25 Clutch Goals in Carolina Hurricanes History (Part 3: #5-1)

#5: May 9, 2002- The Hurricanes Find Their (Molson) Miracle

After a tough series win over the Devils in the first round, the Carolina Hurricanes found themselves in a tough spot against Montreal. In Montreal and trailing 2-1 in the series, the Canadiens jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two periods to try and put a stranglehold on the series. Jose Theodore had been a brick wall, and the Canes were running out of time. The Hurricanes slowly started to claw their way back into the game in the third period. Sean Hill broke the shutout with a 5-on-3 goal less than four minutes in. With just over seven minutes left, Bates Battaglia clapped another home from outside of the right dot. While they’d closed the deficit to one goal, Montreal remained strong. With Arturs Irbe on the bench, the Canes threw the kitchen sink at Theodore. The puck was thrown at the front of the net, and the only person that saw it was Erik Cole. He scooped up the loose puck and slid it into the open net to tie the game and send shockwaves through the Molson Centre. The now-famous “Molson Miracle” would be capped off by Niclas Wallin in overtime as the Canes took Game 4. As part of the third-period onslaught, Cole’s goal would completely shift the series. After evening things with this improbable comeback, the Canes would eliminate the Habs in six games by outscoring them 13-3 in the final two.