1. HOME IS WHERE THE PRESSURE IS
After the Hurricanes defended home ice in Games 1 and 2, the Oilers did the same Saturday. Despite the nature of Carolina's two wins, this series really won't get started until someone loses at home. And if the Hurricanes can do that to the Oilers tonight, they'll strike the biggest blow of the series yet.
2. JUMP-START STAAL
Whether he's fatigued or merely flummoxed, Eric Staal was held without a shot on goal for the first time in 22 playoff games Saturday. Since his 15-game point streak ended on May 26 he has no goals and three assists in six games. Staal helped get the Canes this far. They need more from him to finish the job.
One potential change: putting Cory Stillman back on Staal's left wing. The two spent almost the entire regular season together but were split up early in the playoffs.
3. ENFORCE DISCIPLINE
The Hurricanes have taken the Oilers' power play out of the series, killing off 19 of 20 Edmonton power plays, but they continue to put themselves in difficult positions with bad penalties. As impressive as it was, the Canes shouldn't have to kill seven penalties in a finals game. The more they go to the box, the more chances the Oilers have to score a few power-play goals -- and that could make things difficult.
4. SHARE THE LOAD
The Canes have asked Rod Brind'Amour, Stillman and Justin Williams to carry too much of the scoring load. Over the past five games, they have scored seven goals; the rest of the roster, nine. Matt Cullen hasn't scored since the second round and Staal hasn't scored in six games. The Canes are at their most dangerous when the goals are coming from everywhere, and a little secondary scoring would put a crimp in the Oilers' game plan to use Michael Peca, Ethan Moreau and Raffi Torres to check Brind'Amour's line.
5. TAKE THE CROWD OUT
The Hurricanes gave the Rexall Place crowd plenty to cheer about early in the game Saturday. Slow starts have been a problem for the Canes throughout the playoffs and they can't afford yet another tonight, or they'll hear about it from 16,839 screaming fans for 60 minutes.
After the Hurricanes defended home ice in Games 1 and 2, the Oilers did the same Saturday. Despite the nature of Carolina's two wins, this series really won't get started until someone loses at home. And if the Hurricanes can do that to the Oilers tonight, they'll strike the biggest blow of the series yet.
2. JUMP-START STAAL
Whether he's fatigued or merely flummoxed, Eric Staal was held without a shot on goal for the first time in 22 playoff games Saturday. Since his 15-game point streak ended on May 26 he has no goals and three assists in six games. Staal helped get the Canes this far. They need more from him to finish the job.
One potential change: putting Cory Stillman back on Staal's left wing. The two spent almost the entire regular season together but were split up early in the playoffs.
3. ENFORCE DISCIPLINE
The Hurricanes have taken the Oilers' power play out of the series, killing off 19 of 20 Edmonton power plays, but they continue to put themselves in difficult positions with bad penalties. As impressive as it was, the Canes shouldn't have to kill seven penalties in a finals game. The more they go to the box, the more chances the Oilers have to score a few power-play goals -- and that could make things difficult.
4. SHARE THE LOAD
The Canes have asked Rod Brind'Amour, Stillman and Justin Williams to carry too much of the scoring load. Over the past five games, they have scored seven goals; the rest of the roster, nine. Matt Cullen hasn't scored since the second round and Staal hasn't scored in six games. The Canes are at their most dangerous when the goals are coming from everywhere, and a little secondary scoring would put a crimp in the Oilers' game plan to use Michael Peca, Ethan Moreau and Raffi Torres to check Brind'Amour's line.
5. TAKE THE CROWD OUT
The Hurricanes gave the Rexall Place crowd plenty to cheer about early in the game Saturday. Slow starts have been a problem for the Canes throughout the playoffs and they can't afford yet another tonight, or they'll hear about it from 16,839 screaming fans for 60 minutes.
