Hurricanes need to stay on the basics
May 21, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes are used to this by now, down 1-0 in a best of seven series in the 2009 playoffs. But the roles are different this time around as Carolina is the defensive team and Pittsburgh is the skilled team. The Canes are well equipped to play as a defensive team, it is what they have been doing all along. In fact the Canes just need to keep doing what they have been doing, it has worked so far in the playoffs. Game 1 had a different feel then the prior two first games for the Canes. The Hurricanes previous series openers were duds, Monday night was a disappointment because the team was good enough to win, and the Canes know that. Carolina was for all intents better than Pittsburgh, t The Penguins capitalized on three Hurricanes errors, something that good teams do.
The good news is Carolina played every step of the way without Tuomo Ruutu for the majority of the game, and Erik Cole for most of the third. The Bad news is Pittsburgh did not play their best game at least offensively. Playing with a 2-0 lead in the playoffs does that for you, and the Pens laid back and helped out their goalie en route to the win, so don't expect the same effort from Pittsburgh on Thursday night. The Canes can also turn the tables by making Pittsburgh play catch-up. Pittsburgh's defense is vulnerable to an aggressive forecheck, and even without Ruutu and Cole, Carolina can still establish that with players like Ryan Bayda, Scott Walker and Eric Staal.
It is possible that Carolina became caught in a game of finesse with Pittsburgh, where it has been the Canes grit that has pulled them through the playoffs to date. Let Sidney Crosby make the SportsCenter play, the Hurricanes best work is text book hockey. Being punched in the mouth early doesn't so know worries about this teams state of mind, the worry should be will the fundamentals win out. Smart plays like dumping the puck out of the zone to make a line change, Using the boards to get away from danger and simply shooting the puck on net often with traffic in front has served this team well. Just because Pittsburgh allows more room on the ice does not mean the Canes need to make three passes when one will do.
Carolina doesn't need to change the way they have play, they just need to do more of the same, the rest will take care of itself.
