From the time the schedule was released for the Eastern Conference final, Carolina and the Penguins knew there would be two-day breaks between games at least twice and up to three times.

Living through the first of those as a road team, though, proved less than satisfying for the Hurricanes.

"It's pretty senseless to have to sit around here in a city between games," Carolina defenseman Joe Corvo said after the morning skate yesterday as the teams prepared for Game 2 at Mellon Arena. Game 1, a 3-2 Penguins win, was played Monday.

"This whole thing might as well last till July," Corvo said. "Maybe we'll just play all year 'round. It's pretty ridiculous."

The usual pattern would be games every other day, but arena conflicts and television considerations changed that pattern for this series. There didn't seem to be any fans of the extra time off in the Hurricanes' locker room.

"That's probably not the greatest thing for this time of year," winger Scott Walker said. "Guys like to keep going. Both teams had to do it, though."

For the first long break, the Penguins got to spend the extra time at home. It will be their turn to keep themselves busy on the road when the teams have days off Sunday and Monday between Games 3 and 4 at Carolina.

The Hurricanes didn't exactly get out and experience Pittsburgh during their down time. They had a team meeting Tuesday and a practice Wednesday.

And beyond that?

"A whole lot of nothing," center Eric Staal said.

"Watched a movie the one day. Had a team dinner [Tuesday] night.

"Relax. Make sure you're drinking a lot of fluids and getting rested up. Somewhat boring, but that's the way it is in the playoffs. You make sure you're rested."

Dealing with injuries is a measured and delicate matter in the NHL, especially in the playoffs. And that's not just the medical side of things, but the release of information.

Sometimes, it's rather easy.

Such as determining the availability of Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour for this series after he missed most of the Game 7 overtime against Boston in the second round after getting hit above the right eye by a puck while sitting on the bench.

"I remember one year him telling us he had been playing for six weeks on a broken foot and he hadn't bothered telling anybody because, he said, it wasn't that bad," coach Paul Maurice said. "So we just take him at his word."

Other times, it is more complicated.

Such as the situation last night with Hurricanes wingers Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu, who left Game 1 with apparent knee injuries. Information from then until just before game time, when it was learned Cole would play but Ruutu would not, was controlled as much as possible by Carolina.

"You don't have on your board in your room circled guys on the other team and what they've got injured. That's not the way it works," Maurice said. "But, clearly, if you force a guy who's not moving the same way to get on him with the puck, then teams will do that."