The Canes’ run to the Stanley Cup

FIRST ROUND

def. Montreal, 4-2

After losing the first two games to the Canadiens at home, Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette went with rookie Cam Ward in net over veteran Martin Gerber for Game 3 in Montreal. Rod Brind’Amour’s third-period game-tying goal set up Eric Staal’s overtime winner and Brind’Amour scored the game-winner in Game 4 to bring the series home tied 2-2. Ward won his third straight start in Game 5 and Brind’Amour set up Cory Stillman for the overtime game-winner in Game 6.

SECOND ROUND

def. New Jersey, 4-1

The series was all but over when Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur blew his top at the end of Game 1, rattled by the Hurricanes in a 6-0 win. Niclas Wallin scored his third career playoff overtime goal in Game 2 – an NHL record for a defenseman – and while the Hurricanes missed out on the sweep with a Game 4 loss, they closed out a series at home in Game 5 for the first time since moving to North Carolina with a 4-1 win.

CONFERENCE FINALS

def. Buffalo, 4-3

The Hurricanes bounced back from a poor Game 1 loss at home with a dominating performance in Game 2, but splitting the first two games in Raleigh was merely prelude for the drama to come. Gerber replaced Ward midway through a Game 3 loss, then got the start in Game 4 and produced a series-saving shutout. Then Ward relieved Gerber during Game 5 as the Hurricanes came back to win in overtime. A Doug Weight penalty in overtime of Game 6 led to a Sabres win, but Weight would redeem himself in Game 7 with a score-tying goal before Brind’Amour’s game winner sent the Hurricanes through to the Stanley Cup finals.

STANLEY CUP FINALS

Game 1, Raleigh: Hurricanes 5, Oilers 4

Down 3-1 after two periods, the Hurricanes fought back to tie the score 4-4 late behind two goals by Ray Whitney. Edmonton goalie Dwayne Roloson was injured in a net-front collision with Andrew Ladd, and replacement Ty Conklin fumbled the puck behind the net with less than 30 seconds to play. Brind’Amour tucked it away for the game-winner – although it would take a sprawling glove save by Ward on Shawn Horcoff to seal the win.

Game 2, Raleigh: Hurricanes 5, Oilers 0

The goals flowed for the Hurricanes against a third Edmonton goalie, Jussi Markkanen, and Ward became the first rookie in 20 years to post a shutout in the finals. Frantisek Kaberle had a goal and two assists, Matt Cullen had three assists and the Hurricanes scored three power-play goals. The Hurricanes blocked 24 shots and Ward stopped the other 25 on net.

Game 3, Edmonton: Oilers 2, Hurricanes 1

Brind’Amour scored in the third period to tie the score, but Edmonton’s Ryan Smyth knocked the puck into the net during a goalmouth scramble for a hotly disputed game-winner with two minutes to play, colliding with Ward in the process. Ward stopped 28 of 30 shots while playing in his hometown for the first time.

Game 4, Edmonton: Hurricanes 2, Oilers 1

Looking for more offense, Laviolette shuffled his lines, putting the regular-season combination of Eric Staal and Cory Stillman back together. Stillman, trying to become the second player to win consecutive Stanley Cups with different teams, responded with a goal and an assist on Mark Recchi’s second-period game-winner. The Hurricanes’ penalty-kill was a perfect 5-for-5 and Ward made 20 saves as the Hurricanes gave up the opening goal then battled back to win

Game 5, Raleigh: Oilers 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)

The hero of Game 4 made an overtime error with the Hurricanes on the verge of clinching the Stanley Cup, sending the series back to Canada. With the Hurricanes on an overtime power-play, Stillman’s pass in front of the Carolina net was intercepted by Fernando Pisani, who beat Ward to give the Oilers an unexpected win. The Hurricanes had been 12-0 when tied or leading after two periods in the playoffs.

Game 6, Edmonton: Oilers 4, Hurricanes 0

With Doug Weight lost to a shoulder injury late in Game 5, the Hurricanes got help from an unexpected source. Despite being ruled out for the playoffs earlier, Erik Cole made a surprise return from the broken neck he suffered midseason. It didn’t help. The Hurricanes mustered only 16 shots on Markkanen in one of their worst performances of the playoffs.

Game 7, Raleigh: Hurricanes 3, Oilers 1

From the opening moments, it was clear the Hurricanes would not allow a repeat of Game 6. Kevyn Adams broke two bones in his wrist blocking a first-period Chris Pronger shot, but played the entire game. Frantisek Kaberle’s power-play goal gave the Hurricanes a two-goal lead heading into the third period, and while Pisani would score early in the third, Ward made perhaps the save of the playoffs to deny him late in the period before Justin Williams’ empty-net goal sealed the win – and the Stanley Cup – for the Hurricanes.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:16 AM with the headline "The Canes’ run to the Stanley Cup."