EDMONTON -- The Carolina Hurricanes' defense is suddenly under the microscope as the Stanley Cup Final
reaches its critical point.
The Hurricanes may be entering Saturday's Game 6 with a three-games-to-two lead in this best-of-seven series,
but, by most accounts, Edmonton has seized the momentum with Wednesday's stunning OT win at RBC Center.
"Let them have it," Laviolette said of the mostly mythical momentum. "We don't like momentum. Never works ... hasn't worked for us in two rounds. Let them have it."
While Laviolette can be glib about the vagaries of momentum -- which has never won a game by itself, instead requiring the necessary on-ice effort as a complement -- it is easy to understand why many observers are now handing the advantage in this series to the Oilers.
All one has to do is look at Carolina's battered blue line at the end of Game 5.
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Schedule / Links:
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| Gm. 1: CAR 5, EDM 4 | Photos |
| Gm. 2: CAR 5, EDM 0 | Photos |
| Gm. 3: EDM 2, CAR 1 | Photos |
| Gm. 4: CAR 2, EDM 1 | Photos |
| Gm. 5: EDM 4, CAR 3 OT | Photos |
Gm. 6: June 17, 8:00 p.m. ET
at Edmonton (NBC, CBC, RDS) |
*Gm. 7: June 19, 8:00 p.m. ET
at Carolina (NBC, CBC, RDS) |
| *if necessary |
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Aaron Ward, one of Carolina's most physical defenseman, missed more than half the game with an unspecified
injury. He returned late in the third period to take a regular shift, but was caught working over the smelling salts pretty good on the bench.
Glen Wesley, the team's most veteran defenseman and adept shot blocker, labored through Game 5, often
hunched over on the bench dealing with a protesting body. Twenty-three postseason games of wear-and-tear have
taken their toll and a nasty Mike Peca cross-check late in the first period of Game 5 certainly did not help
matters.
The 33-year-old Bret Hedican, in the absence of Ward and the limited availability of Wesley, played close
to 26 minutes in the game. Niclas Wallin played six more minutes than his playoff average. Frantisek Kaberle
played a little less than his 18:30 and was on the ice -- and out of position, according to many -- for the
game-winning goal.
That empirical evidence gives credence to the theory that Edmonton's punishing forecheck attack is
succeeding in wearing down the Hurricanes. All along, Edmonton believed this to be the case, but it has taken
until two-thirds of the way through the series for the cracks to begin to show.
Hedican, who can skate all day and has the speed and smarts to avoid all but the rarest of body checks,
insists that too much is being made of the strain being put on Carolina's backline because of injury and
ineffectiveness.
"I mean, obviously, it takes its toll after a while," Hedican said. "If you play a whole series like that,
it would certainly take its toll. Fortunately, we got Aaron back (in Game 5). Obviously, Edmonton's been
playing a lot with four D, so they've got to be feeling the pain, as well. We're a group, where all six guys
play and play even minutes."
That collective effort has been Carolina's formula for success throughout its amazing regular season and
the first three round of the playoffs. Now, to a degree, that formula is being threatened. But, Carolina's
confidence remains.
Especially after Ward declared himself fit Friday for tomorrow night's game. With tongue planted firmly in
cheek, Ward insisted he didn't suffer an injury in Wednesday's game; rather he was being helped with an
unspecified problem.
"I'm not injured, they had to fix something," he said Friday, a Cheshire cat grin slowly creeping over his face
until it broke into a full smile. "I tried to keep a straight face!"
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Aaron Ward, one of Carolina's most physical defensemen, missed more than half of Game 5 with an unspecified injury, returning late in the third period.
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So, while there is certainly an unspecified injury somewhere on Ward's body -- head, shoulder or foot, or
perhaps a combination of all three -- Ward did take part in practice Friday at Rexall Place and was his usually exuberant
self. He even scored an early goal in the team's breakaway drill, roofing one past Martin Gerber. After that,
he spent his time razzing teammates as they tried to score.
"It was probably my best practice of the year -- shelved one on 'Gerbs,' told him about it and then got
off the ice."
Come hell or high water, he will be on the ice Saturday night, he says.
"Thirty-three years old and raring to go. It doesn't get any better than this. Actually it could
(get better). If I took my shirt off and you saw what I'm working with, I'm slightly handicapped in the
genetic end of things. But, I'm working with what I got."
Not only does Ward's return help, but Carolina has incredible depth at the position.
The Hurricanes have sometime dressed seven defenseman in these playoffs, using veteran Oleg Tverdovsky as
an insurance policy to cover for other defensemen that might be hurt. Tverdovsky dressed
in Game 2, but only played two minutes and 20 seconds -- all in the third period after the decision had been
well decided in Carolina's favor in an eventual 5-0 victory.
But Tverdovsky, 30, is more than a stop-gap measure. He is a well-seasoned vet with almost 700 regular-
season games under his belt. He also has 45 playoff games to his credit, including 15 appearances with the
Devils during their Stanley Cup championship in 2003.
That depth gives Carolina confidence to stay the course. Plus, at the most, there are only two games left
in the season. At this point, Hedican says, players will gladly take on extra minutes to reach their goal of
winning the Stanley Cup.
Plus, Hedican believes that the attrition is affecting both teams equally; although it is obviously more
clearly etched in the faces and bodies of Carolina at this point in the series. But, Hedican feels that
Carolina can change the balance of that equation by playing more to its strengths.
"We're a fast team and when we are not using our assets, we're not very good," Hedican said. "We have to
do the things we are good at, which is skate with the puck, get it in deep, working their D that play a lot.
Obviously (Chris) Pronger and (Jason) Smith play a lot and we have to make it hard on them."
Just like the Oilers have made it hard on Carolina up to this point.
