The biggest obstacle facing the Carolina Hurricanes this evening and throughout the entire series will be the very same obstacle that the Flyers and Capitals had to face in their respective series against Pissburgh. Without question it'll come down to the number of Cane penalties assessed in turn leading to the number of Penguin powerplays awarded both tonight and in the geames ahead. It cost the Flyers heavily, particularly in game two when they were robbed by refereee Bill McCreary both in the dying minutes of regulation and again in OT, and Washington suffered a huge disadvantage as well when it came to fending off powerplays.
There is nothing the Hurricanes can or will be able to do about it as they'll be hit or called unjustly time and time again with questionable calls. The question will be whether or not they can weather the storm, get excellent penalty killing from Brind'Amour and company and limit the damage as best they can each time they're forced to play shorthanded. That's what this series will boil down to in the end, that being how well Carolina can fend off Pissbugh's numerous powerplays.
@)
There is nothing the Hurricanes can or will be able to do about it as they'll be hit or called unjustly time and time again with questionable calls. The question will be whether or not they can weather the storm, get excellent penalty killing from Brind'Amour and company and limit the damage as best they can each time they're forced to play shorthanded. That's what this series will boil down to in the end, that being how well Carolina can fend off Pissbugh's numerous powerplays.
@)
