Official Game 7 Stanley Cup Thread - Edmonton Oilers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

[brown_builder]

Here we go boys, it all comes down to tonight. Who you going for, the heart and determination of the visiting Oiler's or the speed and skill of the Hurricanes?

I got my money on the Oil.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time for talk is over
for 'Canes, Oilers
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com | June 19, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- There really isn't much left to talk about for the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers.

The Stanley Cup will be awarded Monday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio) to the winner of Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. For the third-straight season, it will come down to the last possible game of the postseason to determine an NHL champion.

So, who has the momentum? Home teams are 11-2 in Stanley Cup Final history. In all rounds, home teams are 74-44 in Game 7. Those numbers favor the Hurricanes, who will be greeted by the warm embrace of their loyal fans Monday night.

The Oilers have their own brand of momentum brewing, trying to become the second team in Stanley Cup Final history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the Cup. The celebrated 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to have made the ultimate comeback.


Schedule / Links:

Gm. 1: CAR 5, EDM 4 | Photos
Gm. 2: CAR 5, EDM 0 | Photos
Gm. 3: EDM 2, CAR 1 | Photos
Gm. 4: CAR 2, EDM 1 | Photos
Gm. 5: EDM 4, CAR 3 OT | Photos
Gm. 6: EDM 4, CAR 0 | Photos
Gm. 7: June 19, 8:00 p.m. ET
at Carolina (NBC, CBC, RDS)

Oilers force Game 7 with 4-0 win
Oilers' physical play
turning the tide
With Cup on the line, Carolina
turns in poor effort
Cole makes surprise return to lineup
Hurricanes official site

Oilers official site

Hurricanes team stats
Oilers team stats
Buy your 'Canes merchandise
Buy your Oilers merchandise


"I think it's real important that we show up, play our game," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said when quizzed about whether the home team had the edge. "We're not going to change anything. We tried to make a couple of tweaks for Game 6. I think regardless of what you try and do, if you are not skating and competing as well as the other team is you are going to find it difficult to be successful. And really those were two areas where we were lacking. We're back in our building where we have had a lot of success. Our fans will be here. There will be a lot of energy. Obviously, everybody knows what is at stake. Season is over (Monday) night. Our guys will be ready to have some fun."

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said his team will have to improve upon a dominant Game 6 effort to win the Cup.

"Well, I think we have to be," MacTavish said when asked if his team has to be better. "It's the game of hockey and in the game of hockey you really have to dominate the opposition to ensure a win. And they are going to try and do the same to us, but we're going to try and get better and improve upon our game (Saturday night). Neither team wants to let a bad break or bad bounce lose a game for them, so you have to have a dominant performance and both teams will be looking for that. We'll be looking for a similar performance."

"We always think we can play better," Oilers forward Raffi Torres agreed. "I think we got them right where we want them, but at the same time we can't get overexcited out there because they are that dangerous out there. I thought at some points during the game we weren't getting the puck out of our zone and you could see how it cost us they were getting the pucks to the net and one bounced the opposite way it could be a different game. So I think we'll just try and carry the same type of game."

Laviolette is looking for a lot more from his team, after two admittedly sup-par performances saw the Hurricanes see their series advantage slip away.

"We were pretty lousy on all aspects," Laviolette said. "That's yesterday's news. We have got a big game to look forward to definitely. Didn't have our energy in our legs, in our skating, all the things that have won our trademark for us all season long. I think it's important we get back to that first of all, try and execute our game plan a little better."

One important step for the Hurricanes would be to up the energy level, which has seemed to tail off to a degree, be it from attrition or the number of games played this season.

"It's hard to explain that, honestly," Laviolette said of the seeming lack of energy. "Some nights you are fatigued for whatever the reason may be. Maybe it had to do with residual effect of Game 5. I am not making excuses; no excuses to be made this late in the season. But for whatever reason, we didn't skate very well. They definitely skated better than we did. The game is about skating, about the puck, and the best way to get it is to skate or to keep it is to skate. And we, just like I said, two areas I thought that we were missing were the skating and the competitiveness."

MacTavish expects to see a Hurricanes team that is excited about the opportunity of Game 7, not one depressed by the lopsided Game 6 loss.

"I know when we got beat 5-0 in Game 2 that it really ... it's an embarrassment. In losing that game, we shook it off fairly quickly and were able to respond in Game 3. They are not here because they are wall flowers and you know that they are going to come out with their best effort of the playoffs and it's going to be up to us to combat that. I don't think there's a residual effect negatively for them going into the next game and maybe just the opposite as you alluded to there might be a positive motivator for them."


If the 'Canes are to be successful Monday night, they'll need Cam Ward to be at his best.
"Well, Game 5 was tough to swallow," Laviolette admitted. "In overtime we were set up to win it on our power play and it didn't happen, so it was really ... it was a tough one to get over. Maybe the toughest that we have been through. And then Game 6 was just terrible.

"I guess, obviously, it is a one-and-done for both sides," he said. "That's why I guess you look back at the season. You try and find a game somewhere in mid-November that was on the road and was five games and seven nights that you were able to come back and win and get the points that you need for home ice advantage somewhere, you know, it's in our building. This is where we want to be."

But make no mistake about it, both teams expect to put their best game on the ice in search of the ultimate prize.

"I would say don't count us out," Laviolette said. "It's one game. It's a one-game shot. We have won an awful lot of hockey games this year, more than anybody else in the NHL.

"This team knows how to win. They know how to win on home ice. You know, people might have counted us out after two losses to Montreal at home, and that was a mistake. I guess we can't control what people think or what people say, but we know there's a lot of confidence in the locker room to win hockey games.

"When we do it tomorrow night we'll do it for each other."

"We all talk about belief, Oilers winger Ryan Smyth said. "We all talk about urgency. The will to win and never quitting and keeping positive through the whole situation. And, you know, like I said before, we have given ourselves an opportunity to play in Game 7. And, you know, it's few and far between to get to a place like this in your career, so we'll obviously make the most of it and we'll do our best to put our names on the Cup."

http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/ser...nce061906.html

[muirsy88]

I hate the oilers, I hate their fans, I hate the city of edmonton, I hate everything they stand for....but god damn do they deserve to win the cup.

And it pains me to say this, but I think they will. Carolina looks worn out and tired and edmonton just keeps getting better and better every single game.

2-1 Oilers in 1st OT.

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by muirsy88

I hate the oilers, I hate their fans, I hate the city of edmonton, I hate everything they stand for....but god damn do they deserve to win the cup.

And it pains me to say this, but I think they will.

This is exactly what I feel. Being a Canucks fan, I've hated and despised the Oil this entire season. But since March they've deserved this, they haven't given up at all and if the play the way they have for the last 1.5-2 month's... The Stanley Cup is on it's way to Canada.

[harrisjl]

Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the NHL playoff thread

[Johnny Cakes]

I hope Edmonton wins.

I hate seeing Mickey Mouse franchises like the Florida Marlins, Anahiem Angels, Tampa Bay Buccanneers, San Antonio Spurs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Arizona Diamondbacks win championships.

[the terminator]

carolina is at home.
home teams always win game 7.
stanley cup winners-carolina hurricanes.

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by the terminator

carolina is at home.
home teams always win game 7.
stanley cup winners-carolina hurricanes.

True, on my way into work this morning I heard on the radio that the visiting team has never won a championship in a game 7 in the MLB, NBA or NHL since the 70's.

[buresnipes]

Originally Posted by brown_builder

True, on my way into work this morning I heard on the radio that the visiting team has never won a championship in a game 7 in the MLB, NBA or NHL since the 70's.

Well guess what? That **** don't matter the cup is coming back to where it belongs CANADA

LET'S GO OILERS.....LET'S GO OILERS.....LET'S GO OILERS.....LET'S GO OILERS..... LET'S GO OILERS.....

[DonkeySlap101]

Originally Posted by muirsy88

I hate the oilers, I hate their fans, I hate the city of edmonton, I hate everything they stand for....but god damn do they deserve to win the cup.

And it pains me to say this, but I think they will. Carolina looks worn out and tired and edmonton just keeps getting better and better every single game.

2-1 Oilers in 1st OT.

****, I lived in Calgary, and if anything, I hate the flames, I hate their fans SO MUCH. Although I do like the city. Most Calgary Flames fans didn't even like the flames until they started winning, and are ****ing bandwagon jumpers. Once they start doing ****ty again you will hate them again, just watch.

end rant.



On A side note, GO OILERS WHOOOOT

[muirsy88]

Originally Posted by DonkeySlap101

Most Calgary Flames fans didn't even like the flames until they started winning, and are ****ing bandwagon jumpers. Once they start doing ****ty again you will hate them again, just watch.

That's not different from ANY playoff city...tons of bandwagon jumpers.

I've been a flames fan since day 1 of my life....through the good times and the bad.

p.s...we sold out every single game this year

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by muirsy88

That's not different from ANY playoff city...tons of bandwagon jumpers.

I've been a flames fan since day 1 of my life....through the good times and the bad.

p.s...we sold out every single game this year

We've got over 130 consecutive sell-outs in Vancouver, all though we sucked balls this year... most of them were corporate season-ticket holder's.

[DonkeySlap101]

Originally Posted by muirsy88

That's not different from ANY playoff city...tons of bandwagon jumpers.

I've been a flames fan since day 1 of my life....through the good times and the bad.

p.s...we sold out every single game this year

well that is good then. Besides, we all know it is all about the WINNIPEEGG JEETTSSSSS.

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by DonkeySlap101

well that is good then. Besides, we all know it is all about the WINNIPEEGG JEETTSSSSS.

lol

[mike_d]

my prediction, tight game, very defensive, 1-1 tie going into overtime, edmonton ftw

*nervous

[ragnatang]

Originally Posted by brown_builder

Here we go boys, it all comes down to tonight. Who you going for, the heart and determination of the visiting Oiler's or the speed and skill of the Hurricanes?

I got my money on the Oil.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time for talk is over
for 'Canes, Oilers
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com | June 19, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. -- There really isn't much left to talk about for the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers.

The Stanley Cup will be awarded Monday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio) to the winner of Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. For the third-straight season, it will come down to the last possible game of the postseason to determine an NHL champion.

So, who has the momentum? Home teams are 11-2 in Stanley Cup Final history. In all rounds, home teams are 74-44 in Game 7. Those numbers favor the Hurricanes, who will be greeted by the warm embrace of their loyal fans Monday night.

The Oilers have their own brand of momentum brewing, trying to become the second team in Stanley Cup Final history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the Cup. The celebrated 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to have made the ultimate comeback.


Schedule / Links:

Gm. 1: CAR 5, EDM 4 | Photos
Gm. 2: CAR 5, EDM 0 | Photos
Gm. 3: EDM 2, CAR 1 | Photos
Gm. 4: CAR 2, EDM 1 | Photos
Gm. 5: EDM 4, CAR 3 OT | Photos
Gm. 6: EDM 4, CAR 0 | Photos
Gm. 7: June 19, 8:00 p.m. ET
at Carolina (NBC, CBC, RDS)

Oilers force Game 7 with 4-0 win
Oilers' physical play
turning the tide
With Cup on the line, Carolina
turns in poor effort
Cole makes surprise return to lineup
Hurricanes official site

Oilers official site

Hurricanes team stats
Oilers team stats
Buy your 'Canes merchandise
Buy your Oilers merchandise


"I think it's real important that we show up, play our game," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said when quizzed about whether the home team had the edge. "We're not going to change anything. We tried to make a couple of tweaks for Game 6. I think regardless of what you try and do, if you are not skating and competing as well as the other team is you are going to find it difficult to be successful. And really those were two areas where we were lacking. We're back in our building where we have had a lot of success. Our fans will be here. There will be a lot of energy. Obviously, everybody knows what is at stake. Season is over (Monday) night. Our guys will be ready to have some fun."

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said his team will have to improve upon a dominant Game 6 effort to win the Cup.

"Well, I think we have to be," MacTavish said when asked if his team has to be better. "It's the game of hockey and in the game of hockey you really have to dominate the opposition to ensure a win. And they are going to try and do the same to us, but we're going to try and get better and improve upon our game (Saturday night). Neither team wants to let a bad break or bad bounce lose a game for them, so you have to have a dominant performance and both teams will be looking for that. We'll be looking for a similar performance."

"We always think we can play better," Oilers forward Raffi Torres agreed. "I think we got them right where we want them, but at the same time we can't get overexcited out there because they are that dangerous out there. I thought at some points during the game we weren't getting the puck out of our zone and you could see how it cost us they were getting the pucks to the net and one bounced the opposite way it could be a different game. So I think we'll just try and carry the same type of game."

Laviolette is looking for a lot more from his team, after two admittedly sup-par performances saw the Hurricanes see their series advantage slip away.

"We were pretty lousy on all aspects," Laviolette said. "That's yesterday's news. We have got a big game to look forward to definitely. Didn't have our energy in our legs, in our skating, all the things that have won our trademark for us all season long. I think it's important we get back to that first of all, try and execute our game plan a little better."

One important step for the Hurricanes would be to up the energy level, which has seemed to tail off to a degree, be it from attrition or the number of games played this season.

"It's hard to explain that, honestly," Laviolette said of the seeming lack of energy. "Some nights you are fatigued for whatever the reason may be. Maybe it had to do with residual effect of Game 5. I am not making excuses; no excuses to be made this late in the season. But for whatever reason, we didn't skate very well. They definitely skated better than we did. The game is about skating, about the puck, and the best way to get it is to skate or to keep it is to skate. And we, just like I said, two areas I thought that we were missing were the skating and the competitiveness."

MacTavish expects to see a Hurricanes team that is excited about the opportunity of Game 7, not one depressed by the lopsided Game 6 loss.

"I know when we got beat 5-0 in Game 2 that it really ... it's an embarrassment. In losing that game, we shook it off fairly quickly and were able to respond in Game 3. They are not here because they are wall flowers and you know that they are going to come out with their best effort of the playoffs and it's going to be up to us to combat that. I don't think there's a residual effect negatively for them going into the next game and maybe just the opposite as you alluded to there might be a positive motivator for them."


If the 'Canes are to be successful Monday night, they'll need Cam Ward to be at his best.
"Well, Game 5 was tough to swallow," Laviolette admitted. "In overtime we were set up to win it on our power play and it didn't happen, so it was really ... it was a tough one to get over. Maybe the toughest that we have been through. And then Game 6 was just terrible.

"I guess, obviously, it is a one-and-done for both sides," he said. "That's why I guess you look back at the season. You try and find a game somewhere in mid-November that was on the road and was five games and seven nights that you were able to come back and win and get the points that you need for home ice advantage somewhere, you know, it's in our building. This is where we want to be."

But make no mistake about it, both teams expect to put their best game on the ice in search of the ultimate prize.

"I would say don't count us out," Laviolette said. "It's one game. It's a one-game shot. We have won an awful lot of hockey games this year, more than anybody else in the NHL.

"This team knows how to win. They know how to win on home ice. You know, people might have counted us out after two losses to Montreal at home, and that was a mistake. I guess we can't control what people think or what people say, but we know there's a lot of confidence in the locker room to win hockey games.

"When we do it tomorrow night we'll do it for each other."

"We all talk about belief, Oilers winger Ryan Smyth said. "We all talk about urgency. The will to win and never quitting and keeping positive through the whole situation. And, you know, like I said before, we have given ourselves an opportunity to play in Game 7. And, you know, it's few and far between to get to a place like this in your career, so we'll obviously make the most of it and we'll do our best to put our names on the Cup."

http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2006/ser...nce061906.html

oilers all the way!!! YAH!!!

carolina are losing their momentul while the oiler's are building theirs...forecast ; 3-1 edmonton

[youm0nt]

edmonton oilers chea

[martymcfly]

this is going to be a KILLER game (well, it had better be) im excited, going to sit down with my friends and definitly watch that, also can't wait to see what suit Don will wear tonight haha

[B. Roth]

I live in Charlotte, NC and I'm a huge hockey fan. I played hockey when I was younger in a town where almost no one plays hockey. My hockey league consisted of 2 teams who played each other every week because there were only about 30 kids in town who played. I loved playing nonetheless and hockey is still my all-time favorite sport.

I want Carolina to win the Cup more than anything. I don't think I've ever cared this much about any team winning a Championship. That said, I think Edmonton is going to win the Stanley Cup. I think that they just wore the Hurricanes down with their physical play. The last two games the Hurricanes haven't looked on their game nearly as much as Edmonton has. I think the pressure is all on the Hurricanes and the cup is theirs to win or lose.

I hope against hope that the 'Canes will step up and pull off a win.

[Haywood Jablome]

LETS GO OILERS!!!!!!!

[Haywood Jablome]

Originally Posted by the terminator

carolina is at home.
home teams always win game 7.
.

seriously, no past stats matter now. Its one game. This has been a record breaking run all together for the OIL, and its not going to stop now. Cane's will lose 3 in a row.

btw, home teams won 7 of 11 game sevens - not all

[trav1809]

I'm predicting that this will be a tight defensive game that will go into overtime. Pasani has the hot hand for Edmonton, I think that he will score the winner. It will be so nice to have the cup back where it belongs, here in Canada. And when the Leafs win it next year, that will be two years that a Canadian team has won it.

Anyways. Oil win 3-2 in overtime

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by trav1809

when the Leafs win it next year

lol

[brown_builder]

less than 4 hours till puck drops

[Haywood Jablome]

Hell yes ^^

The results of this poll look like the shots on goal from game #6!

[TheAustrianOak]

i like the style of western canadian hockey. very physical and gritty

for that reason i'd rather see edmonton win

though i don't mind carolina either, so i could care less who wins (since the leafs got put out)

i think edmonton will take it

[buresnipes]

2 more hours

[buresnipes]

Originally Posted by martymcfly

can't wait to see what suit Don will wear tonight haha

I'm guessing the flower one that he wore for game 5

[brown_builder]

Originally Posted by time4muscles

I'm guessing the flower one that he wore for game 5

I did not like that suit one bit.

[buresnipes]

Originally Posted by brown_builder

I did not like that suit one bit.

ya but every time he wears it the Oilers win so he better wear it.

[Mighty Mikey G]

damn alot of people called this one wrong

I picked the canes at the start of the series