June 3, 2006

Coming Full Circle

As Bryan Trottier returns to the Islanders and Chris Chelios to the Red Wings, two former WHA teams get ready for their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals… Edmonton and Carolina have a playoff history as WHA teams, meeting in 1978 and 1979 – but never has any former WHA franchises met for the NHL’s most respected trophy.

Not only have these two franchises never met in the NHL playoffs, but also didn’t face each other during the regular season.  This is just the second time since the NHL took sole possession of the Stanley Cup in 1927 that the teams meeting in the finals hadn’t played one another during the regular season.

It’s ironic, that in this first season back after a labor dispute that cancelled the entire 2004-2005 NHL season, that two small-market teams that originally came from the now defunct WHA have made it to these finals.  This remarkable scenario alone shows that the new salary cap/salary structure has already paid dividends in the “New NHL.”

The familiarity of post-season play for these two teams goes back to their days in the WHA, where over the course of the WHA’s seven years these two franchises were regular participants. The New England Whalers (who evolved to become the Carolina Hurricanes) hold the honors of winning the first AVCO Trophy for the 1972-73, when the defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. 

As for their meetings against the Oilers, their first match-up was in the first round of the 1978 playoffs where the Whalers knocked them out in five games.  Their next meeting in the 1978-79 playoffs, would be their final meeting as members of the WHA.  This time around though, it was Oilers winning their second round series in seven games.  The Whalers would not make a playoff appearance again until the 1985-86 season as members of the NHL.

The Oilers on the other hand had immediate success upon entering the NHL…  From 1980-1992 the Oilers made the playoffs.  During this 13-year run, they won the Stanley Cup five times… their last cup win came in 1990.  After the 1992 season, Edmonton like the Hartford Whalers had some financial problems… though a move out of Edmonton wasn’t necessary, they did however trade off most of their stars and for the next five seasons the Oilers watched the post-season from home. 

That was then and here we are now, with these two teams going full circle to finally meet in the Championship round.  For the Oilers it’s been a long time since they last participated in the Stanley Cup finals – you’ll need to go all the way back to the 1989-1990 season, when Mark Messier, Bill Ranford and Grant Fuhr led the Oilers to their 5^th Stanley Cup.

Carolina meanwhile returns to the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-2002 season when they were also Stanley Cup Finalists.  Despite winning the Southeast Division, the Hurricanes were the underdogs throughout the playoffs and they proved everyone wrong as the goaltending tandem of Arturs Irbe and Kevin Weekes, along with the offensive force of Jeff O’Neill and Erik Cole guided Carolina to it’s first trip to the finals.  Unfortunately for the Canes, the Red Wings ended their hopes of a Cup win by taking the series in five games.

Heading into this Stanley Cup final, the Hurricanes are considered the favorites.  After skating through the Canadiens and Devils with ease in the first two rounds, Buffalo played the Canes and the Canes responded by equaling their fight for the right to move on by coming through when it counted the most.

Despite stunning the Red Wings in the opening round, and skating through the next two rounds with somewhat ease, the Oilers have endured an eight-game layoff heading into Game 1… they are also the lowest-seeded team to reach the finals under the current playoff format, which so far hasn’t fazed them much.

The Keys to Success…

For Carolina to win the Stanley Cup they need to do a couple of things… First and foremost, they must find ways to overcome their slow starts.  The first period throughout these playoffs have been deadly for the Canes… they’ve been outscored and have lost four of six games in which they trailed after the opening period.

Secondly, they need to use the home ice advantage in Game 1 to set the tempo for the series – giving the Oilers any room and or chance to capitalize will be cause for a reversal of fortune for the Canes.

On the other side of the coin, the Oilers could very well do to the Canes what they did to the Red Wings – dominate from the start.  They’ll need to capitalize on any and all of the Canes mistakes, and as well take their current game to the next level. 

Both teams are fast – but the Canes do have four strong, fast lines with plenty of pure shooters, while the Oilers are scrappy with not much size.  The Carolina power play has been extremely dangerous throughout the playoffs, while the Oilers penalty-kill has been at it’s best during the same time.

Goaltending of course is a very big key to the game, and both sides have been hot in-between the pipes.  Dwayne Roloson is having a “Cinderella” season since arriving in Edmonton at the trading deadline, picking up all 12 Oilers wins in the playoffs.  Rookie Cam Ward has been sensational for the Canes, winning 11 and has been a solid compliment for veteran Martin Gerber. 

The Key Players…

Carolina

Rod Brind’Amour:  Rod Brind’Amour not only led his team in goals in the comeback over the Canadiens, he also led the entire league in power play goals in the first three rounds and was tied for the lead in game-winners. His most important power play goal and game-winning tally came when his team needed him the most – in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Eric Staal: Staal has played a huge roll in Carolina post-season. He heads into the Stanley Cup Finals as the NHL points leader in the post-season, scoring 20 points off seven goals and 13 assists.

Cory Stillman: Stillman goes into the fourth round with a hot hand, posting 19 points off seven goals, three of which were game-winners and 12 assists.

Cam Ward: With the Canes down 2-0 in the opening round to the Canadiens, Coach Peter Laviolette took a chance and sent out a 22-year-old goalie Ward for Game 3 and his team never looked back.  Ward finished off the Canadiens by winning his first four starts in the post-season and then took care of business in the next round by dispatching a red-hot Devils club in five games. In the Conference Finals, he bent but didn’t break in the seven-game set, stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced in the Canes 4-2 Game 7 win over Buffalo.

Edmonton

Chris Pronger: Pronger has been a huge presence for the Oilers through the first three rounds. Not only is he the top scoring backliner in the playoffs, he also is logging the most ice time per game for the Oilers, averaging more than 31 minutes per game. He’s also the top scoring defenseman in the league with four goals, and is tied for first in the NHL in assists and is fourth in plus/minus during these playoffs.

Dwayne Roloson: Where would the Oilers be without goaltender Dwayne Roloson?  Roloson has faced a league-high 595 shots in the playoffs, making a league-high 554 saves.  His 12 wins are the most in the playoffs this year, while his save percentage is the second best (.931) and his GAA (2.22) is third. Roloson’s play is also a big reason the Oilers enter the Cup Finals with the best penalty-killing unit. Edmonton has killed off 101 of the 114 power play chances against the Oilers, registering two short-handed goals in the process.

Burning Questions…

What affect will the eight-day layoff have on the Oilers?  The Oilers will be entering the Cup finals coming off their longest break in action since the 2-week Olympic break… and they certainly don’t want to skate down the same path of the Ducks as shown in the previous round.

Can the Hurricanes momentum continue?  After playing three pressure packed games in one week against the Sabres, do the Canes have anything left in the tank… or will the ice melt under their skates.  They must under any and all circumstances come out smoking.

The End Result…

Carolina in 6