During the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2002 against the Montreal Canadiens, the "Molson Miracle" in Game 4 seemed to be the spark the Carolina Hurricanes needed. Erasing a three-goal deficit in the third period to win in overtime and tie the series at two games apiece, the Canes had the momentum on their side. Carolina returned to Raleigh for Game 5 and destroyed Jose Theodore and the Habs 5-1, putting themselves one win away from their first Eastern Conference Final.
Arturs Irbe, who relieved Kevin Weekes in Game 4 after Weekes helped lead the team past New Jersey in the opening round, had been stellar since taking control of the net, allowing just two goals. Montreal's Theodore, who won the Hart and Vezina in 2002, had lost his edge, allowing nine goals in under five periods entering Game 6.
If Montreal had any hope of forcing a Game 7 when the night began, the Hurricanes did an excellent job of crushing their dreams quickly. It took Erik Cole 25 seconds to find a soft spot and push Rod Brind'Amour's rebound chance into the net to open the scoring. Cole struck again just over three minutes later. Bates Battaglia provided excellent pressure, forcing a turnover and setting up the rookie for his second goal of the night.
This was just the beginning of the Hurricanes' fun as the bounces kept going Carolina's way. This time, Sean Hill benefitted from a pinballing puck on the power play, beating Theodore to make it 3-0 less than eight minutes in. Late in the period, Cole picked off a lazy pass as he exited the penalty box, having his shot kicked right to Josef Vasicek for a rebound goal. Kevyn Adams added salt to the wound, dangling past a defender and beating Theodore between his pads to make it five.
The Canadiens scored in the final minute of the period to break the shutout, but they still opted for a goalie change, sending Stephane Fiset out to begin the second period. Life wouldn't be any easier for him. The period featured a prolonged stoppage when Doug Gilmour broke the glass after slamming the penalty box door. It took awhile for the ice crew to clear the glass, but it wouldn't stop the onslaught.
Battaglia scored from the top of the crease during the Gilmour penalty to restore the team's five-goal lead. Hill added his second power-play marker midway through the period, depositing a rebound past Fiset to kick the extra point. For good measure, Jeff O'Neill scored in the final minute of the period with a clapper on a 2-on-1 to end the second up 8-1.
By this point, the Hurricanes were well on their way to winning the series. Montreal scored once in the third period, but it was far too little and much too late. Montreal coach Michel Therrien put Theodore back in the net to finish the season as the fans cheered for their team while the Hurricanes kept it classy with a subdued celebration.
To date, no Hurricanes team has ever scored more goals in a playoff game than the 2002 team did in Game 6 in Montreal. They've scored six goals several times, but they haven't been able to do what this team did. The line of Battaglia, Brind'Amour, and Cole each finished with three points and Irbe stopped 31 shots to clinch the series. The Canes' magical run would continue with a six-game triumph against Toronto in the conference finals before falling to the juggernaut Red Wings in five games in the 2002 Stanley Cup Final.