Hurricanes testing well
May 10, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes head into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semis in the drivers seat, leaving the Boston Bruins searching for answers. We have only heard that the Canes have yet to see the Bruins best game in this series – well, a newsflash for all parties, we have yet to see the Canes' best game yet too, and Carolina is up 3-1.
The impressive thing about the effort so far from Carolina is that it is the collective of the team that is better. Yes, Eric Staal has taken over this series and gotten the better of Zdeno Chara and the B's defense, but when was the last time five-on-five the Canes forwards were outworked? Carolina has beaten the Bruins to loose pucks, scrums in front of the net, errant passes in the neutral zone and, most importantly, on the scoreboard. One can write a book about the exploits of Jussi Jokinen in this series alone with 2 game winners and being in the right spot all the time, but it is not just one or two players carrying Carolina.
Paul Maurice and his staff have mixed and matched to find the right combinations to off set the Bruins, while Boston with the best record remaining in the post season looks to find any answer to solve the Canes. But the answer is simple: The Canes are just flat out better, but better as a collective. The parts of Boston might be impressive with Chara, Thomas, Kessel, Savard, Krecji, Ryder...but the whole is not. The Canes coaching staff understands this, and after making the adjustments from game one, the Canes have had the jump on the Bruins.
Players have answered the bell for the Canes, from Ryan Bayda, to Tim Conboy filling in for Bayda who missed Game 4 with the flu. Don't worry about scoring slumps; someone is going to snap out of one, be it Sergei Samsonov or Erik Cole. Rising up to the physical challenge, Tuomo Ruutu and Scott Walker have dished out over 25 hits the last two games. And leadership? The Hurricanes have aced every test from the supposed superior Bruins, and now have just one more left to take.
Game 5 should finally be the game we see the Bruins play to their capacity. There is no more tomorrow for the Bruins, and one would suspect with a home crowd aching for a title that has eluded them for 36 years, this team had better. However, one can't help but think with Bruins Coach Claude Julien complaining about the refs and the resolve of his team, they won't be able to cram for Sunday's test.
Notes from the road:
Riding on the plane to Boston for Sunday's game two Bruin fans noted how loud the RBC Center was in comparison to the Bruins den...guess the fans thought it was a home advantage.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Hurricanes testing well
not many have commented on this, but i think another reason for the canes success is their playoff experience..many on the team won the cup in 2006 after an extremely hard playoff run with tight games, game 7s, and recooping from a bad loss..therefore, the canes know what to do..boston doesn't! go canes!ps..i agree with edits..why can't julien man up and say his team is getting beaten by a better team, a team that just wants it more!
Posted May 10, 7:13 a.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 11686
Joined: Dec, 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: Hurricanes testing well
I have to admit, after Game 1, I was discouraged about the Canes' chances of beating the Goliath that is Boston - they're a big, talented team, with a stellar regular season record and they rolled through the first round of play-offs. I am so glad I was wrong! This is a different Canes team. Everyone - from the coaching staff to players that are peaking and contributing at the right time are making these Canes so good and hard to beat. The Canes are hungry and they're gonna eat - they've been feasting on every Bruins mistake and turnover. But they're not full yet - they've only had the appetizer. They're ready for the main course: a Game 5 victory and on to Round 3 in the Playoffs. Bon Appetit Canes!Posted May 9, 6:29 p.m.
Rank: All Star Posts: 795
Joined: Apr, 2007
Location: Clayton, NC
RE: Hurricanes testing well
You said it Mike, the Canes are flat out better. Claude Julien keeps making excuses - the refs for one, please! The Bruins have been getting away with all kinds of stuff, and that holding call on Ruutu last night, he had that hand on the opposing player for less than 2 seconds and he didn't even have a grip on the guy. Secondly, another of Julien's excuses for not winning is that his team has picked the worst time of the year to play it's worst hockey. Why can't he just man up and admit that his team was beaten by a better team, he has yet to say it. Boston is a good team but if the Canes keep going like they are, and haven't played their best and that is yet to come, I can't see anyone beating them.By the way, this is my conspiracy theory: I think it was Julien's plan that the Boston player that had the flu play and try to infect the Canes players to give his team an advantage and it backfired on him.
