There's character on that Carolina Hurricanes team. The 'Canes bounced back with authority last night to beat New Jersey 4-1 and move into the Eastern Conference Final against the Buffalo Sabres.
The 'Canes' defense was superb last night, especially in the first period when they killed off eight minutes of New Jersey power plays.
With the Devils up early 1-0, and riding the momentum of Saturday's route, the 'Canes could have dug themselves in a deep hole, but the penalty kill was superb and so was rookie goalie Cam Ward, who gave up the early goal to Brian Gionta, but nothing else the rest of the way.
The Devils had just 18 shots on goal, 10 of those in the first period, and Ward, bouncing back from Saturday's poor performance was excellent. It's things like riding out that first period that makes this Carolina team so tough. They never quit fighting and there's always belief that, as the game goes on, they become the better team.
"I think we deserved it," 'Canes captain Rod Brind'Amour said afterward. "We were the better team. We felt it right from Game 1, and now, we're moving on."
The Hurricanes knew they need to finish off the Devils at home in Game Five. You give a team like New Jersey a little more confidence and all of a sudden it would be a series again.
"If we didn't do it here and we didn't approach this like it was our Game Seven, what kind of bed are we making ourselves?" defenseman Aaron Ward said in the happy 'Canes' locker room. "The coaching staff preached this was the end-all, be-all game, and we had to take it right now and seize it."
And that they did.
This is a Carolina Hurricanes hockey team that skates so well, always plays hard, can score and defend, has veteran leadership and young stars and going into the Eastern Conference Finals against Buffalo has won eight of their last nine playoff games.
By the way, forward Corey Stillman left the game in the third period with what appeared to be a leg injury. Right after the game, coach Peter Laviolette said he doesn't think it's serious, but there's no official word on that yet.
So, it's on to the Eastern Final against a solid Buffalo team that the Canes took three out of four from during the season. The Sabres have a lot of the same characteristics of the Hurricanes.
It ought to be a fun, tough final, and it's Carolina with the home ice advantage, where they've excelled all season long. This will be a series that proponents of the new NHL are going to love.
