How the Carolina Hurricanes are managing the madness of a long NHL playoff break
The Buffalo Sabres‘ win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of their NHL playoff series Tuesday meant one thing for the Carolina Hurricanes: a longer wait.
The Sabres’ victory tied their Stanley Cup Playoffs series with the Canadiens at two games apiece. It also extended the second-round series — with the Canes sitting in Raleigh awaiting the winner.
Nothing new for the Hurricanes. After sweeping the Ottawa Senators in four games in the opening round, the Canes waited six days before facing the Philadelphia Flyers, creating the first rest-vs-rust debate.
.JPG "RAL_CANESFLYERS-SP-050226-RTW_18 (1).JPG")
The Canes answered that by sweeping the Flyers. But that, in turn, has led to even more downtime before the Eastern Conference final — possibly as many as 10 days.
“Recovery in the playoffs … you just don’t get that luxury all that often,” defenseman K’Andre Miller said Tuesday. “Any time you can get away from the rink and put up your legs and get your mind away from the ice and a stick and a puck is nice and is a good reset.”
And especially if you’re a new father.
Oh baby! Miller, Walker welcome family additions
Miller and Sean Walker each have had a new addition to their families.
Miller and his girlfriend, Addison Clark, had a baby boy, Kashton, on May 2. Walker and his wife, Taylor, welcomed a baby girl, Quinn, on Saturday.
“It’s probably the first time D partners have had babies in the same series, so it’s a pretty cool experience and I know we’re both really excited to be dads,” Miller said Tuesday.
With the Canes ending the series Saturday, Miller and Walker were back in Raleigh on Sunday and could take time for Mother’s Day, along with their teammates.
“That was awesome,” Miller said. “We both had our moms in town and obviously getting to celebrate our first Mother’s Day was unbelievable and everything you dream of and hope for.” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour was another who took advantage of having Mother’s Day as an off day.
“I actually thanked the guys for getting it done so quick,” he said Tuesday. “Instead of preparing for a (fifth) game and the added stress, worrying about all that, I got to bring my kid out here and skate. Like ‘Thank you.’ That’s a stress reliever and that’s a good day.”
Miller joked that with a number of fathers on the team he has had some “therapy talks” about being a new father.
Brind’Amour also offered a bit of fatherly advice.
“They get enough advice from me, on everything,” Brind’Amour said, grinning. “I certainly can help them in that area. First kids are always a little hairy, but that’s OK.
“Sometimes, it’s good to hear from somebody who’s been through it, and it’s like, ‘It’s going to be OK, it’s supposed to be a little bit crazy.’ And that’s the world they’re in right now.”
Staying sharp
The Hurricanes, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, will open the conference final at home in the first two games. If the Sabres and Canadiens go to seven games, that could be the middle of next week.
“It’s important for the guys to stay physically sharp but mentally it’s OK to kind of get away from it a little bit because the playoffs are a grind mentally and physically,” Brind’Amour said. “I think the mental rest is actually probably better for us than the physical rest.”
Canes captain Jordan Staal noted that after the break following the Ottawa series, the Canes jumped right back into play and took a 3-0 win over the Flyers in Game 1, scoring twice in the first period. “I think the guys were sharp,” Staal said. “We had a good week of working out and practicing and getting the bodies right. We’ll try to do the same and hopefully have the same start.”
