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Carolina Hurricanes: Top Stanley Cup Playoff Moments

By Robert Leonard

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 01: Rod Brind'Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his game-winning goal in front of teammate Justin Williams #11 during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2006 NHL Playoffs on June 1, 2006 at RBC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won the game 4-2 and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 01: Rod Brind'Amour #17 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his game-winning goal in front of teammate Justin Williams #11 during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2006 NHL Playoffs on June 1, 2006 at RBC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won the game 4-2 and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 10: Center Ron Francis #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Entertainment Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 10, 2002. The Red Wings defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI)
RALEIGH, NC – JUNE 10: Center Ron Francis #10 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during game four of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the Entertainment Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 10, 2002. The Red Wings defeated the Hurricanes 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI) /

Game 1, Stanley Cup Finals, 2002

So what happens now? No one expected Carolina to beat New Jersey in round 1, no one expected them to solve Theodore and no one expected them to beat Toronto. Now, even fewer expected Carolina to beat a Detroit Red Wings team that featured nine future hall of famers. With that in mind, the ending of Game 1 completely shocked the hockey and sports world.

The Red Wings jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a goal by Sergei Fedorov. Sean Hill and Jeff O’Neil scored in the second period sandwiched around a Kirk Maltby goal to have the game tied heading to the third. A scoreless period would send the game to overtime.

Just 58 seconds into overtime, Jeff O’Neil found Ron Francis wide open in front of Dominik Hasek as Frances one timed it home. The goal would give Carolina a 1-0 series lead for their first Stanley Cup Final win.

Francis celebrated wildly and was rushed by his teammates as the Red Wings skated off shocked – a microcosm of the sports and hockey world’s reaction. The Hurricanes had done something absolutely no one expected and it was a moment that we will never forget.

Sadly for Carolina, the hockey world ended up being right. Detroit quickly recovered and won the next four games winning the Cup on home ice. But that image of Francis scoring is one of the most iconic moments in the team’s history.

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