Carolina: 2006 Stanley Cup Champions
Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Posted by Kerrzy

They Stanley Cup is heading to North Carolina. The Carolina Hurricanes scored just 1:26 into the first period, and while the Oilers would get one back in the third to make it 2-1, Edmonton would not be able to overcome the Carolina charge as the Hurricanes captured their first ever Stanley Cup. Carolina rookie Cam Ward shut the door repeatedly in the late stages of the third period to stop the eighth-seeded Oilers from tying things up, and Justin Williams put home the empty-netter to close things out in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ward stole the show more than once for the Hurricanes, and with his fifteenth win of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, he takes home not only the Stanley Cup, but also the Conn Smythe trophy for most valuable player in the post-season.

The Oilers will be disappointed, as anyone would be, with this result, but that’s why it’s the hardest trophy in professional sports to win and getting to the final is more than so many others can say that they’ve accomplished.

Aaron Ward opened the scoring for the Canes early in the first, and Frantisek Kaberle put them up by two under five minutes into the second period on a powerplay.

The Oilers hometown hero, Fernando Pisani, scored his 14th of the playoffs just over a minute into the third, but the game was rounded out by a Justin Williams empty-netter with 1:01 to go in the third period that sent a wave of madness through the Carolina crowd.

As Rod Brind’amour lifted the cup for the first time in his career, Doug Weight had thrown on his gear for long enough to get his shot at lifting his first cup in a long career as well, despite a clean separation in his shoulder because, like they say, ‘the chance may never come again.’

Congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes on a championship season, and although Don Cherry said after the game that no one remembers who came in second place, congratulations to the Edmonton Oilers on a memorable cup run.

Moral of the Story: The ‘Detroit Curse’ lives on…

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Jim Kerr