Hurricanes taking nothing for granted vs. Islanders: ‘No such thing as breathing room’
In many ways, it was the most memorable Game 5 in Carolina Hurricanes playoff history.
Just mention Fernando Pisani — and Canes fans remember.
And Rod Brind’Amour.
In 2006, the Canes were on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup — or so many believed. They led the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in the Cup final, had Game 5 at home and were poised to end it and celebrate well into the night.
And then Pisani scored for the Oilers. In overtime. Shorthanded.
The Oilers went home, won Game 6 and soon the Hurricanes were caught up in a tense Game 7 before winning 3-1 to finally get their hands on the Cup — Brind’Amour, as captain, the first to raise it.
The playoffs are like that. There are constant ebbs and flows, and the feeling of security in having a 3-1 series lead can evaporate as quickly as you can say “Goal by Fernando Pisani.”
Which brings us to the here and now and the Hurricanes and their Game 5 matchup Tuesday with the New York Islanders at PNC Arena.
“If we win this next game it’s a total new series again,” Isles forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau said Monday at New York’s media availability. “We know that, they know that.”
The Canes did a lot of things right Sunday in beating the Islanders 5-2 in Game 4 to take the 3-1 lead. They scored first, never gave up the lead, managed the puck well and got another strong, quality start from goalie Antti Raanta in winning the road game at UBS Arena.
Now, they’re back home, where they won the first two games of the series. The reception at PNC Arena should be long and loud. It’s home ice and it should be an advantage.
Brind’Amour said there could be a false sense of security that his team might need to guard against in Game 5.
“For sure. We understand this series has been tight and a play here or there is the difference in any game,” the Canes coach said Monday. “We know what we’re getting into (Tuesday) night. They’re not going away. We have to make sure we’re at our best.”
As defenseman Brent Burns said after Sunday’s game, the Islanders also have a “vote” in how things will go down. They’ll come in determined to take the series back to UBS Arena on Friday for a Game 6.
“The next game is our focus. That’s all we can control,” Isles coach Lane Lambert said Monday. “This series has been even. You look at the even-strength scoring chances, we’re ahead of them even strength. We have all the optimism in the world.”
Even in the 5-2 loss in Game 4, the Islanders were credited with more scoring chances and matched the Canes in high-danger chances in 5-on-5 play (naturalstattrick.com.)
The Hurricanes understand all that. They know what goes into winning in the playoffs. They know a 3-1 series lead assures them of nothing.
“There’s no such thing as breathing room in the playoffs,” forward Stefan Noesen said Monday. “We know we’re going to get their best effort, one way or the other. They’ve been doing it all series and this game I expect nothing less.”
It will be physical, again. The Islanders will come hard, again. There could be some shenanigans after the whistles, again.
“Playoff hockey,” Noesen said. “If you don’t like it, you shouldn’t be playing it.
“It is what it is and you’ve got to battle through it. You’ve got to grind. You’ve got to earn it. The playoffs are all about earning it. Grinding. Going through the wringer.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
