Before the severe weather knocked the power out at my house on Friday night, I was able to watch most of the Hurricanes 4-0 rout of Buffalo that evened the Eastern Conference Championship series at two games apiece. To be honest, the first 10 minutes was enough to know that this would be Carolina's night.
Buffalo won't admit it publicly, but their injury problems have caught up to them. The Eastern Conference Final is no place for untested defenders, especially against a team with the talent and experience of the Hurricanes, but that's exactly what the Sabres are dealing with. It is what it is, and it is not good for Buffalo.
The Hurricanes came out strong and with a purpose and set Buffalo back on their heels right from the start, and the Sabres just didn't look like a confident team. It's hard for any team to lose the players that Buffalo has lost and not be hurt by it. The Sabres didn't play like a team that had a chance at home to go up in the series 3-1. Instead, they played like a tentative team that saw the inevitable handwriting on the wall.
So the series moves back to Raleigh on Sunday, and I would be stunned if the Hurricanes don't come and impose their will right from the start, just like on Friday night. This is a Carolina team that always seems to play hard, and they can sense that Buffalo is reeling. With the ‘Caniac crowd on their side, the Hurricanes should go up in this series for the first time.
And what a great decision by Peter Laviolette to go with Martin Gerber at goal. Gerber was chomping at the bit to get back out there, and he was tough, especially with some great saves early in the first period. Cam Ward was tired and the right decision was made at goal.
Buffalo is still skilled and dangerous, but my sense now is that Carolina is just too strong and has too much strength and depth and skill of their own to let Buffalo back in it. Sure, the series is tied, but Buffalo will have to dig awfully deep to win two of the next three. I don't see them doing it. The Canes now have home ice back plus momentum, and more importantly at this time of the season, more healthy bodies.
