CANES ROUT DEVILS TO EVEN SERIES AT 3-3

Erik Staal scored twice in a span of three minutes in the second period and goaltender Cam Ward posted his third career playoff shutout as the gritty Carolina Hurricanes blitzed the New Jersey Devils 4-0 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC on Sunday.  The ‘canes victory tied the opening round NHL playoff series at 3-3, forcing a decisive game 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday night. 

Down 3-2 and facing elimination, Carolina’s Ray Whitney said that his team was more relaxed before the game than at any point all season:

"I guess when you have nothing really to lose, other than being gone, you can play a little bit more relaxed."

Devils head coach Brent Sutter concurred, adding a warning for his team:

"The difference in tonight was, a team that played like there was no tomorrow and the other team played like there was. When that happens, usually the team that plays like there is another tomorrow will end up on the wrong side."

Whitney gave Carolina a 1-0 first period lead on his goal at 10:32 assisted by Erik Staal and Chad LaRose.  Erik Staal went to work in the second period, with Whitney assisting on both of his goals.  Chad LaRose got credit for the second assist as Staal scored at 4:44 to make it 2-0, and Tim Gleason got the other assist on his goal at 7:30 as the Hurricanes opened up a three goal advantage.  Jussi Jokinen’s power play goal midway through the final period would give Carolina their 4-0 final margin of victory, with assists to Ray Whitney and Joe Corvo.

Carolina outshot New Jersey 37 to 28, though ‘canes coach Paul Maurice was quick to point out that fewer shots can be a problematic situation for a goaltender:

"Ward did sit for a long time without facing many shots. But it doesn't mean the next shot down, even if it's not a great shot, it could change the course of the game, with the pressure and the ramification of every shot in an elimination game. Very difficult for a goaltender, but you're seeing the reason why both of those guys are that good. ... He has really been the backbone of our team."

A game 7 is definitely appropriate for what has been a very closely contested series.  New Jersey won game one 4-1, and Carolina won easily on Sunday but the other four games in the series have all been decided by a single goal—including an OT victory by New Jersey and a victory by Carolina on a goal with .02 seconds left to play.