Unexpected duo

Few predicted Leafs, 'Canes to make it to Eastern final

This reminds me of the kid who always had to study to get good grades and the one kid (admit it, we all knew one) who seemingly did things their own way, yet somehow was able to post solid grades.

Meet the Hurricanes, the studious Xs & Os guys who get results by staying the course. Their counterparts on the Maple Leafs freelance, freewheel and meander along on feel, seemingly willing their way to the desired end result.

Now, circumstance has shaped these two teams in the postseason. Carolina has many of the same line combinations and defensive pairings intact as it employed most of the year. The Hurricanes' approach has been unwavering and consistent since September.

Toronto, meanwhile, has soldiered on despite injuries to several top players -- forced to play Game 7 of the second round with six players who played most of the season with St. John’s of the American Hockey League. In addition, Carolina slowly has built to this point in the anonymity of a new, developing southern market, far from the glare of the spotlight. The Maple Leafs deal with a media crush like no other, with every move and nuance scrutinized daily. They are an institution in devoted hockey territory.

Despite the differences in where they play and how they got to the conference finals, the two share the description of overachievers. In Toronto’s case, the moniker is more obvious, given the personnel hurdles. Centers Alyn McCauley and Travis Green have played marvelously in the absence of Mats Sundin and Darcy Tucker. Further, injuries to regular rearguards Dmitri Yushkevich and Jyrki Lumme, as well as developing youngster Karel Pilar, has blueliners Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe logging even more quality minutes than they otherwise would.

Leading the way through it all has been Gary Roberts, delivering just the right play at precisely the right time. He has backed up his emotionally charged brand of leadership with ferocious forechecking and monumental scoring.

Carolina has overachieved from the standpoint that young players have improved upon solid regular seasons to become important contributors in the postseason. Rookie Eric Cole and linemate Bates Battaglia have emerged to define the 'Canes as a big, strong team with wingers that can bang bodies, skate and score a little bit. Other youngsters growing up before our very eyes are the similarly large and swift forwards Jaroslav Svoboda and Josef Vasicek. Still, the glue is the leadership of Ron Francis. He has this team believing in itself, exhorting them to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the unpredictability of the Eastern Conference in this spring of 2002.

As it stands, Carolina has a matchup edge in the fact that all four of its lines are playing well right now, while Toronto is surviving with only two dependable lines and four defensemen. Some of the walking wounded should return for the Leafs, but this series might hinge on a couple of factors.

First, the strong board play of the 'Canes will be the toughest physical test yet for the Leafs.

Second, Carolina displays extreme discipline in its puck possession patterns, especially on faceoffs where the Hurricanes are unparalleled in their execution. The Leafs risk being run ragged if forced to chase for extended stretches.

Finally, the Hurricanes run a highly productive power play -- which is one area that has plagued the Leafs for most of the playoffs, although their penalty killing stabilized in the final two games against the Senators.

For the Leafs, their forecheck will test the Hurricanes' much-improved backline. This series will provide a clear indication of the true extent of their upgraded mobility because Toronto relies on aggressive up-ice pressure to create turnovers more than any team in hockey.

They engage their defensemen more so as well, meaning the backchecking discipline of Carolina’s forwards likewise will be paramount. Green on face-offs against Francis and Rod Brind’Amour will be telltale, as will the matchup of third lines. Jeff O’Neill went from the first line to the third line after his one-game suspension versus Montreal. That third line with Vasicek and Martin Gelinas was a factor offensively, something the Leafs' third line must counteract. A good place to start would be production from Robert Reichel, who has yet to score in the postseason.

For all the lines, though, offense cannot be a gamble. They must display consistency between the bluelines, relying on transition turnovers as well as forced turnovers in the offensive zone.

In goal, Curtis Joseph has been at his best when he absolutely had to be. His rebound control improved as Round 2 progressed, which is vital against a team like Carolina that forces pucks to the front of the net. Carolina’s Arturs Irbe re-establishes his game after taking over from Kevin Weekes in Game 4 of the Montreal series. His ability to handle the Leafs’ traffic in front will dictate his success. In the opening round, Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice switched to Weekes because he is bigger and being a V-styler, better suited to deal with the distractions crease congestion can cause a goaltender at this time of year.

Nevertheless, right down to the goaltenders, the two teams are interesting in their contrast, with the technically set ways of the Hurricanes and the distinctly unique ways of the Leafs.

It should be fun to watch this conference final unfold.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason for CNNSI.com.

 

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