'Canes remain focused heading into potential clincher

BOSTON -- The Carolina Hurricanes know they are in a good position heading into Sunday night's Game 5 (7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN, RDS), leading the heavily favored Boston Bruins by a 3-1 margin. But the Hurricanes also know how precarious that position is.

Three years ago, Carolina had the upstart Edmonton Oilers -- the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference -- on the brink of elimination in Game 5, yet found itself playing a tense Game 7 a few nights later before finally prevailing and winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Forward Erik Cole was a member of that Cup-winning team, but he says that he is not thinking about 2006. Yet, he allows that the experience gleaned from that triumph -- as well as the dramatic come-from-behind series victory against New Jersey in the first round this spring, has Carolina in the right frame of mind to handle an elimination game.

"We're a group that really just, you know, won't let ourselves wander, or let our minds get out of the proper focus that is going to be needed to beat these guys," Cole said. "Our first series (against New Jersey) was an absolute grind, physically as well as it was mentally. And this series has been the same way; every game has been a real tough battle and the toughest battle is yet to come."

Coach Paul Maurice also likes the mental fortitude his team has shown throughout this series, not only coming back from a 4-1 shellacking in Game 1 to win the next three games, but also in countering the few offensive revivals Boston has managed in the past three games.

He is stressing to his team that they are not out of the woods yet.

"We came in as underdogs because we are," Maurice said, refusing to deviate from the message he has spouted since beating New Jersey in Game 7. "They are the best team -- points-wise -- left in the playoffs.

"We're in a stronger position than even we might given thought to coming into (Game 5). Everybody has a challenge in every game. The Bruins have one tonight and so do the Hurricanes. We have to come in and prepare ourselves for a team that's going to come out and not leave anything; they are going to give it all tonight. We're going to try to do the things that we do well and they are going to try to do the things they do well and it's going to be exciting."

The Canes have responded well to the even-keel attitude that Maurice has brought to the team. Cole says it has helped the team maintain the focus that has allowed them to overcome every adverse situation since this team started its playoff push back in February.

"It has to do a lot with the coaching staff and the leadership," Cole says. "They are the voices in this room and they are the guys that can dictate the mood one way or another."

As far as lineup changes go, it does not appear there will be any for Carolina. Fourth-line forward Ryan Bayda is still sidelined by the flu, meaning that Tim Conboy will replace him for the second-straight game.