Canes matched intensity

The Hurricanes, who seemed unable to match the Devils’ intensity in Game 1, brought it to a crescendo in Game 2.

“Obviously, we recognized after our first game we didn’t play our best game,” said Canes forward Tuomo Ruutu. “They were all over us and they deserved to win. We knew that we’d have to play better to get a win. That’s what we did and that’s what we’ve got to keep on doing.”

The Hurricanes’ spark showed in different ways, from the hit defenseman Tim Gleason put on Zach Parise to the words Ruutu and New Jersey center John Madden shared following an early penalty to Rod Brind’Amour.

“I just asked him how he’s doing. Nothing serious,” said Ruutu. “That’s all about emotion. That’s the way it’s got to be and that’s what the playoffs are all about.”

Madden, at a Saturday media availability, said of the incident: “Just talking, just talking. I don't even know what he was saying. Just talking.”

In a game that saw each team score power play goals in the first period and then nothing but a bunch of near misses for two periods, the Canes were ready from the start.

“I just think we were on the puck,” said Carolina center Eric Staal. “I think, to a man, everyone made sure we were ready to play. We were more involved. A little bit more of an edge.”

The Hurricanes didn’t want to come home down 2-0, “especially against that team,” said Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason, who scored the overtime winner.

“I think it was the physicality really, from the … drop of the puck,”. “We were in their face. We had to control the game. We had to.”

And when the game went to overtime, the Hurricanes kept the puck deep, narrowly keeping it inside the blue line on the winning push.