Hurricanes storm back to beat Oilers in Game One

By Steve Keating

RALEIGH (Reuters) – Rod Brind’Amour scored his second goal
of the game with just 31.1 seconds left to play to cap a
furious third-period comeback as the Carolina Hurricanes edged
the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Monday to draw first blood in the
Stanley Cup final.

After seeing the Oilers take a 3-0 lead, the Hurricanes
rallied behind four third-period goals and the sensational
netminding of Cam Ward to take a 1-0 advantage in the
best-of-seven final with Game Two scheduled for RBC Center on
Wednesday.

Ray Whitney also counted twice for the Hurricanes while
Justin Williams scored a shorthanded goal.

The stirring comeback marked just the sixth time in Stanley
finals history that a team has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to
steal a win.

The first Stanley Cup game in two years following a bitter
labor dispute that wiped out the entire 2004-2005 seasons, was
packed with drama, excitement and unexpected twists.

The biggest coming in the closing minutes of the third
period when Oilers goaltender and playoff MVP candidate Dwayne
Roloson was forced from the game with an apparent knee injury
following a violent collision around the net.

With the score tied 4-4, backup Ty Conklin, who had never
appeared in a playoff game, misplayed the puck behind the net,
Brind’Amour immediately swooping in and stuffing it into goal.

“We were down and not playing well but we knew if we could
pick it up we would have a chance,” Brind’Amour told reporters
after collecting his 11th goal of the playoffs. “We do seem to
get behind and find ways to scratch and claw.

“It’s fun to watch maybe but not the way you want to do
it.”

There was no immediate report on the extent of Roloson’s
injuries but Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish said later that he
did not think his netminder would be back.

DEVASTATING BLOW

If Roloson is unable to return it would be a devastating
blow to Edmonton’s title hopes. Roloson had led the post-season
with 12 wins and had been in net for every Oilers playoff game.

“Goalie is not good,” said MacTavish. “Won’t be back in
this series.

“It’s unfortunate circumstances with Rolly playing as well
as he has been.

“But I know we can, I feel very confident we can bounce
back from it.

“Our goaltenders are capable of coming in here and playing
well. I felt we played a solid game tonight and can recover
from this.”

Idle since eliminating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the
Western conference final, a lengthy eight day layoff had been
the big question hanging over the Oilers prior to the opening
faceoff.

Edmonton showed no signs of rust as they stormed to a 3-0
lead on goals from Fernando Pisani, Ethan Moreau and Chris
Pronger, who scored the first penalty shot goal in a Stanley
Cup final.

Since the NHL assumed control of the Stanley Cup in 1927
there had been nine penalty shots called but Pronger’s was the
first to find the back of the net.

It was also the first successful penalty shot of Pronger’s
career, the all-star defenceman making no mistake skating in
and beating Cam Ward low to the stick side.

“Never, first of my career,” Pronger told reporters. “I had
two moves but went with the odds and just got a shot on net.”

Brind’Amour sparked the Carolina comeback when he scored
late in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1.

After the intermission the Hurricanes struck for three more
goals to nose in front 4-3 before Ales Hemsky answered for the
Oilers to tie the game at 4-4.

But that would be the last puck to get past Ward, who was
sensational during the frantic closing minutes of the third as
the Oilers tried for the equalizer.