RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette tried to act as if today is just any other day and Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals will be like any other game.
Nice try.
The Stanley Cup, perhaps the most storied trophy in North American professional sports, will be hidden away somewhere at the RBC Center. The Carolina Hurricanes players, who have fantasized all their lives about winning the Cup, can do it tonight.
They lead the best-of-seven series with Edmonton 3-1.
“Everybody will have something great to say (before the game) because that's why we are here,” Laviolette said of the Cup. “It's an opportunity, and we have to make the most of it.”
Carolina's players returned yesterday afternoon from Edmonton, Alberta, where they won Game 4 2-1 on Monday to take command of the series. They were weary but happy to see that about 300 fans had gathered at Raleigh-Durham Airport to greet them upon their arrival.
The Oilers tried to establish themselves as the more physical team in games 3 and 4 in Edmonton, but Carolina split those games thanks mostly to an airtight defense in Game 4.
Edmonton's towering Chris Pronger has overshadowed the Hurricanes' defensemen in the series, but he made a critical turnover that led to Mark Recchi's winning goal in Game 4. Carolina defensemen Bret Hedican, Mike Commodore, Aaron Ward, Glen Wesley, Frantisek Kaberle and Niclas Wallin have been perhaps the most underappreciated group in the series.
With that solid defense supporting a deep roster of high-scoring forwards, Carolina appears ready to clinch the Cup. Rookie goalie Cam Ward, who has given up just three goals in the past three games, is playing with confidence and authority.
The Hurricanes' penalty-killing unit hasn't allowed an Edmonton power-play goal since Game 1. And the intangibles all should favor Carolina in Game 5 as a home crowd eager for the first major professional championship in the history of North Carolina sports will make an impact on the game.
Carolina has a handful of veterans who have toiled in the NHL for more than 10 years without holding the Cup. Wesley has played 166 playoff games without winning, more than any active player.
Team captain Rod Brind'Amour lost twice in the finals to Detroit, once with the Hurricanes in 2002 and once with the Philadelphia Flyers. Should the Hurricanes win tonight, Brind'Amour likely would receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP before receiving the Stanley Cup.
