With Stanley Cup Final in sight, why ‘tunnel vision’ is key for Hurricanes
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Hurricanes return home for Game 5 vs the Montreal Canadiens.
- Brind’Amour urges the team to keep 'tunnel vision'—next shift, next play.
- Frederik Andersen recorded his third shutout of the playoffs in Game 4.
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour isn’t one to reflect, much less dwell, on past history.
Those who know Brind’Amour know his only focus is on the first shift of the next game. Or in the Canes’ case, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Hurricanes will be on home ice Friday, with the fans thundering and wanting to finish off the Habs with a fourth straight win in the series. The Canadiens looked a little like a team ready to put away the sticks for the season in a 4-0 loss Wednesday in Game 4, especially during a generally lifeless third period that had Habs fans leaving the Bell Centre early.
But Brind’Amour knows better. After the Canes won the 2006 Stanley Cup, he once likened it to climbing Mount Everest, knowing you can slip and fall at any point. The potential pitfalls are many before you reach the summit.
As much as the Canes want to reach the Stanley Cup Final, with a chance to win the franchise a second Cup, Brind’Amour can flash back to the 2006 Final.
The Hurricanes took a 3-1 lead in the series with the Edmonton Oilers. They came home for Game 5, ready to win and lift the Cup and party all night. The Canes also had a power play in overtime and that seemed the opportunity to finish it off.
And then the Oilers’ Fernando Pisani scored shorthanded to win it. The Oilers won Game 6. Suddenly, the Hurricanes were in Game 7, with the Cup on the line. The series flipped that quickly.
Brind’Amour, the team captain in ‘06, may or may not bring that bit of history up with his team, although it will always be in the back of his mind, a personal memory of what can happen.
Canes need ‘tunnel vision’
What Brind’Amour will do is continue to press his team to keep the “tunnel vision” that Canes captain Jordan Staal mentioned Wednesday at the Bell Centre before Game 4.
“It’s about staying consistent and true to our identity and what we want to do,” Staal said. “We’ve done that consistently and it shows in the results.
“It’s always the same story. It’s next shift, next play, next faceoff, next whatever. You have to focus on what you’re doing and what we’re trying to accomplish. You have to have that tunnel vision and I think we’ve done a good job with that.”
This Canes team has one thing in sight: the Cup, There has been little celebrating after playoff wins or series wins. A few group hugs, for sure, but more low-key than wild jubilation. The Canes’ eyes are on the Cup and they said they will not allow themselves to get too far ahead of themselves.
“That’s what this is all about,” Brind’Amour said Wednesday. “You’ve got to be in the moment. You’ve got to focus.
“That’s a long road, and if you think about it that way, it’s real tough. Every day that comes your way you have to be dialed in and worry about tomorrow when it comes.”
Methodical play key for Canes
The Canes marched through the first two series with Ottawa and then the Philadelphia Flyers. They absorbed the 6-2 loss to Montreal in Game 1 of the conference final, turned that page quickly and have won the past three.
Nikolaj Ehlers won Game 2 in overtime. The Canes quickly celebrated and moved on. They won Game 3 in overtime, on Andrei Svechnikov’s goal. They celebrated and moved on. Their win in Game 4 was clinical, methodical.
Everyone did their part. Ehlers, more the speedy skater than a heavy banger, had a heavy hit. Shayne Gostisbehere, more of an offensive defenseman, blocked three shots.
“We’re going to do whatever we need to do to win,” Gostisbehere said. “You look at the skill guys, they’re blocking shots, too. The grinders, so called, on our team, they do it every night. For me, it was my time.”
Goaltender Frederik Andersen, who earned his third shutout of the playoffs, appreciated that kind of work in front of him. The Canadiens had three shots in the third period and 18 in the game.
“We take a lot of pride in that kind of effort and it’s the whole 200 feet,” Andersen said. “The work ethic and commitment to the game plan is huge. It’s hard work, but it’s smart work, too.
“We’ve been very good on keeping our focus on right now. Throughout the whole playoffs, I think we’ve been really good in turning the page and coming to work the next day. We want to keep it going.”
And avoid the kind of pitfalls Brind’Amour remembers.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
