Hurricanes-Canadiens in NHL Eastern Conference Final: Rest vs. rust debate rages
The debate persisted as the Carolina Hurricanes waited, and waited, for the Eastern Conference Final to begin: rest vs rust.
The Canes were to enter Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday after an 11-day break between Game 4 of the Philadelphia Flyers series on May 9 and the ECF opener.
The Canes have spent that time resting and practicing, putting in extended family time, swapping new-baby stories, playing some golf, giving interviews … you name it. But has it been too much for a team that won its first eight playoff games in a pair of four-game sweeps?
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said despite mixing in some intense practices, there was no way to fully simulate a playoff game and the pace of the game. Rest is good, he said, especially mentally. But there could be some early rust as the Canes try to get back up to speed.
To which Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, with a nod to Brind’Amour’s coaching, said Thursday: “I’d be shocked if they show any rust.”
The Canadiens, after winning a pair of 7-game series, practiced Wednesday in Montreal before the team flight but did not hold a morning skate Thursday at Lenovo Center. The Canes did go through a morning skate, with a full complement of players.
“I’m excited,” Canes winger Seth Jarvis said. “I’m ready to play. We need to make sure we come out ready and take advantage of home ice. Just stick to our game.”
Habs’ Dobson has playoff feel for Canes
Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson has a good feel for “playoff Hurricanes hockey.” He played for the New York Islanders when the Canes beat them in playoff series in the first round in 2023 and 2024.
“I’m familiar with how they play,” Dobson said Thursday before the game. “It’s high pressure. They’re in your face. You’ve got to be ready and expect their pressure and play through it.
“Their forecheck is a huge part of their game. We’re going to need to be good on breakouts, support each other, use our legs and try to make plays and try to break their pressure. If we can do that we’ll be playing with the puck more and play in the O-zone. Definitely a key part of the series.”
Dobson was traded to Montreal by the Isles after last season and signed an eight-year, $76 million extension.
Canes need power-play improvement
The Canes believe their power play has to be more productive to keep moving forward in the playoffs. Carolina has five power-play goals on 37 opportunities — 13.5%.
“Obviously, it’s not the results we wanted,” defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said Thursday. “But we have two really good (power play) units in the sense of if one’s not going the other can get the chance and go.”
The Canes have scored two power-play goals in a game once in the playoff run — Game 3 against the Flyers. They were 3-fo-18 in the Flyers series.
“For us it’s about being more direct,” Gostisbehere said. “Being more direct and the puck going to the net and we had traffic there. When power plays aren’t going too well ... it’s definitely tougher in the playoffs where you’re playing the same team night-in and night-out. You need to simplify and go back to the well and back to the basics.”
‘The Rope’ is hanging around
The Hurricanes this season started a postgame tradition of handing off “The Rope” after each win, going to the player who figured prominently in winning.
Winger Jackson Blake, whose overtime goal in Game 4 ended the Flyers series, was given “The Rope” by Canes captain Jordan Staal. It has hung in his locker stall at Lenovo Center since May 9.
“It’s always cool to receive it but even cooler to give it off to someone, to see the smile on their face,” Blake said Thursday.
