No one was concussed by Jersey hitman Scott Stevens, and the Canes spent far less time reeling backward from the checks the Devils laid on them. On this night, Carolina struck a perfect balance between the finesse that they usually display and the strength needed to survive in the postseason. If anything, it seemed as if the savvy Devils were off their game. Two of the Canes' goals came on power plays and New Jersey was hit with nine penalties, five more than its opponent. But no one is to blame.
Emotions run high in playoff hockey.
We just played very average, and we lost. Carolina coach Paul Maurice, whose team notched its first-ever postseason triumph in Raleigh, saw the game as another step in the maturation process of the Hurricanes, who are, as a group, inexperienced in the ways of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But help is likely on the way in the forms of right wing Shane Willis and center Ron Francis, who were both knocked out of action by Stevens checks earlier in the series. After the game, Maurice said there was a good chance both would be in uniform for Game 5. Regardless of who suits up for the club, Carolina center Rod Brind'Amour knows his side can't afford a letdown.