Hurricanes’ Hidden Gear Could Be the Key to a Cup Run

Carolina keeps looking like a team that can bully a playoff series into its own shape, and this story focuses on the variable that could push it over the top. Every contender has stars, but the deep runs usually come down to the one element that holds up when the games get tight and the legs get heavy. The Hurricanes have spent years getting close enough to make the pain memorable, which is why this X-factor matters so much now.