I don't know what you were thinking before Game Four on Saturday, but I wasn't sure if New Jersey wouldn't just go through the motions -- you know, play like there's no chance to win the series, a let's-get-it-over-with-and-go-on-vacation mentality.
Well, you have to hand it to the Devils. They came out against the Hurricanes and gave it everything they had. And right from the outset, they had the 'Canes on their heels.
New Jersey is a proud franchise and they played like that on Saturday. Former captain Scott Stevens paid the team a visit on Friday and whatever he said must have done some good. This is a franchise that had never been swept in a playoff, and they played with a quickness and aggressiveness that had been lacking in the initial three losses.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes played like they had a cushion.
All the bounces so far in this series had gone Carolina's way, but New Jersey came out with two first-period power-play goals by Scott Gomez: one deflected off a defender's skate, the other off his leg. These were sandwiched around a short-handed goal, Jay Pandolfo, and the Devils thinking it's about time we get the breaks. And basically, that was that in a 5-1 New Jersey win.
Ah, but the thing is: the Hurricanes, with a 3-0 lead coming in, could afford a letdown while the Devils were playing for their season. Don't you know that Game Two -- when the Devils were within three seconds of winning -- was just tearing at those guys, right now.
Anyway, I would expect the 'Canes coming home on Sunday night before the raucous crowd at the RBC Center will have the advantage in Game Five. Hard to think the 'Canes won't play with more urgency and be ready to end this thing. The crowd will be a factor, but it won't intimidate a team like New Jersey. But it will certainly give added adrenaline to Carolina.
Only two teams in NHL history have come from three down to win a series, and despite what happened Saturday, this doesn't appear to be a Devil team that has the firepower to do it.
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur, who had 19 saves and became third on the all-time career playoff win list, said it best, "Hopefully we're not satisfied with not getting swept."
"We have to have the attitude that nothing is going to faze us," Brodeur added.
The question: Will New Jersey have momentum or was their goal not to be swept?
His counterpart, rookie Cam Ward, proved that he was human after all. The young rookie, who had triggered the 'Canes seven game playoff winning streak, was chased in the second period after giving up his fourth goal. But Ward seemed unfazed.
"It's disappointing, but a loss is a loss. It's one game. We have a chance to redeem ourselves in 24 hours," he said.
Yes, the 'Canes are still in great shape up three games to one and coming home where all season long they've been at their best.
However, they know they can't let a team like New Jersey get any more confidence. As you know, the Devils are quite capable of getting hot and putting together a streak. But maybe the Devils left it all on the ice in New Jersey on Saturday?
No question, the 'Canes need to make a statement early: make them think exactly that. A 3-1 lead is nice. Going back to New Jersey up 3-2 is uncomfortable.
I expect the Hurricanes will be sharp tonight. They need to be tough, disciplined (can't take 11 penalties) and fast. Tonight, it's the Cane's who need to play with urgency. They know better than anyone else what's at stake.
Buffalo ended their series in five with Ottawa. Now, it's up to the 'Canes to join them.
