 |
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Offensive offense Hurricanes need sudden scoring outburst to extend finalsPosted: Wednesday June 12, 2002 7:31 PM
DETROIT (AP) -- After scoring 17 goals in the final three games against Montreal in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Carolina Hurricanes had it figured out -- or so they thought. Now struggling in the Stanley Cup finals, the 8-2 series clinching win over the Canadiens seems like light years ago, not four weeks. The Hurricanes have managed just 16 goals in 10 playoffs games since their scoring outburst and head into Game 5 against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night in one of the worst offensive skids of the year. Carolina hasn't scored in more than 127 minutes to fall into a 3-1 hole in the best-of-seven series. "I need to give them something they can sink their teeth into for this game," said coach Paul Maurice, whose team sits on the brink of elimination in its first trip to the Cup finals. The Hurricanes were able to get by Toronto in the Eastern finals by winning three overtime games with two goals each, but the Red Wings have allowed Carolina a total of six goals in four games to frustrate the normally poised team. Carolina's offense is centered on quick puck movement from its defense, which creates speed through the neutral zone and leads to a nagging forechecking game. That worked for Carolina in Game 1 of the series, a 3-2 win in overtime. However, Detroit has changed tactics. The Red Wings have pressured Carolina's defenders more, slowing movement out of the zone. That has put the Hurricanes in the neutral zone on their heels, not in attack mode. "The bottom line is we've got to start scoring some goals," Glen Wesley said. "For us to forecheck we've got to be getting to the red line with a lot of speed. That's where our forecheck and our cycle game can create a lot of havoc and opportunities. "There is no reason we can't make an adjustment. We've done it in the past and made ourselves better." Maurice tried to jump-start his offense in a 3-0 loss in Game 4 by breaking up the BBC line, swapping Bates Battaglia and Sami Kapanen. The results weren't eye-opening Saturday night. "With our team and the way we're structured, one or two changes does not often make a huge difference in the look of our team," Maurice said. "That's been part of our strength because we're pretty consistent as a group in terms of how we play. "You're not really changing a whole lot except to potentially break any chemistry that is existing. So, you've got to be careful with that." And, when things are going bad offensively, breaks never seem to come. Carolina was poised to tie Game 4 at 1-1 in the second period when Ron Francis slid the puck under Dominik Hasek, but it went off the far post and came right back to the Detroit goalie, who covered the puck. "At this point in the year you want to get going offensively and bring something to the table," said Kapanen, who has just one goal in 22 playoff games after a career-high 27 in the regular season. In the end, Carolina will look to Maurice, his coaching staff and leaders like Francis and Rod Brind'Amour to pull the club out of its offensive funk. "You understand that your team watches you and reacts to all things -- your body language and what you say," Maurice said. "The guys who lead this team -- and that's the coach and the veteran players -- have to show that fight in them that they are going to keep doing their jobs." |
|
|||||||||
| |||||||||||
