May 7, 2002 3 min read

MONTREAL (AP) – Forgive the Montreal Canadiens if they smile a little bit when nobody’s looking. They’ve been outshot in seven of their first eight games in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And now, two games into the second round, they’ve already stolen the home-ice advantage for the second straight series.

Thank you, Jose Theodore, the stalwart goalie who has become a veritable brick wall in the Montreal net. He stopped 45 of 46 shots Sunday night as the Canadiens beat Carolina 4-1 to even the best-of-seven series with the Hurricanes at a game apiece heading into Game 3 Tuesday night at the Molson Centre.

“That was our goal, to get one game on the road,” Theodore said. “I got lucky a few times.”

Theodore, a finalist for the Hart Trophy that’s awarded to the NHL’s most valuable player, has stopped 82 of 84 shots in the two Carolina games and 158 of his last 163 dating to the first-round series against Boston.

This is not a trend the Canadiens want to continue, however.

“It’s not our game plan to give up 45 shots every night and see if he’ll win the game for us,” veteran Doug Gilmour told The Canadian Press on Monday at an optional practice. “He’s done it all year for us and we’re in the playoffs because of him, but we don’t want to take it for granted.”

The Hurricanes, who won the opener 2-0 behind goalie Kevin Weekes, played even better in Game 2. But Weekes looked shaky in practice before the game, giving up far too many rebounds, and that was his undoing once the game was began.

Saku Koivu stopped Weekes’ franchise-record scoreless streak of 143 minutes and 55 seconds early in the first period, snaring a rebound at the goalie’s knees and scoring to give the Canadiens confidence as they built a 3-0 lead on only eight shots.

Weekes entered the game riding two straight shutouts and had a goals-against average of 0.90 in the playoffs.

Carolina coach Paul Maurice wouldn’t reveal his plans at practice Monday, but there was the hint a switch back to Arturs Irbe could happen. Irbe was replaced by Weekes after starting the first four games of Carolina’s first-round triumph over the New Jersey Devils.

“Sometimes you change your goaltender based on his performance,” Maurice said.

Meanwhile, Montreal’s Richard Zednik continued to recover from a severe concussion he sustained in Game 4 of the first round against Boston. He’s hopeful of returning to the lineup soon.

“I’m feeling better every day,” said Zednik, who in addition to the concussion sustained a bruised throat and facial injuries when struck by the elbow of Bruins defenseman Kyle McLaren.

Zednik will be examined later in the week and can begin skating again if he shows no symptoms from his injuries. That means he could be ready if the series with Carolina goes the limit.

“I just want to get back as soon as possible and help the guys,” said Zednik, who led the Canadiens with four goals and four assists before being hurt.

Notes:@ Carolina had eight power plays to Montreal’s two, and scored its lone goal on a two-man advantage. … Theodore was given a much-deserved rest on Monday. … The Hurricanes will have an extra weapon in Jeff O’Neill, who led the team during the regular season with 31 goals. He returns after serving a one-game suspension for hitting Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray from behind early in Game 1.