Carolina Has Its Hands Full

Montreal can thank goalie Jose Theodore for its 2-1 series lead against Carolina.

Theodore has given up only four goals in 118 shots in the first three games of the series, which resumes tonight in Montreal.

“We just have to find a way to get it by him,” said the Hurricanes’ Jeff O’Neill, who had a game-high six shots Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss. “If we keep creating chances, we will.”

O’Neill and linemate Sami Kapanen have not scored, and they combined for 58 goals in the regular season. Kapanen, coming off his best season--a career-high 69 points that included 27 goals--has one assist in nine playoff games.

“If we don’t start scoring, we’re going to start beating each other up,” joked O’Neill, who returned for Game 3 after a one-game suspension for hitting Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray from behind.

“Sometimes, when things aren’t going your way you don’t want to think about it.... You’ve still got to make good shots to beat him. We have to find a way. We don’t want him to be the X factor. He doesn’t seem to get real agitated. He just seems to do everything right. Right now, he has no visible weaknesses.”

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St. Louis center Doug Weight is battling an injured pelvis, which limits his mobility and acceleration, but he hopes to contribute to the Blues’ cause tonight when they play host to Detroit in Game 4 of the series, which the Red Wings lead, 2-1.

“If I come out flying in Game 4, hopefully I can get a little more ice time,” he said.