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Patience is a virtue Wings played the waiting game well to even up seriesPosted: Friday June 07, 2002 2:25 AM
The Detroit Red Wings reminded everyone that they can play a patient game, too. Much has been made of Carolina’s attention to detail and with good reason, because the Hurricanes rarely beat themselves. They force their opponents to be mindful of the little things and dare them to be as diligent. On this night, the veteran-laced lineup from Hockeytown proved up to the task. Was it easy? Not by a long shot, but with a championship on the line, it isn’t supposed to be. Again, the 'Canes put themselves in position to win a low-scoring affair. This time, though, they uncharacteristically undermined their own best efforts. After killing off six Red Wings power plays, Martin Gelinas took an undisciplined slashing penalty on Mathieu Dandenault as he was galloping down the right side through the neutral zone. Funny how poor penalties usually cost you more than those taken out of necessity -- say, to thwart a sure scoring chance. Sure enough, Detroit made Gelinas pay for his indiscretion. They finally broke through with the man advantage, with Nicklas Lidstrom one-timing a blast over the glove hand of Arturs Irbe.
The other telling element from that game-winning goal was where the shot went: high to the glove side. All three Detroit markers sailed over the catching hand of Irbe. Lidstrom explained to me that the Red Wings feel that Irbe is quick to cover the bottom of the net when forced to move laterally, so they wanted to get their shots high in that situation. Shooting high was also borne of necessity as much as it was a strategy of the Red Wings, given the Hurricanes' outstanding shot blocking. They collectively stopped more shots than their netminder through two periods -- a display of selfless hockey that had the Wings' shooters grumbling at times. You could sense their exasperation, yet they never appeared desperate. They stayed with their varied approach in getting through the neutral zone, skating and passing much more crisply than in the first outing of the series. Detroit was back in full-throttle puck possession mode, making it difficult for Carolina to mount any kind of attack. Still, it took a dazzling doorstep stop by Dominik Hasek on Bates Battaglia to keep the score tied at one early in the third, thus denying the 'Canes the opening and lead they were seeking. After that stop, the Red Wings went to work, dominating the action. The Hurricanes finally blinked in this staring contest -- a test of wills, to be sure -- with Gelinas committing the avoidable infraction. But the Red Wings went into this game with their eyes wide open, recognizing what adjustments were necessary to see their way to victory.
Three Stars1. Lidstrom: Fabulous in all phases of the game while playing in every situation. Does this guy ever get tired? 2. Kris Draper: He and his Grind Line mates Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty were at their pot-stirring best. Draper, in particular, agitated the 'Canes to distraction all night long. 3. Sergei Fedorov: He was brilliant throughout in his puck pursuit and penalty killing. Early in the first, he set the tone by swooping back to his own end with the puck when the neutral zone was clogged with 'Canes, regrouping on the attack instead of forcing the play through traffic. Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason for CNNSI.com. Eliot will be joining Sam Rosen and Gary Green on NHL Radio's broadcasts of the Stanley Cup finals. |
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