Gold: Game 7...(part two)

By Adam Gold radio host 99.9 the Fan

One of the great American philosophers, Lawrence Berra, once noted after it seemed an instance to be familiar, “It’s deja vu all over again.” Yogi had a way with words, once advising anyone who would listen, “when you come to the fork in the road take it.”

We can learn a lot from Yogi.

If it seems like we’ve been here before it’s only because we have. Sixteen days ago, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Boston Bruins, 3-2, in Game 7 of their opening-round series. On Monday night, they’ll try to do the same to the New York Rangers and continue a pattern that has seen the home team win every game so far in the series – again.

There’s no real explanation other than, well, hockey. I understand that it’s not a widely-held opinion, but the Hurricanes could have won all three games in New York. They weren’t necessarily better than the Rangers in any of the three games, but they were all there for the taking given a bounce or an opportunity cashed-in, especially early in games.

But, that’s in the past. Tonight is its own animal and it has nothing to do with what happened Saturday night, or Thursday at PNC Arena (a 3-1, Canes win) or just over two weeks ago when Carolina dispatched Boston with a deceptively dominant Game 7 win. Every game is its own thing. And, Game 7’s are probably even more of a crap shoot because everything is heightened.

The preparation. The emotion. The stakes.

Here's what doesn't matter. It's immaterial that the Hurricanes have yet to lose at home this post season. 7-0 doesn't help you get to 8-0.  It's also of no relevance that the Hurricanes have never lost a Game 7 since relocation.  Carolina can become the only team in NHL history to win seven straight Game 7's with a win tonight and the fact that they're 6-0 in such situations has no bearing at all on getting the 7th.  Like every game of the playoffs, it is its own entity.

Tony DeAngelo, a target of the New York fans’ ire has the right mindset, “it’s fun, right? Your season’s on the line, and it takes a lot of character for the team to go out and play the right way”, DeAngelo said Sunday.

Well, for as much as has been made of Carolina’s road woes, now 0-6 in the playoffs, maybe we should really focus on the fact that the Canes haven’t yet lost on home ice.

“We love playing in front of this crowd”, DeAngelo said through a smile. ‘It’s much louder than Madison Square Garden … It’s a big energy boost for us. We’ll try and get the first goal and get the crowd into it early.”

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour has been involved in every single Game 7 in team history. The first four as a player were all successful, and he’s trying to make it 3 for 3 behind the bench.

“You’re always more nervous as a coach”, Brind’Amour said. “As a player you only have to worry about you. As a coach you have to worry about 20 guys.”

Maybe the worst part for Brind’Amour is how helpless he can feel in a suit.

“You really aren’t in control of much”, Rod joked. “You put the game plan in, then you just sit back and watch.”

Like baseball, 90% of Game 7 is mental and the other half is physical. Yogi would have made a great hockey coach. Buckle up for Game 7.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…there will be none…

Teravainen-Aho-Jarvis

Svechnikov-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Fast

Martinook-Kotkaniemi-Domi

Slavin-DeAngelo

Skjei-Pesce

Smith-Cole

Raanta

Wanna bet…?

ML: Carolina -145/New York +125. O/U: 5.5 goals.

Coverage of Game 7 rolls at 7 p.m. on 99.9 the Fan with Storm Watch starring Dennis Cox. Opening face off of the Hurricanes and Rangers comes just after 8 p.m. Don’t forget to follow the Canes Corner Podcast.  A new episode drops the #MorningAfter every Hurricanes game.