One thing that I’ve always admired about the Carolina Hurricanes is that those guys never quit. Never. They always fight to the very end, and that’s why they’re up on the New Jersey Devils two games to zip in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.
There’s a lot of character and leadership in the Carolina Hurricanes locker room. They have a lot of "refuse to lose" guys.
It was all there for New Jersey to tie the series in game two. The Devils scored with just 21 seconds left to take the lead, and they’re in. They think that, and most everybody else does too, except the Hurricanes. That’s why the 'Canes are who they are. They wouldn’t concede and Eric Staal guts in the tying goal with three seconds left, and the 'Canes go on to win in overtime, and the momentum is all in Carolina’s favor.
The 'Canes have been the better team in this series and Monday night, as the game went on, the Hurricanes got stronger. And that’s been there mode of operation just about the entire season. The first period, the Devils outshoot the Canes 14-8. Over the final two periods, a huge Carolina advantage: 30-9 in shots on goal. The Hurricanes put the pressure on, and they didn’t fold under the pressure. The Hurricanes have a lot of scorers and that keeps constant pressure on the New Jersey defense, which then limits the Devil offense. If you throw enough shots at the net, something’s going to go in.
So, now, the Carolina Hurricanes are sitting pretty going to New Jersey for Wednesday night's game number three. And all the pressure is on the Devils, and they know it. Goalie Martin Brodeur admits, “Game three is do or die for us.” And you bet it is. A small few come from down three to win a series.
You have to, of course, win four games to win the series, but you have to think the Hurricanes hit New Jersey with a hard punch to the stomach, and you wonder if the Devils can recover. Both teams will tell you it’s not over, but right now, the Hurricanes are playing with more confidence and certainly more weapons and with more momentum. And they appear to be the better team.
Just as Carolina had its back to the wall in the Montreal series, so now do the New Jersey Devils. But at least for the Devils, they’re coming home. But when you have a team staggering, a champion goes for the knockout. That’s what the Hurricanes will try to do Wednesday at the Meadowlands.
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