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© St. Petersburg Times, published June 6, 2002
DETROIT -- Red Wings players said there is an easy way to break the trapping defense the Hurricanes used so effectively in Game 1.
Keep control of the puck and make crisp, tape-to-tape passes to exit the defensive zone and get through the neutral zone. Detroit did neither in Tuesday night's 3-2 loss.
Part of the problem, players said, was the soft and chipped ice at Joe Louis Arena.
"The ice is terrible right now," Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman said. "It's tough to make good passes."
"Obviously, at this time of the year, it isn't going to be outstanding," center Kris Draper said. "I'm sure they're doing their best to make it as good as they can, but it's warm and humid, and it's only going to get worse in Carolina."
There were other explanations. Yzerman said the Wings reacted poorly to forechecking pressure by the Hurricanes, who clogged the middle of the ice and tried to force Detroit to the side boards.
"Colorado was more of a counterattack team," he said of the Wings' opponent in the West final. "We had more time coming out of the zone. This team, they are D pinch on all your breakouts. They stand up in the zone and don't play a typical sit-back game. They play much more aggressive."
Right wing Brett Hull did not have patience for excuses.
"It was tough, but both teams have to play on it," he said of the ice. "This is the NHL and the finals. If you can't find guys who can pass, you're in trouble."
VISIBLE REFS: Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice was not surprised 13 penalties were called in Game 1 and said the trend could continue tonight in Game 2.
Maurice said the teams were warned by the league in a conference call Monday that officiating would be tight.
"We are aware that the standard was going to be held high in this series," he said.
Too high, according to Hurricanes defenseman Sean Hill. Of the hooking penalty on Carolina's Erik Cole with 1:41 remaining in regulation and the score tied at 2, Hill said, "Unless there's blood, you expect a no-call at that point."
LET'S PLAY FOUR (PERIODS): What is it with the Hurricanes and overtime? Carolina is 7-1 in the playoffs in extra periods.
That after playing 27 overtimes (6 wins, 16 ties) in the regular season.
"That's 35 overtime games for us this year, so we're certainly comfortable in that position," captain Ron Francis said.
"I just think we play our system and keep it simple," right wing Jeff O'Neill said. "We don't try to open it up too much, and we just try to grind it out for wins. Keep it simple and get pucks to the net."
ODDS AND ENDS: The Red Wings were fined $50,000 for not making some players available to the media after Game 1. ... Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman did not specify the injury but said Fredrick Olausson went for X-rays Wednesday. The coach said the defenseman missed two shifts Tuesday but returned to finish the game. ... Bowman criticized Brendan Shanahan, saying Game 1 "wasn't one of his better games." The left wing had one shot on goal and was minus-2. ... The Red Wings are 1-4 in overtime. ... Visiting teams are 10-2 in overtime in Stanley Cup final since 1990.