Over the course of a playoff series, teams will face different challenges, making it all that much more important to try and eliminate an opponent early. Extending series to seven games will often result in additional challenges and the lack of rest can ultimately be a team's undoing. For the Carolina, Hurricanes rest appears to become all that much more important after the team suffered a significant loss after game two.
The Hurricanes currently hold a 2-0 series lead over the New York Islanders. With the Hurricanes heading on the road, they will now be doing so without veteran defender Brett Pesce. Pesce suffered what is being labeled a non-contact injury. Something fans never like to see.
If Carolina is able to send the Islanders home sooner rather than later, it would get the team some much-needed rest and additional reps at practice with some of their depth players. Especially against a team like the New York Islanders, it is extremely important to avoid their physical play as much as possible.