To call 2006 a simpler time might be unfair, especially given the circumstances of June 1st. Deadlocked in a bitter battle with the Buffalo Sabres, the Carolina Hurricanes were fighting for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history. Even at three games apiece, the series came down to one final game at the RBC Center.
Almost every game in the series had been tight, with five of the six games being decided by one goal. The lone exception was a 4-0 win for the Hurricanes in Game 4. The Canes and the Sabres split the first two in Raleigh, the next two in Buffalo, and won on home ice in overtime in Games 5 and 6 to set up the organization's first Game 7.
The short-handed Sabres led 2-1 after two periods
The Hurricanes got a little puck luck on the opening goal of the game midway through the first period. Mike Commodore's clapper from the point was nowhere near the net. The shot was heading several feet wide, but it got a friendly bounce off Adam Mair's pants. There was nothing Sabres netminder Ryan Miller could do about it as he watched it fly into the net.
The bounces would lean Buffalo's way in the second period. During a 4-on-4 sequence, Doug Janik's bomb from the point eluded Cam Ward, knotting the game with 4:10 left in the frame. Aaron Ward provided the perfect screen against his own goalie. Ward reacted seconds too late as the shot beat him glove-side.
In the dying seconds of the period, Ward got a little too relaxed. Throwing a puck at the net from below the goal line, Jochen Hecht found some daylight between Ward's pad and the post, squeaking his shot through to give the Sabres the lead heading into the third period. It was a deflating way to end the frame in such a crucial game.
A third period for the ages
That sinking feeling didn't last very long. Doug Weight played a big part in Game 6's ending. Weight was called for boarding early in overtime, giving the Sabres a power play. Daniel Briere scored the game-winner just under two minutes later to send the series back to Raleigh. In Game 7, Weight put himself in a perfect spot in front of the net, burying Ray Whitney's pass as he hit the ice.
With the game tied again, it was going to take a special moment to propel the Hurricanes into the finals. Enter the captain, who'd been clutch the entire run. With the Canes on the power play, Rod Brind'Amour was the only player on the ice who knew where the puck was. As Rory Fitzpatrick looked everywhere for it, Brind'Amour swooped in to lift the go-ahead goal past Miller.
Mr. Game 7 provided the dagger in the final minute. With Miller going down to protect the bottom half of the net, Justin Williams potted a backhander as Miller sat down in the crease. It was Williams' third point of the night after adding two assists on the first three goals. Cam Ward finished with 22 saves, leading the Canes to the Prince of Wales Trophy in a 4-2 victory.
Almost 20 years later, we're still waiting for another victory
June 1, 2006, was the last time the Carolina Hurricanes won a conference finals game. It has been just about 19 years since they've celebrated a victory at this point in the season, getting swept in each of their last three appearances. With Tuesday's Game 1 loss to the Panthers, the losing streak has reached 13 straight games.
Each of the previous sweeps have come about in a different way. The 2009 team lost a ton of steam after two grueling seven-game series with New Jersey and Boston. They hit a brick wall against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the Stanley Cup that season. The 2019 team was one of the surprises of the playoffs, reaching the conference finals in their first playoff appearance in a decade.
The 2023 series with the Panthers is the true outlier. While it ended in four games, every game was excruciatingly close. Each was decided by one goal. If one thing goes the Canes' way, they avoid a sweep and end the losing streak. The opening game this season didn't inspire confidence that the streak would end, but I have a feeling that once they get one win, it'll be hard for them to stop.