What will they have left coming off two draining series that went the limit?
Plenty.
First look is at the forward slot. Sidney Crosby’s 2-goal performance in a game 7 win over Washington is a sign of things to come against Carolina. Hurricanes’ Eric Staal is the club’s career playoff scoring leader with 41 points. This will undoubtedly draw the attention of his brother, Jordan, Pittsburgh’s checking center.
Speaking of club leaders, Carolina’s Cam Ward leads the franchise with 23 playoff victories and a clean 6-0 playoff series record as their netminder. Across the ice, Mark-Andre Fleury is just one series away from becoming the first goalie back back-to-back Stanley Cup appearances since Martin Brodeur (2000-1).
Strategically, the Hurricanes have a swarming defense with a superb talent of their forwards to back-check opponents in the defensive zone with zeal. And certainly that has made a difference this postseason.
To counter that, the Penguins must control the forecheck deep in the Carolina zone much like they did against the Capitals.
In the end it may simply come down to a mano-a-mano between Hurricane goalie Cam Ward and Penguin’s phenom, Sidney Crosby.
Ward has a 2.22 GAA and a .927 save percentage in the playoffs, posting two shutouts. He’s also 2-0 with a 1.49 GAA against Pittsburgh this season which includes a 3-2 win last month.
Crosby, with 12 goals and nine assists — his 21 points lead all scorers in the playoffs – is clearly taking his A-game to an even higher level. Sid the Kid is on a mission to win his first Stanley Cup and it is up to the Hurricanes to figure out a way to neutralize him. Good luck.
Schedule (Eastern Time)
Monday, May 18: Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., Versus
Thursday, May 21: Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., Versus
Saturday, May 23: Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., Versus, CBC
Tuesday, May 26: Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., Versus, CBC
Friday, May 29: Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., if necessary, Versus, CBC
Sunday, May 31: Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7:30 p.m., if necessary, Versus, CBC
Tuesday, June 2: Carolina at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., if necessary, Versus, CBC
Records
Pittsburgh: 45-28-9 (99 points, 2nd in Atlantic, 4th in East)
Carolina: 45-30-7 (97 points, 2nd in Southeast, 6th in East)
Season series
(Tied 2-2)
Oct. 23: Carolina 1 @ Pittsburgh 4
Dec. 4: Pittsburgh 5 @ Carolina 2
Jan. 20: Carolina 2 @ Pittsburgh 1
April 4: Pittsburgh 2 @ Carolina 3 (OT)
Carolina, led by Ward, skates into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Yes a hot goalie can make a huge difference, but I think the Penguins will score enough to take the series.
Penguins reach the finals here and lose to Detroit
Nothing fina’ than Carolina in the Cup Finals