Maurice: added respect helps Canes win

SUNRISE, Fla. — There have been a number of factors that have played into the Canes' four-game winning streak.

Good goaltending from Cam Ward. Having a healthy lineup. Improved defense. Good energy. Timely goals.

But Canes coach Paul Maurice said there's another common thread in the wins over Atlanta, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and New Jersey: added respect.

"For me, it is that I think we're now respecting our opponents a little bit (more)," he said today after the pregame skate. "St. Louis is a great example because of where they are in the standings. You think this should be a 3-1, 4-1 (game); if we play well we'll blow their doors off.

"But that doesn't happen to any team they play. They work so hard and grind so hard. And every team. The Tampa Bay Lightning. The standings don't tell you how good (Vincent) Lacavalier and (Martin) St. Louis are."

Maurice said the same would be true tonight against the Florida Panthers, a team behind the Canes in the Southeast Division but one that has faced a tough schedule in the first half of the season.

"(It's) getting your team to respect the fact that we're going to have to come out here and work our butts off, and if we do we get chance to win," Maurice said. "Not a guaranteed win, a chance to win.

"It was a little different with Jersey and the excitement, but (with) Jersey we respect the fact we might get 10 (scoring) chances in this game and that's it. We're not getting 25. We know that going in.

"So I'm pleased with the way we're respecting our opponents right now. I think that's helped us be ready for games."

Maurice paused and smiled, adding, "And now that I've said that, I'm going to be barking on the first five minutes of this game, watching us now (in the skate)."