Erik Cole on if there's any similarities to this Carolina Hurricanes team to previous ones

Tonight, Hurricanes and Devils, Game 5, Eastern Conference Semifinals. There weren't a lot of people who gave Carolina much of a chance to get through this series when the playoffs began. I think everybody assumed it would be the Rangers.

I did, didn't. I mean, I thought the Rangers-Devils series was always going to be a tough one. And the Devils proved to be the better team as they were during the regular season.

But maybe a better matchup for Carolina. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. And the one in 2002, the first time you made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Yeah. Well, I think that's definitely true in some aspects. But I can't really say that in that 01-02 year that we had quite the success that this team has had in this season. And I think that, you know, back then when it was, you know, the different divisions and you just, you were guaranteed a, you know, a top spot if you, if you won, you know, one of the divisions. And so, I mean, we finished, you know, winners of the Southeast, but we were, you know, in a third seed, but we had teams, you know, below us, you know, in the playoff seeding that, you know, had more points than us.

Right. So it's a little different now, obviously, with all the changes that have happened. But I just think, you know, with that season, we came back from Olympic break and made a really strong push to just become a tougher team to play against on, you know, several different levels where, you know, we got better at creating turnovers and, and we got even better. At knowing and understanding what to do with those turnovers and how to, you know, turn them into offense. Whereas I think, you know, this group here, as they've done for the last several years, including this year, you know, they just skate teams into the ground and forecheck and are just, you know, back checking hard through the middle.

Everyone plays, you know, good, sound team defense. So, um, I think that, you know, with, with how their first round series, you know, went and, um, you know, it was, it was kind of like a, a slugfest as a, you know, we probably had a little bit with New Jersey back in 02. Um, you know, the second round's been, you know, completely different. And you look at the two games in Jersey that are both lopsided victories for each team.

I don't think, I don't think too many people would have expected that. I mean, the goals, the hurricanes have scored at least four goals in six of the 10 games. I was told, I was promised that the hurricanes had a goal scoring problem in the playoffs. Um, were you surprised at, I guess the last say, let's just say the last 30 minutes of game four in that there wasn't a ton, it almost seems like the Devils were resigned to their fate in that game.

Yeah, there wasn't, um, quite the pushback that you would expect. And I, you know, I think, you know, some of that, you know, has to come from the players or some of it also has to come from behind the bench and, you know, kind of pushing the right buttons and, you know, making changes and things like that. Um, but yeah, it, it, it seemed as though, you know, that, that stretch in the second period really, you know, not only took the wind out of the sails of the Devils, but the Devils fans. I think that that was actually one of the, um, more brilliant things about the broadcast that day when they were showing all the fans that were getting up and taken off, uh, out of the arena. Yeah, really early in, you know, and for a playoff game, you don't see that very much. No, man, for, uh, for all the money you spend people leaving in the set at the end of two, there were people asleep in the stands. Eric Cole is joining us here on the Adam Gold show.

I talked to Rod about this all the time. We talk about players who don't always score, but is, is a, is the way Jordan Martinook plays. Is, is his game just ideally suited for playoff hockey, especially when he's healthy? Yeah, yes, it is. Um, it's very, you know, it's a lot more difficult to, to play like that over an 82 game season. Yeah.

And, and it's just because of the wear and tear that comes with it. Um, but when you, you get to the playoffs and, you know, the schedule kind of shifts a little bit and you're playing every other day and you're able to, you know, rest and recoup on the, the days in between the games, it's, it's a, it's a bit more manageable, especially if you're playing, you know, in the playoffs. Um, you know, if you're healthy, if you're, if you're healthy, you know, when you get into the playoffs with an injury, um, yeah, you're, you're not, you're not wiping that off your, off your plate anytime through the playoffs, I can, I can, I can speak to that. So it's, uh, you know, with, with how well he's, he's, you know, he's having success, I mean, he's been, he's been in a good role for him, uh, pretty much the entire season and he's, he's making good plays.

So, you know, for him to, I think he's got what, nine points in this series. Yes. Yeah. So it's, yeah, it's great. I mean, it's great to see.

Did you ever have nine points in a playoff series? Uh, I honestly don't know. I should have looked it up, but I, I honestly don't know. I, I gotta be honest with you. I don't keep kind of, I don't keep those kinds of stats in my back pocket.

I don't blame you. And I'm sure Martin doesn't either. He had no points in the Islander series.

I thought he was one of their best players in that series as well. Uh, what would your approach be to a game like this tonight? Where, you know, you don't want to board a plane because, especially because New Jersey is just young enough and skilled enough and dangerous enough to be a problem. Well, you always want to finish a team off when you have the opportunity. And obviously that didn't happen, uh, in round one when, when the hurricanes had the opportunity. So I'm hoping that they've learned from that experience, um, you know, as a group. And, you know, I think that that should hopefully benefit them, uh, heading into tonight. But for me, it's, you know, you, you can't get too wrapped up in, you know, all the, the atmosphere and emotion that, you know, our, our fans are going to. You know, bring to the, to the arena and the arena complex, even, you know, before the players get there, really, um, it's just, it's such a great time of year to be playing. And, um, our fans, you know, especially during the playoffs are, are great and, you know, the arena's just rocking. So, um, you know, you have to play with a little bit of controlled emotion early on, and you can't, you know, let the adrenaline rush get the better of you where you're, you know, maybe running around or you, you make some simple mistakes that could cost you. And then just settle into the process and, you know, focus on your one-on-one battles, focus on your compete level, getting pucks to the net, uh, stopping and starting, you know, playing hard defense, um, usually, you know, creates good offense. We'll see Jordan Stahl play against Jack Hughes tonight.

I'm almost positive of that, at least, uh, in two of the three periods. How has Stahl, I mean, Jordan is not the fastest guy in the world. I know he's a giant human, but he's not the fastest guy in the world. And Jack Hughes, one of the best skaters in the entire league. How is Stahl able to be so effective defensively against Jack Hughes? Well, it's what Jordan does all over the ice that, that allows that and helps that because it's, you know, it's not just a one-on-one matchup where, you know, he's shadowing him all over the ice. It's Jordan does so many other good things, you know, on the, you know, through the neutral zone or on the outside.

And then on the back check as well. And he's long and very strong, obviously. Yeah. Excuse me.

Sorry. Um, but, but I think it's, it's what he, what he brings to whatever line he's, he's playing with and whatever deep hearing he's playing with, you know, he, he makes those guys better players around him. Eric, Eric Cole is joining us here on the Adam Gold show. Martin, Nate just gets the first goal that ties it. We could talk about how maybe it kind of relax the team, but I want to specifically talk about nature's here because he has not had a great postseason to this point. He had a couple of points, maybe three points early in the players, two points early in the playoffs, and we haven't seen a ton from him since, but to get two goals and knowing how important he is, especially his offense.

What does that do for him? And did it make him a better player? Even in game four? Well, yeah, you could tell he was feeling it in game four, um, after the fact, even the way the way he handled the puck, uh, he seemed a bit calmer with it. Um, and not only that he was making plays, you know, out, like in the offensive zone, he's making plays out to the blue line, and then he's taking ice and he's, he's looking for that, that play to go D to D and then, um, you know, back over to him and, you know, he, he, he wants the park. He wants, you know, he, he looked to me on, you know, on, on Sunday there that he, you know, he wanted the puck on his stick and he, you know, wanted to be, you know, a difference maker. And, you know, when you score a couple of goals, like he did, you know, I mean, on the first one, a bit of a fortunate, you know, bounce and great hand-eye coordination by him. And the second one was, you know, very similar. He put it almost in the identical spot as well. So, you know, I think that when you, when you get, especially those types of goals where, you know, maybe it's a little bit of a lucky bouncer, you know, just anything to get the ball rolling.

Your confidence is going to, you know, skyrocket and then you're going to start feeding off of it. Final thing for Eric Cole, and I've been wanting to ask somebody about this. So you, you draw the straw. In 2002, the first three series before the finals, you guys all closed them all out on the road. In 2006, and I know you didn't play until we got to the Stanley Cup finals, but the Hurricanes did close out series here at home. What is, and in 09 also, they closed, you guys closed both series out on the road before Pittsburgh.

What is better? What is more enjoyable, to close out a series at home in front of your fans or to do it on the road and just silence everybody? Well, when it's game seven and your fans haven't sat down the entire night and you get to put a cup over your head, I would say at home. But I am one of those players that loves the deafening sound of an arena gone quiet when a team ends their season. And the only thing that you can hear is the excitement from your bench and your group. I do enjoy that maybe a bit too much, but that's just me. No, first of all, I'm not sure there's a wrong answer to that question. But obviously, when you hoist the Stanley Cup, doing it at home is much better.

But it's, I mean, I could certainly see it both ways. Having never been in that position, I don't know what it's like, but I appreciate you telling me. I'll see you very soon. I appreciate your time, Eric. All right. Anytime, brother. You got it. Eric Cole here on the Adam Gold show. Think about that. Think about putting yourself in that mindset. Would you rather do it at home in front of your fans or do it on the road? Now, I know what they're going to say tonight, and I know what they have already said tonight, that tonight needs to be the night.