April 17, 2009, Carolina Hurricanes off-day story for Metro
Devils should expect a different Canes team in Game 2
NHL. Carolina coach Paul Maurice tried to warn his team their first round opponent was not the same Devils team most of them watched in the ’90s. Defense was replaced by offense, and lots of it.
So it’s a real head scratcher why Carolina, a team that had not qualified for the playoffs two years running, was not be ready to play Wednesday. It’s especially puzzling it hit the snooze button against a such a high powered opponent (238 goals in the regular season). The result: a 4-1 Devils beatdown in Game 1.
“It was pretty obvious that we weren’t ready to play,” said defenseman Tim Conboy, who characterized his too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty 37 seconds into the game as “stupid.”
The Devils outshot the Hurricanes 39-19 and silenced their big goal scorers, Eric Staal and Erik Cole, holding them to just three shots.
Two hours before the opening faceoff, Maurice was matter-of-fact in noting that unlike previous editions, “This is not the New Jersey Devils of 10 years ago, where defense was their primary concern. Their top two lines skate very well, move the puck well (and) have a real good attack game. I think they’re more dangerous off the rush now than they’ve ever been.”
His words proved apt as the Devils dominated across the board Wednesday night. New Jersey spent most of the night in Carolina’s zone, having outshot the Hurricanes 39-19. In other words, Cam Ward had to work to keep his team in the game while Martin Brodeur had a relatively stress-free night in net.
Carolina’s coach echoed his earlier theme after the game.
“I thought they did a pretty good job in all three offensive areas. I think the even strength shots after one was 8-7. They put seven shots on the two power plays; they were very good with that. We had a very difficult time moving the puck through and because of that our forecheck did not get established,” said Maurice. “When that happens, you’re giving the other team breakouts and counters that are easy to make. The fourth goal was a good example. We had guys laying on the ice and just couldn’t get the puck to the net or didn’t move it quick enough to get it to the net.”
Immediately following Ray Whitney’s goal, the Hurricanes had an opportunity to cut the Devils’ lead to 3-2 but Chad LaRose whiffed on a wrister from the slot. The Devils counterattacked and finished the rush with Jamie Langenbrunner’s glove side high wrist shot that increased the lead to 4-1. Instead of trailing by a goal with 10 minutes left, the Hurricanes were down three to the organization that has redefined defensive responsibility.
“Give them credit. That was a big goal for them. They capitalized on their chance. We had just had a really good chance to make it 3-2 and they went down and scored,” said Matt Cullen. “That’s hockey. It was that close to being a 3-2 game with plenty of time left. As poorly as we played, we were still in it. Obviously that was the dagger.”
Maurice and Cullen bemoaned the lack of a forecheck. That will have to change or the Hurricanes’ season will be over.
“Clearly, I think there’s another level for our team. So much of finishing checks and being physical is generating the speed to do it. We weren’t the faster team tonight,” Maurice said in his post-game press conference.
Added Cullen: “We need to do a better job of getting in on pucks, maybe being a little more physical with their first and second guys. From there we have to move our feet and do what we normally do. We did it for 82 games, so we know we have to find our game.”
Still, for as poorly as the Hurricanes played, there is still a series left to be played. They know it and believe that they display their brand of hockey in tonight’s game two at The Prudential Center.
“Fortunately it was the first game. We know we have to have a better effort and the good part is (that) we know there’s better hockey in this room,” Cullen said.
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:41 PM
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