The Carolina Hurricanes edged the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in an exciting seventh game to capture the Stanley Cup. It was the first NHL title for the Hurricanes franchise which entered the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers.
The Hurricanes scored the game's first goal just 1:26 into the game, giving them back the momentum after losing games five and six of the series. Aaron Ward's second goal of the playoffs rallied the crowd and inspired the home team to up their level of play.
In the second period, Frantisek Kaberle tallied on the power play to extend the Carolina lead to 2-0.
Edmonton's lone goal came just 1:03 into the third period when Fernando Pisani put home a second rebound past eventual Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward.
Ward, the Hurricanes rookie goalie, came up with a big save on Pisani with just four minutes left in the game and the score still 2-1. First, the 22-year-old stopped power forward Raffi Torres before extending his skate as far as it could go to stop Pisani's rebound shot.
Jason Williams scored into an empty net with just 1:01 left in the game to seal the victory for Carolina.
Amazingly, Ward, named playoff MVP, did not even start the playoffs as the Hurricanes starting goalie. But after Martin Gerber faltered in round one against the Montreal Canadiens, Ward won 15 playoff games, one more than he won during the regular season.
'The kid [Ward] came in when we were down and out,' Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour said. 'He brought us to life. Goaltending wins championships, make no mistake about it. We had the best goalie in the playoffs.'
The joy in the Hurricanes dressing room was tangible after the game. Defenseman Bret Hedican, who had lost twice in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, felt vindicated. 'I can't describe it,' Hedican gasped. 'Both times were gut-wrenching. I've got the scars. But tonight, all that work, all that hard work, and our team winning, it all paid off.'
Veteran defenseman Glen Wesley, the lone member of the Hurricanes who played for the club in Hartford, won his first career Stanley Cup at age 37. 'I still can't believe it,' Wesley exclaimed. 'It honestly feels like a dream to me.'
Edmonton goalie Jussi Markkanen, who played heroically for his team after starter Dwayne Roloson went down with an injury in game one of the series, expressed the Oilers disappointment. 'It's just a matter of a few bounces and that's the difference today,' Markkanen said. 'They were just a little bit better.'
The Oilers have not won the Stanley Cup since Mark Messier led the team to victory in 1990. No Canadian team has won the title since Montreal did it in 1993.
The game marked an exciting end to a solid comeback season for the National Hockey League which did not play at all in 2004-2005 due to a labor stoppage. For now, all seemed forgiven as the Carolina Hurricanes took turns lifting the most hallowed trophy in sports over their heads and kissing it.
The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions.
