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Hurricanes storm back to beat Oilers in Game One

Posted on: Monday, 5 June 2006, 23:39 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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