If it wasn't Hurricane season before, it certainly is now. The Carolina Hurricanes are the 2006 Stanley Cup champs.
RBC Center in Raleigh was packed with 18,978 of Carolina faithful for the eagerly-awaited Game 7. For those present, June 19 was a magical night that the home team dominated, resulting a 3-1 victory and the Stanley Cup.
Carolina set the tone early when Aaron Ward scored 1:26 into the game. "We knew we had to score first [if we were going to win]," said LW Cory Stillman of the Canes' mindset before the game.
From that point onward, Carolina maintained control, particularly with checking harder and skating faster. Edmonton recorded 15 hits in the first and second periods, while Carolina had 33. When 'Canes defenseman Frantisek Kaberle scored 4:18 into the second period, the Oilers found themselves in a position of merely keeping up, not gaining momentum.
That momentum nearly changed 16 minutes into the second period when Edmonton had a valuable five-on-three chance. With Niclas Wallin in the box for hooking and Aaron Ward joining him after a delay of game penalty a mere five seconds later, the Oilers looked poised to reduce Carolina's two-goal lead.
It was the opportunity that renewed Edmonton's energy. Suddenly, the Oilers were moving across the ice with more vigor, pounding the net with seven shots in the last four minutes of the second period.
Unfortunately for Edmonton, 'Canes goaltender Cam Ward was a rock, stopping every shot during the power play.
It was a theme that haunted the Oilers throughout the game. Edmonton couldn't capitalize on power play chances, while Carolina scored on one its of four opportunities.
Desperate in the third period, Edmonton pulled goaltender Jussi Markkanen at 18:25. The Oilers' final efforts didn't end with a puck in the net. Instead, RW Justin Williams scored an empty-netter for Carolina.
"Cam Ward shut the door on the chances we had," said Oilers head coach Craig McTavish. "Five-on-threes were a factor in why we lost the series. We had three or four of them [in the finals] and we might have left one on the table."
Calm and expressionless when asked about Carolina's aggressive play, he replied, "A team doesn't get to game seven by being wallflowers. They had something to prove [after losing Game 6]."
For Carolina, proving themselves meant working as a team. "It was about every guy in the locker room," said Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley.
Team captain Rod Brind'Amour added, "There's too many guys [on this team] that deserve this. I can't be happier for all of these people."
Brind'Amour waited the longest of any Carolina player for the Stanley Cup — 18 years. He was the first to hoist the Cup, and even though he was cited as being the motivational leader by his teammates, Brind'Amour was quick to name Cam Ward as the key factor to Carolina's success.
"Goaltending wins your championships," Brind'Amour said. "We got to raise the Cup because of that kid."
Ward, 22, was the recipient of the Conn Smythe trophy, given to the most valuable player of the series.
"We responded tonight with the best effort of the year," Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette said.
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