Carolina Hurricanes: Top 10 Games in Franchise History

Feb 26, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; A general view of an official NHL puck on the ice at Nationwide Arena. The Canadiens 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

#10. 2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Game 5

To kick off the list, we go back over 13 years ago to the Carolina Hurricanes’ first legitimate run for a Stanley Cup.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes squared off against the New Jersey Devils. Tied 2-2 in the series, the Canes came home for a very important game 5.

Up to that point in the first round, the home team had won every game with Carolina taking games 1 and 2 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena and New Jersey dominating the Hurricanes in games 3 and 4 at the Continental Airlines Arena.

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Game 5 in Raleigh was tight one. The Devils had a 2-1 lead late in the third period, but the Canes went to the man advantage. With just 1:28 to go in regulation, Jeff O’Neill tallied the game-tying goal. The crowd erupted, and the two teams needed overtime to settle the game.

Early on in the overtime period, Canes starting goalie Kevin Weekes made one of the best saves of the entire 2002 playoffs. It was a diving glove save all alone in front, and the Canes fed off that energy.

8:16 into overtime, the late Josef Vasicek got one past Martin Brodeur to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 series lead. Then, three days later, the Hurricanes became the first road team to win in that series, shutting out the Devils in their own arena to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

The Canes ended up having a great and unprecedented playoff run in 2002, but it may not have happened without the heroics of Jeff O’Neill, Kevin Weekes and Josef Vasicek.

Next: 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals - Game 4

Apr 6, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing

(36) scores a goal past Colorado Avalanche goalie

(1) to win the game during the shoot out period at Pepsi Center. The Penguins won 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

#9. 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals – Game 4

The Carolina Hurricanes made the playoffs in 2009 for the first time since the magical 2006 Stanley Cup run.

Things weren’t easy for the Canes in round one as they, again, went up against the New Jersey Devils, a team anchored by Martin Brodeur in net.

Game 4 was big for the Hurricanes. They trailed the Devils 2-1, and a loss would put them in a potentially unsurmountable hole. This game had the playoff atmosphere that you’d expect from a rowdy RBC Center on an April night.

Thanks to goals from Eric Staal, Ryan Bayda and Chad LaRose, the Hurricanes entered the 3rd period with a 3-1 lead, well on their way to a series-tying win. Or so they thought.

New Jersey came out flying in the 3rd period, scoring 2 consecutive goals in the opening 9 minutes of the period. Brendan Shanahan and David Clarkson both found the back of the Canes net early on the period. All of a sudden, the pressure was all on Carolina.

As time continued to wear on, both Ward and Brodeur made big saves to keep their team in it. Then, in the dying seconds of the 3rd period, a controversial goal ended things.

With under 1 second to go in regulation, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg ripped a slap shot on goal from the right point, and Jussi Jokinen delivered his first of many heroics in the 2009 playoff run. He deflected the puck past Marty at the top of the crease, and after a short review, it became evident that the puck just barely beat the horn, providing one of the most exhilarating endings in the team’s history and tying the series at 2 games apiece.

The puck crossed the goal line with two tenths of a second to go, and an incensed Martin Brodeur showed his displeasure, thinking that Jokinen should’ve been whistled for goalie interference. But after yelling and flinging his stick at the boards, nothing changed. The Carolina Hurricanes were the winners of game 4, and it kept them in the series.

A historic call from Canes play-by-play man John Forslund made the game even more memorable. It was, indeed, a “Miracle Finnish” for the Hurricanes and Finland native Jussi Jokinen.

Next: Eastern Conference Semifinals - Game 4

Nov 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie

(30) makes a save on Dallas Stars right wing

(72) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Hurricanes defeated the Stars 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

#8. “The Molson Miracle” – Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 4

On May 9, 2002 in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final, the Carolina Hurricanes pulled off their biggest playoff comeback in franchise history, and it was anything but easy.

The Montreal Canadiens and their ravenous fans tortured the Hurricanes through the opening 40 minutes. The Habs had a 3-0 lead 3:57 into the final frame, but that changed thanks to Sean Hill‘s rifling slap shot from the point on the 5-on-3. Boo’s rained down from the Canadiens faithful, but that didn’t deter the resilient road team.

With 7:17 to go in regulation, tough forechecking from the Canes led to a turnover at the Habs blue line. The puck was dealt over to Bates Bataglia, and he found a lane to shoot in. He winded up a released a howitzer of a slap shot that whizzed past Jose Theodore to cut Montreal’s lead to just 3-2.

In a final minute frenzy, the Hurricanes pulled their goalie in a desperate attempt to tie the game. On the play, all of Rod Brind’Amour, Ron Francis, Bates Battaglia, Ron Francis, Sean Hill, and, finally, Erik Cole touched the puck. Cole put home a rebound in front to complete the ludicrous come back with just 40 seconds left in the 3rd.

It would all mean nothing if the Canes didn’t score in the extra frame to tie the series at 2 games apiece. Thankfully, the Hurricanes didn’t disappoint.

The secret weapon, Niclas Wallin, sent the Canes back to Raleigh happy 3:12 into overtime.

Josef Vasicek won a clean offensive zone faceoff back to Wallin, and the Swedish blue-liner wasted no time and made no mistake as he sent a wrist on net and past Jose Theodore.

The win tied the series at 2, and the Hurricanes would go on to win out in the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Next: 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals - Game 2

October 23, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal (12) shoots on goal against Los Angeles Kings goalie

(32) during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

#7. 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 2

There were many heroics in Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup run, but a late charge from the Canes in game two of the second round set the tone for a dominant series against the Devils.

Tied at 1 goal each, the Hurricanes and Devils were both looking to end things in regulation time late in the third period. The Devils looked like they were going to achieve this goal when Scott Gomez sent a wacky wrist shot on net and past Cam Ward with just 21 seconds to go.

In full desperation mode, the Carolina Hurricanes went on the all-out attack, and then Eric Staal scored one of his most memorable goals. With just 3 seconds left in regulation, Justin Williams threw the puck out front from the boards, and Staal was there to hammer it home from the crease, tying the hockey game at 2.

That late game charge led to a fast paced overtime period in Raleigh. Just 3:09 into the extra frame, Niclas Wallin ended things. The Swedish blue-liner rushed up the right wing, drove to the net, and he slid it through the five-hole of Martin Brodeur.

The win gave Carolina a 2-0 series lead. The club went on to win the series in 5 games and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Next: 2002 Eastern Conference Finals - Game 6

Feb 20, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson (71) skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes defensemen

(6) during the 1st period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

#6. 2002 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6

The Carolina Hurricanes entered game 6 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 edge over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they looked to finish things off in a hostile environment on the road.

Carolina had a late 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Jeff O’Neill mid-way through period three, and it looked like things were about to be set for them coming out of the Eastern Conference. That was until Maple Leaf legend Mats Sundin put a rebound home with 21.8 seconds to go in regulation. The goal sent the two squads to overtime.

Just over 8 minutes into an exciting overtime, the Carolina Hurricanes got the puck deep into the Leafs’ zone. Toronto got back and attempted to clear it around the board. Canes forward Josef Vasicek intercepted the clearing attempt and threw it to the front of the net to the game’s hero, Martin Gelinas, who put the puck past Curtis Joseph and secured the team’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

This game was an exciting goaltending duel from start to finish. Both teams could have put up 3 or 4 goals, but both Curtis Joseph and Canes starter Arturs Irbe made miraculous stops and kept their opponents at bay.

The win sent Carolina to the finals where they’d go on to battle the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup.

Next: 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals - Game 7

Jan 4, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Boston Bruins forward

(17) and the Carolina Hurricanes forward

(11) chase after the puck at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 in the shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

#5. 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals – Game 7

The odds were stacked against the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals. They were matched up against the President’s Trophy winning Boston Bruins.

After getting off to a 3-1 series lead, the Canes dropped two straight games and went to a fate-deciding game 7.

Goals from Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour and Sergei Samsonov and Boston’s Byron Bitz and Milan Lucic forced the game to an overtime period at the TD Bank Garden in Boston.

18:46 into the extra frame, Ray Whitney threw the puck on Tim Thomas, and Scott Walker batted home a rebound out of mid-air, sending the Carolina Hurricanes back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This goal was emotional. Just two games earlier, Walker threw a suckerpunch at Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward out of almost nowhere. Walker wasn’t happy with Ward’s physical play on Matt Cullen in front of the net, and he didn’t hold anything back.

He received several penalties in the game and was fined for the incident.

One thing that went unknown for a while was that Walker’s wife Julie was diagnosed with cervical cancer during that series against the Bruins.

That added to the emotions of the Canes as they went and attacked Scott Walker in joy after the biggest goal of his NHL career. He may always be known as the bad guy in that series, but he rose as a hero in Raleigh with that goal and his play during that series, especially given the trials and tribulations he was dealing with away from the rink.

It was the only goal he ever scored in a playoff game at the NHL level, but he saved it for an amazing moment which carried a lot of weight both on and off the ice.

Next: 2002 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 1

Oct 16, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) makes the save on Detroit Red Wings center

(41) in the second period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#4. 2002 Stanley Cup Finals – Game 1

It was strange but true, the Carolina Hurricanes were Stanley Cup Finals bound in 2002 after a series of comebacks and extremely close games throughout the playoffs.

Game 1 of the finals in Detroit proved to be yet another tough game, especially in a hostile Joe Lois Arena against a modern-day dynasty in the Red Wings, but Ron Francis and the Hurricanes didn’t let that scare them.

After trading goals through regulation time, the two clubs needed an extra period to sort things out and decide who would be the winners of game 1.

Thankfully for Carolina, it was Ron Francis who turned out to be the hero of the night, tapping one in from the top of the crease on legendary goalie Dominik Hasek.

This goal gave the Carolina Hurricanes their first ever win in a Stanley Cup Finals matchup. It shocked the entire league and proved to every one that this team was the real deal and not just a squad of misfits from the south.

Unfortunately, the Wings and their absurd roster, featuring the likes of Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Luc Robitaille, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, and a young Pavel Datsyuk swept the rest of the series, winning 4 straight games, including a triple overtime game in Raleigh just 4 nights later.

The Hurricanes offense failed to do much throughout the rest of the series up against a star-filled blue line and one of the best goalies in the league’s history.

Despite not winning the cup, this win provided a lot of optimism for the Hurricanes fan base, and they made a massive statement on that June 4 summer night.

Next: The Shock at the Rock - 2009 Eastern Conference Finals - Game 7

Jan 19, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal (12) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

#3. “The Shock at the Rock” – 2009 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 1

Down 3 games to 2 to the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes faced an uphill battle just to stay alive.

A convincing 4-0 win on home ice against the Devils in game 6 forced a crucial game 7 back in Newark.

An early first period goal from Tuomo Ruutu was quickly canceled out by New Jersey’s Jamie Langenbrunner, then another Devils goal later in the first from Jay Pandolfo put the home team in the driver’s seat.

2nd period goals from Carolina’s Ray Whitney and New Jersey’s Brian Rolston made it a 3-2 hockey game through 40 minutes, and in a road building in game 7, the Carolina Hurricanes were forced to respond in a big way.

It took 18:40 of hockey in the final frame before we got our next goal, and it was Carolina who provided the late game heroics.

A great zone set up from Carolina and a diving play from Tim Gleason to keep the puck in the zone led to Joni Pitkanen‘s cross-ice pass to fellow Fin Jussi Jokinen on the side of the net, and he buried it to tie the game at 3, sending these two teams to a sudden-death overtime. Or so we thought.

Under a minute later later, Chad LaRose hit Eric Staal at center ice with a nice pass from the boards, and suddenly, Staal was flying up the right wing in on Martin Brodeur.

At top speed, Staal threw the puck far side on Brodeur and into the Devils net with just 32 seconds to go in the third. The goal shocked the entire crowd, and in the process eliminated the Devils from playoff contention and sent the cardiac Canes to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The win also provided one of John Forslund’s most memorable calls.

Next: 2006 Eastern Conference Finals - Game 7

Jun 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Justin Williams (14) is given three stars after shooting the winning goal in overtime in game one of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

#2. 2006 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 7

In a long list of exciting game 7’s that the Carolina Hurricanes have been a part of since 1997, game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals against the Buffalo Sabres ranks near the top.

Defenseman Mike Commodore broke the ice in period one at the RBC Center in Raleigh, giving the Canes a 1-0 lead going into the 1st intermission.

Things changed in the 2nd frame for Carolina. Buffalo came back with a pair of goals from Doug Janik and Jochen Hecht, the latter of the two coming with just 5 seconds left in the period, and put the Canes in a 2-1 deficit entering the 3rd period.

Under all the pressure in the world, the Hurricanes came out and dominated the final period. Started by a goal from Doug Weight just 1:34 into the period and capped off by one of Justin Williams’ most memorable goals with just 52 seconds to go on a clueless Ryan Miller in net, the Carolina Hurricanes overcame the odds and defeated the Sabres by a final score of 4-2.

With Doc Emerik on the call, the Hurricanes advanced to their 2nd Stanley Cup Final in 4 seasons, knocking off the feisty Buffalo Sabres in Raleigh.

Next: 2006 Stanley Cup Finals - Game 7

Apr 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; A general view of the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo on the ice prior to the game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

#1. 2006 Stanley Cup Finals – Game 7

To cap off the top 10 games in Carolina Hurricanes history, we flashback to game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

An up and down series, in which Edmonton erased a 3-1 deficit, led to an all-deciding final game back in Raleigh.

An already rowdy crowd at the RBC Center exploded just 1:26 into the game with Aaron Ward’s goal from the right point, putting Carolina up 1-0.

The Hurricanes would never look back. They added another goal on the man advantage at 4:18 of the 2nd period. It was Frantisek Kaberle who rifled one home from blue line, putting a cushion on their lead, which they ended up needing.

Early in the 3rd period, Fernando Pisani tallied his playoff-leading 14th goal, giving the Oilers some life as he drove to the net and scored a greasy goal.

Edmonton’s comeback hopes were spoiled by Mr. Game Seven, Justin Williams, when he scored on the empty-net with 1:01 to go in the final period of hockey in the 2005-2006 playoffs.

The win gave the Carolina Hurricanes their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and the emotions showed by the players, coaches, staff, and fans are something that no one around the team will ever forget.

Next: Top 5 Players in Carolina Hurricanes History

It was an emotional series and an emotional final game, but it was the Hurricanes who came out on top in game which has proved to be the best and most meaningful game in the history of the franchise.