goal, assist and mashing out five hits, which tied for the team lead, in the Canes’ 5-2 road win. The physicality piece was much-needed, especially after the Islanders (2-3) out-hit Carolina by a 43-28 margin in Game 3.
While MacEachern didn’t make as much of an impact in the Canes’ 3-2, Game 5 loss in Raleigh Tuesday night, he paced his team in the physicality department with a team-high four hits.
If Carolina is going to steal another road win in Game 6, which New York hosts Friday at a time TBD, they may need to call upon McEachern’s physicality once again.
His style of play helped the Canes win their first road playoff game in eight tries. Can it also help the Canes advance to the semifinals?
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