Pressure Now on the Bruins? - Game 7 Preview
by Bob Wage on May 14, 2009 11:45 AM EDT
in Hurricanes Game Related
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PrintCan lightning strike twice for the Carolina Hurricanes? A couple of weeks ago, they faced one of the best goalies in NHL history, as an overwhelming underdog, on his home ice, in a pressure-packed game 7, and were able to pull off a miracle victory in the last 80 seconds of play.
Tonight they face the same daunting odds when they meet the regular season Eastern Conference Champion, Boston Bruins under similar circumstances. Boston goalie Tim Thomas has been touted as the league's best goalie this year and is the Vezina favorite. The oddsmakers have placed the Bruins as sure fire winners on their home ice for this game, but we all know anything can happen in a game 7.
Is it possible to win two game 7's on the road in the same postseason, or is that asking too much from the hockey gods? Well, there is precedent because the Minnesota Wild did it in 2003. They defeated the Colorado Avs, 3-2 in overtime in the quaterfinals, then beat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2 in the semis, both times while on the road.
The Hurricanes were admittedly nervous at the beginning of game 6. They knew they were expected to close out the Bruins on their home ice, and sometimes those expectations can put extra pressure on a team. But now that pressure has shifted to Boston. They are expected to win and the Hurricanes will take the ice as a longshot. And the Canes always seems to perform better that way.
Carolina will need their star players to come up big tonight if they want to have a chance. Cam Ward will have to be at his best. Eric Staal will need to win battles and hopefully get on the scoresheet. It's been well documented that when he scores, the Canes win. (7-0 in this postseason). The entire team will have to play a better defensive game than they did in game 6.
Will any of the other forwards break out? After an outstanding series against New Jersey, Ray Whitney has been silenced in this series. Erik Cole has been trying to lay a body on Zdeno Chara at every opportunity, but is he taking himself out of his normal offensive flow by doing so? Captain Rod Brind'Amour has seen his role and time on the ice reduced, and he has yet to score a goal the entire postseason.
Will one of them be a hero tonight?
Paul Maurice has indicated that he will mix the lines up. He may also replace Anton Babchuk with Frank Kaberle, but I expect him to keep that decision a secret until game time. Ryan Bayda will stay in the linup in place of Tim Conboy.
The game has a late start time of 8PM and will be televised locally by FS Carolinas in HD.
We will have another update this afternoon.
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Guess who's already given up??????
The RBC Center. First they are anouncing the time for game 7 during the 2nd period of game 6, NOW, they have already started cleaning up the RBC Center.
I just came from over there, and all the parking cones have been picked up and put on trailers. Those cones stay on the sidewalks all season long so they don’t have to go too far to set them up. But, as of 12 noon, all the cones were gone off the sidewalk and on the back of trailers near the players entrance to the RBC Center.
That’s just wrong.
If they win, the Canes will be on the road for Games 1 & 2. They would be back at the RBC on Wed. at the earliest, I’d think. I wouldn’t read too much in to it.
by Cory Lavalette on May 14, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
But I do, I work over here at the military center, and drive past the RBC center many times during the week. Those cones stay out ALL season long, even during extended road trips. They never put them away until the season is over.
Lots of other stuff happening at RBC in the fall-spring, that isn’t going on now.
BBall for one.
Also, even if it is some over zealous parking manager, who cares, it isn’t like the guy is talking to all the players telling them they have no chance.
by Iggy Reilly on May 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
thankfully,
i just hope the players arent checking in here.
ps. bubba, cory, you guys have any run ins with players stopping by? i thought about this when you did the babchuk vs kaberle post. i wonder what theyd think if they saw the post.
Not me … Bubba there’s game in, game out at home in the press box. I know he hasn’ tsaid anything to me about any problems with any of the guys. I know the Finnish guys were very nice when he told them that we had a message board from Finland linking in to the site.
by Cory Lavalette on May 14, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think they have time to read much online. A couple days after I posted the message in Finnish here, Pitkanen asked me if I received it okay, then later Jokinen asked me as well. But who knows?
GM of CanesCountry.com
it could be as simple as “OK, we might not have any more games, but if we do, we need a new parking plan for the bigger (and earlier crowds).”
by Cory Lavalette on May 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Cones are the precurser to the big melting pile of ice. This is always a sazd time when the ice that has scene so many warriors do battle, knowing the blood of some is still in there as it washs away in the parking lot….
Shits over the ‘Canes are bums, gonna lose, can’t win, got no balls, have crappy attitudes, Frank to the rescue, I like golf.
Think reverse psychology will work?
A
Nah, I know a parking attendant who is holding out for a Wings/Canes final series (though if that does happen, he will have to quit just to go to the games…)
by Andrea's evil twin on May 14, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Canes haven't given up
Who cares what the RBC parking crew does, the team isn’t giving up, why should they, they’re now in a best of one, winner take all game.
Teams make adjustments after each game, Mo sometimes shifts lines around in the middle of the game. We out played Boston after our horrible first 5 minutes in game 6, we had more quality scoring chances, but just didn’t get the bounces.
I expect the Canes to come out strong and to win tonight.
by CanesFanFromLI on May 14, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions
Agree- this team doesnt quit. And for some guys like Brindy, this maybe one of their last chances to make a deep playoff run- Canes will show up tonight, and I do expect them to win in some dramatic heartstopping way.
by PittsburghCaniac on May 14, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Pressure on the Bruins?
I would think that after coming back and tying the series up – I dont see the pressure being sent Boston’s Way but feel free to look at it this way, maybe you sold a few mor epapers today!
You guys have a print version now?
Why didn’t you tell us!?
I think his point about the pressure on Boston as that they were expected to win this series. They are now the favorites again. That brings a certain kind of pressure.
disagree they should feel no pressure — I hink the pressure rides on Ward (cam that is) to make the difference
For the B’s, they’d better hope it doesn’t ride on Ward. That might be the calmest dude in the league. Pressure definitely on the Bruins, esp. after the stinker last year in Game 7 vs. Montreal. At the start of the series most would’ve been happy with a possible Game 7 in Raleigh. Doesn’t matter how they got here … Canes won two in a row, then B’s won two in a row.
by Cory Lavalette on May 14, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
should say “most in Raleigh would’ve been” … above makes it sounds like the game is here.
by Cory Lavalette on May 14, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
PUCK DROP ALREADY!!! I CAN’T HANDLE THIS WAITING ANYMORE!!!
Argh. I’m gonna crack a cold one here with y’all before I head out to the bar to watch the game.
Cheers! and let’s hope for a great game…
by Andrea's evil twin on May 14, 2009 6:17 PM EDT reply actions
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