Canes Stun Bruins in OT and Win Series in 7!

Canes Stun Bruins in Overtime and Win Series

This series had so many twists and turns that as a Hollywood Scriptwriter you could not have written a better ending for the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes are still alive because tonight they took their game back to what it was in games 3 and 4 in Raleigh. This team has so much character and heart. The Bruins are a more talented team but the Canes were the more determined team tonight. It is so hard to win on the Road in a Game 7 in the playoffs. Now the Canes have eliminated the Devils in New Jersey in miracle fashion and now the Bruins in overtime tonight. Also as a footnote, I was there to experience this. My cool uncle, who is originally from Chicago, was able to score tickets 9 rows up from the Bruins Bench. You don't know how had it is to root for a team quietly when the Garden was rocking at times tonight. In the end the Canes were the more determined team and go the job done.

The game started well for Boston as Byron Bitz scored off of a rebound from the back boards to give Boston a 1-0 lead 7:42 in. So much for team scoring first to win the game huh? Tells you how much I know. A little over a minute later, Ward (34 saves) kept the game at 1-0 with a nice save on Dennis Wideman. Ward is so cool under pressure as he still in his young NHL career never has lost a game 7 (4-0) and never has lost an NHL playoff series (6-0). With about 12 minutes in PJ Axelsson took an ill advised hooking penalty. As time was running down on the penalty Dennis Seidenberg took a shot from the point that was tipped by Rod Brindamour to tie the game at 1. Brindamour finally scored his first goal of the 2009 playoffs in his 14th game. This was a huge goal because it gave the Hurricanes hope that they would win this game. Boston had dominated most of games 5 and 6 and scored the first goal tonight and had all the momentum. Shots were 11-10 for Boston in this evenly played first period. I commented to my uncle that being 1-1 at the end of the first was a very good position for the Canes to be in. Any time you are the underdog, the longer the game stays tied or within striking distance, the dog believes that they can win.

The Canes came out flying in the 2nd period. Tim Thomas who was excellent as well tonight and made 34 saves stopped Ray Whitey (7 shots on goal, gw assist) to keep the game tied. About 6 minutes in Joni Pitkanen (2 assists) skated down the right wing into the Boston zone. He then fed a nice pass across the crease to Sergei Samsonov to redirect in to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. This play is what Carolina does best. They use their speed to their advantage. The Bruins are a bigger team but the Canes are a faster team and they showed that tonight. Cam Ward chipped in with some good saves of his own stopping Byron Bitz on some nice chances in the second. Carolina outshot the Bruins 10-6 in the second period and if not for Thomas, they might have had a bigger lead than 2-1.

The third period Carolina started out on a continuation of a power play from the end of the second period almost got the game to 3-1. Corvo took a shot from the right point and Brindamour tipped it and off of the right post. This was the break that Boston needed to try to tie the game. Boston did just that when Milan Lucic beat Ward to the stick side. Marc Savard who had a very good series fed the pass to Lucic to knot the score. The rest of the third period the goalies made sure that this game was going into overtime. I told my uncle going it that the way Carolina would have a chance to win it would have to be a low scoring game that might even go to overtime. I must have been prophetic to think this. Cam Ward stopped Marc Recchi a couple of times to keep the score knotted. Tim Thomas then stopped Ray Whitney on a nice chance the puck then cleared by Bergeron away from Eric Staal who would have been 15 feet in front. Ward stopped Recchi on a couple of nice chances near the end of the third period. Shots were 11-9 Boston in the third.

Overtime started quickly for the Canes. A funny bounce led to Staal having a great chance about 30 seconds in. Thomas stood his ground with this save and did not give up any rebound. About 5 minutes in Ward stopped David Krejci on a glorious chance in front. The Bruins continued to press when Ward stopped Kobasew about 11 minutes in. Just over minutes later, Thomas stopped Staal again to keep the game tied. On the rebound, Staals stick was lifted by Bergeron. Thomas again stopped Whitney with a little under 4 minutes left in the ot. After this Chuck Kobasew had the puck on a glorious chance in the high slot but instead of shooting he drop passed the puck that was stolen by Jokinen who then fed Scott Walker on a 2 on 1. Thomas was able to stop him and then pounce on the puck behind the net. At 18:46 of overtime, Dennis Seidenberg fed a nice pass to Ray Whitney. Whitney shot from the right wing that Thomas saved but left the rebound out front. Walker then hit the puck out of the air to score the game winning goal. This was his first ever playoff goal and what a time to get it. Walker who is public enemy number 1 in Boston (I do not condone what he did in Game 5 btw) was able to stun the crowd. It was surreal to hear really. To be honest with you, I still can't believe as a fan of this franchise since 1986 that I was able to experience such a great moment live. I have tremendous respect for Boston as they are an excellent team and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2009-2010. As the NHL Network announcers have said it seems like this is a team of destiny. Yes very cliché but to win two Game 7s on the road and one in overtime vs a team that dominated you in Game 5 and Game 6 is unbelievable.

I hope that I did not sound too homerish in this blog. I thoroughly enjoy writing and try to paint an accurate picture of what happened. I will continue this throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs no matter who the teams are. I just wish I had more time as I would love to blog about Chicago vs Det as well if possible. I hope that exciting series goes the distance. They are very high scoring teams and if you are an NHL fan like I am, it should present some exciting hockey. The Canes are now going to face a very good Pitt team, but they have already faced very good Boston and NJ teams. I will never count this team out ever this season. We shall see what happens starting next week. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this, especially since this game was more special to me being there live to witness it in person.