RALEIGH, N.C. — (June 19) The Carolina Hurricanes took home their first Stanley Cup championship with a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on June 19, capturing the first major professional sports title for North Carolina.
Rookie goalie Cam Ward, who stopped 22 of 23 shots that came his way in the game, received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the post-season most valuable player.
The best-of-seven series looked as if it would be a rout when Carolina rallied from a three-goal deficit to win Game 1 and blew out the Oilers 5-0 in Game 2.
The Oilers rebounded in Game 3 with a 2-1 win, pulled out an overtime win in Game 5 and tied the series in Game 6.
That's where the comeback ended and the celebrations began, with Gov. Mike Easley proclaiming June 20 "Carolina Hurricanes Day," a parade honoring the champions in downtown Raleigh and a number of Stanley Cup appearances, in which Caniacs got a chance to see the trophy up close.
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