Polemic Hockey

For all the worthy talk on goaltending in this series if I were the Devils I would want to use the extra day off between games to figure out how my team gave up 90 shots over two regulation games. The Canes are very good at defense to offense transitions and at gaining speed through the neutral zone. They also win a disproportionate amount of key faceoffs. So they have the puck often and they attack with it. Moreover, the Devils have often backed off in the third to play for OT, whereas the Canes have attacked.

Although Rolston did his best, he tried too much ole bullshit where Langenbrunner would have started a cycle. For the Devils then the best defense is a good offense. They should try a little less heroism off the rush a little more cycling. They also need to keep on punching in the third, even if they are up on the scoreboard.

The Canes' two wins came in games in which the Devils lost a crucial player in the middle of the contest, and it still took improbable breaks for the Canes to get the W. All things being equal the Devils are the better team, but the Canes have an incredible talent for pulling a rabbit out of a hat which I suspect comes from the leadership of Brind'amour (who deserved the Smythe more than Ward, but whatever).

Anyhow, should be entertaining.

Labels: Devils, Hurricanes