NEWARK, NJ – Look out Boston. There’s a hurricane of destiny heading your way.
Trailing by one with less than two minutes remaining, the Carolina Hurricanes got goals by Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal 48 seconds apart in the final moments to give the visiting ‘Canes an improbable 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at the Prudential Center.
The victory allowed Carolina to win the best-of-seven series four games to three, sending coach Paul Maurice and his team up Interstate 95 later this week to face the top-seeded Boston Bruins in the conference semifinals.
With the series tied and the teams being as well matched as they turned out to be, most observers probably would have bet the farm on a tight-checking opening period. Guess again. Just 1:02 into the game, Carolina’s Matt Cullen slipped a drop pass to Tuomo Ruutu in the far circle. Ruutu’s drive through a screen of players caught the post on Martin Brodeur’s stick side and kicked into the net for the game’s opening goal.
New Jersey didn’t take long to answer and it had a little help. Zach Parise, who had been held scoreless since Game 3, carried the puck into the Carolina zone. On the other side of the ice, Jamie Langenbrunner floated in unchecked by any Hurricanes players. Parise sent a pass to Langenbrunner who easily beat ‘Canes goalie Cam Ward to tie the game at one with a mere 2:31 gone in the contest.
Things settled down for quite a while as the defenses took over. Then, at the 13:27 mark, another Carolina defensive breakdown cost them. Taking advantage of a slow back-check, John Madden busted into the Hurricanes end down the left wing. As he hit the face-off circle, he saw Jay Pandolfo cruising down the right wing behind a defender. Pandolfo one-timed the pass past Ward to put the Devils in front where they stayed into the first intermission.
The Devils had an opportunity early in the second period to add to their lead when Carolina’s Anton Babchuk was called for tripping Parise. The Hurricanes’ penalty killers were able to blunt the New Jersey power play, giving the rest of the team a much needed emotional lift.
That lift paid off soon after the kill was completed and it was Sunday’s big line that did the work. Chad LaRose got the puck to Staal behind the net. After making a couple of moves, he fired a pass to Ray Whitney who had found a soft spot in front of Brodeur. Whitney tried to one-time the pass but fanned on it. The puck hit the blade of his left skate and redirected between Brodeur’s legs into the net. After further review by the war room in Toronto, the goal stood, tying the game at two 3:42 into the middle period.
Once again, New Jersey had an answer. Working on their second man advantage of the period, Brian Gionta entered the offensive zone and sent a cross ice pass off the near boards. Brian Rolston was coming in from the point and teed up a wicked blast that beat Ward high to the stick side to once again put the Devils up by one.
Carolina’s power play then started to get its own chances, including a short two-man advantage. As it had done for much of the series, the power play created chances that either missed the net, were blocked or were stopped by Brodeur. Late in the period, Tim Gleason’s stick cut Parise, giving the Devils a four minute power play. The ‘Canes held on through an onslaught in the first minute of the man advantage and got to the second intermission down by just one.
After killing the remaining 1:20 of Gleason’s penalty at the start of the third, Carolina set about looking for the tying goal. At the end of yet another failed ‘Canes power play, Ward kept the game close with two brilliant saves. Time continued to tick away on the Hurricanes’ season as the Devils attempted to choke off Carolina’s offense. Four minutes, three minutes, two minu tes. The visitors looked for all the world like they would be going home for tee times.
Then it happened. With 1:20 remaining, Gleason went to his knees to keep the puck in the New Jersey zone. He fed it to Joni Pitkanen at the other point. Pitkanen saw Jokinen standing in the far circle all alone. The daring cross-ice pass worked as Jokinen, the hero of Game 4, whipped a blast past Brodeur to tie the game at three.
Everyone thought the game was headed for overtime. Well, not everyone. With less than a minute to go in regulation, La Rose sent Staal up the far boards into the Devils’ end. He got to the face-off circle and decided to shoot. The drive surprised Brodeur, beating the netminder between the legs to put the ‘Canes up with only 32 seconds left. Obviously stunned, New Jersey didn’t have an answer this time and the Hurricanes celebrated a remarkable win and series victory.
Game notes…Carolina goalie Ward is now 3-0 for his career in playoff Game 7s…New Jersey out shot the Hurricanes 35-31 in the game. They also won the face-off battle, taking 36 of the 65 draws in the contest…Ruutu’s first period goal was his first career playoff tally…The Devils were missing defenseman Bryce Salvador for the third consecutive game…Carolina won the series despite getting only two goals out of its power play.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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