Carolina Canes’ Cam Creates Challenge

The New Jersey ice arena known as “The Rock” hosts tonight’s first playoff game between the Devils and Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina arrives as the number six seed in the Eastern conference. New Jersey represents the third seeded team. The Devils are messing with a mental quagmire. The lower seeded Hurricanes have the edge in the regular season matches between the two. In the four regular season meetings, Carolina won three games. The only loss came last week with the Hurricanes’ goalie, Cam Ward, rested. Wednesday night they face each other in a best of seven series, the first two being played at The Prudential Center. Four wins by either means an advancement to the next round.
The Devil’s ornate offense is guided by Zach Parise, Patrick Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Gionta and Travis Zajac. Elias became the franchise’s all-time scoring leader this season and contributed 31 goals. Zach zapped 45 of his own shots into goal this year, and provided the Devils 94 points at the forward position. Parisi has really blossomed this season and thrives as a unit with Langenbrunner and Zajac. Zach did not make an impact last year during the playoffs, but give the kid enough ice team and he is bound to score this year. John Madden and Jay Pandolfo are a dynamic duo who should see time along with Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan has the capacity to step up during the post-season and give the Devils clutch play.
The reposed Devils center, Brian Rolston, is one veteran on the final line who I am confident will be ready to bring it to the Hurricanes. Center Bobby Holik, another team leader, should be back on the ice after being scratched from last week’s game.
Dainius Zubrus scored the game winning goal in Saturday’s win on a pass from Gionta. Rolton’s flip to David Clarkson also led to a goal. The teamwork initiative seemed to spell success against a backup goalie, but the team will need to pack the punch against the starter, Ward. Clarkson is the agitator the Devils need and with their have size and balance they can match the pace of the Hurricanes. New Jersey is competent enough to beat Ward and win the series.
With the winningest goalie in league history in Martin Brodeur, the Devils have the edge in net. Martin’s experience in the playoffs and hot finish coming back from injury are positives for New Jersey heading into the tough series. Brodeur has been on three Stanley cup championship teams. Martin is mystifying and a proven commodity capable of closing out competition. However, Carolina is 10-7 against him and have faced Brodeur in the playoffs before. Scott Clemmensen is not a shabby backup goalie in case the Devils need him against the Hurricanes.
Southeast foe, Carolina, has their own well-versed backstop, Ward. The Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2006, Ward was a major reason the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup that year. Cam is a threat any time he takes the net, and his stamina is great. The Devils were unable to get the puck past him with success during the season, so the pressure will be on Parisi and company this time around. Ward seems to bring his game to another level during the playoffs and it’s important to have guys around the goal to shield Cam’s view from the net.
The Canes offense is sufficient and not untested, but they are prone to being overpowered. The team was able to outscore the Devils 11-8 during the year in mostly close affairs. One standout figure was the Hurricanes going 7 of 16 on the power play during those four games. That factor certainly has a mental advantage for the lower seed. The Devils only ranked 15th in power play percentage this year so that has to be a concern for head coach, Brent Sutter.
Eric Staal is one of the best NHL centers and hottest players coming into the playoffs. He scored 40 goals for the second time in his career and with left winger, Erik Cole, was even more efficient. Tuomo Ruutu and Cole ignite the Canes’ line up front and the team boasts 10 players with Stanley Cup rings. Cole’s speed and Staal’s assist ability are going to be the biggest challenge facing the New Jersey defense. Staal also had 14 power play goals this year. Center, Matt Cullen’s familiarity in handling the Devils’ in the post-season cannot be overlooked either. Ray Whitney was Carolina’s leading point man and Jossi Jokinen is a solid backup on offense. Unfathomable third liner, captain Rob Brind’Amour and mainstay, Sergei Samsonov also bring firepower to the Hurricane team. Chad LaRose is like the Shanahan of the Canes. He is an impact player with game winning goal capabilities. Carolina is a steady skating team with resonant lines.
Carolina can conquer because they are hard workers and don’t make many mistakes defensively. The defense, while not flashy, has skaters Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen. The two are excellent puck handlers who control the Hurricanes’ impressive tempo. Dennis Seidenberg and Tim Gleason are unsung defensive players with ice insight as well. Both could cause problems in front of Brodeur by jumping into play.
The Devils’ defense is a surefire, strong and deep bunch. Paul Martin and Colin White are the shutdown stoppers on the fourth best defense in the league. Johnny Oduya doesn’t get enough credit but does the little things defensively to make this Devils team better. His skating ability is extraordinary and he is a difference maker. Still, Carolina does not have a shut down guy on defense and the Devils need to work that to their favor.
Niklas Havelid returned to the lineup against the Canes Saturday after suffering an upper body ailment. Havelid was effective in turning the puck over. The Devils cannot allow the Canes power-play goals like they did during the regular season meetings. Carolina defensiveman, Anton Babchuk, scored four goals on the power play in just two of those games. There cannot be a reoccurrence of that if New Jersey has their hopes pinned on round two of the post-season. To an extent, the Devils are the more talented team. But Carolina is athletic and have surprise players like Babchuk who appear to be trivialities but are really tormentors.
New Jersey won a franchise best 51 games this year, and the goaltending and defense were the main reasons. The Devils do not have a high-powered offense, but can win games on defense. They only allowed 2.52 goals per game. Carolina is not defensive slacker either, allowing just 2.70 goals on average. New Jersey’s penalty shooting might be the x-factor. Last year’s loss in the playoffs to the New York Rangers is still fresh in New Jersey’s mind. The pitfall left a sour taste in their mouths and I think the team will use that as a motivating factor against the Hurricanes. Carolina is a team on the rebound, however. They brought back a former coach, Paul Maurice, and fan favorite in Cole. The team did nothing but win, including a record 12 straight at home, down the stretch of the season. The Devils can win with execution and mistake-free skating but must stay out of the box. The team has had such a momentous and memorable year. Will it be enough to overcome the late success and turn around in Carolina? I predict a thrilling six game series, with New Jersey finally taking care of business.

Parting points: “They say the devil’s water, it ain’t so sweet”- The Killers’ “When We Were Young”