PITTSBURGH -- If history is a guide, the Carolina Hurricanes are in pretty good shape in the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Wait a minute. Aren't they trailing the series 1-0 against the Eastern defending champions, who also have home-ice advantage, oh great confused puck head?
Well, yes. And that's exactly the point.
|
|
| When the 'Canes drop a series opener, 'we always seem to compete harder,' Tim Gleason says. (Getty Images) |
• Series: Penguins 1, 'Canes 0 | Cole skates, could play in Game 2
"When you think you're going down and out after the first game, we always seem to compete harder, to come back in a positive way," Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason said. "It's kind of like a routine of ours."
Maybe it has something to do with spending so much time in basketball country, because the Hurricanes are notorious rebounders. They gave a number of hints in their opening loss that another one is potentially coming in this series against the favored Penguins.
Carolina apparently forgot to set its alarm clocks because the Hurricanes didn't show up until late in the first period of what became a 3-2 loss to the Penguins, a game they still nearly sent into overtime in the dying seconds. But after allowing Pittsburgh to score twice in less than two minutes midway through the opening period -- the first time when the revitalized Miroslav Satan neatly finished a breakaway he had coming out of the penalty box and the second when Evgeni Malkin beat goalie Cam Ward with a backhand -- the Hurricanes finally woke up and sent shock waves through the Penguins.
From that point on, they were the more aggressive team, using their speed to create an intense forecheck that forced the Pittsburgh defenders into a series of dangerous turnovers that forced goalie Marc Andre Fleury to stand on his head. The Hurricanes seemed more desperate for the puck and stronger on it and essentially had the Penguins, who looked so good at the outset, back on their heels the rest of the night.
"They have some big bodies on their team that do a great job of protecting the puck and creating things and they have a lot of speed, so you combine that, and it's a challenge to play against," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "They're a team that pressures a lot and they come at you every shift."
And pretty hard, too. In fact had Erik Cole's goal not been called back for goalie interference when he drove the Penguins 6-7 defenseman Hal Gill into Fleury, the Hurricanes would have been tied heading into the third period.
"I think that out of all the teams we've faced this is probably the best team at knowing their game, playing their game, and doing it over and over again," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "They're very disciplined in how they play their game and resilient, and that's how they've come back in series. It's something we're aware of."
What the Penguins might have to be more aware of in Game 2 is Ward and his ability to win a series on his own. The Hurricanes goalie was fooled on a couple of goals, including Philippe Boucher's knuckleball winner in the third period, but had an otherwise solid game in what has been a superb postseason for him. His no name defense did an impressive job handling the Penguins' high power forwards for the most part.
More important for the Penguins, who have visions of a return visit to the Finals, is knowing the Hurricanes don't wilt when they fall behind. The first game of any series is generally a feeling out process, particularly when it is between two teams that don't know each other well, the brothers Staal notwithstanding.
In other words the temperature will be rising, especially since the normally placid Hurricanes are still seething about knee hits on Cole and Tuomo Ruutu that went unpenalized. Both were finished for the night and are uncertain for Game 2.
What is certain though is that Carolina seems to be right where it needs to be.
