The Miracle at Molson
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The Miracle At Molson refers to Game 4 of the 2002 National Hockey League Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens, in which the Hurricanes came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 3rd period to win 4-3 in overtime. The win was the start of a turnaround for the Hurricanes, as they tied the series and went on to defeat Montreal in 6 games on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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[edit] Before The Miracle
[edit] The First Round
The Hurricanes had won the Southeast Division and were guaranteed the third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but by record were just the 6th best team in the conference. Montreal was the eighth seed, the last team to make the postseason. The Hurricanes drew the New Jersey Devils, while Montreal got the Boston Bruins.
In their series, the Hurricanes had to face the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions, the Devils. Carolina won the first two games, each by a score of 2-1, with Erik Cole scoring in each of the games. But New Jersey won their first two games on home ice, decimating the Hurricanes 4-0 in game 3 and then winning game 4 3-1. Arturs Irbe, who had started the first two games, was pulled in game 3 in favor of Kevin Weekes, who finished the series. Carolina won game 5 back at home 3-2, and then took the series in game 6, as Ron Francis scored the only goal in a 1-0 game.
Montreal had to contend with the best team in the East, the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens won the first game of the series in Boston, 5-2, as Donald Audette notched a hat trick that included two third period goals. The Bruins took game 2, 6-4, as Brian Rolston put two goals away. Game 3 went to Montreal in Montreal, as a 4 goal third brought the Canadiens back from a 3-1 defict to win 5-3. Game 4 went handily in the Bruins favor, 5-2, with Richard Zednik scoring Montreal's only goals. Games 5 and 6 both went to Montreal, 2-1, as Yanic Perreault scored at 0:39 of the third period in game 6 on a power play goal to send the Canadiens to round 2.
[edit] Games 1, 2, And 3
Carolina started quickly, taking game 1 2-0. Ron Francis and Erik Cole put pucks in the net for the Hurricanes in the third period. The game was slightly marred by Jeff O'Neill's check from behind on Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray, breaking Souray's hand. O'Neill was ejected from the game for the hit.
Game 2 was all Theodore. The Canadiens goalie faced 46 shots, and stopped all but one from Rod Brind'Amour in the second. Montreal got just 16 shots, but scored on a quarter of them, with captain Saku Koivu notching a goal and an assist.
Game 3 also went to Montreal. Koivu scored in the second period, but Bates Battaglia tied it in the third. Overtime found the Canadiens in the offensive zone early, and Audette scored on the lone Montreal shot, 2:26 into the extra frame. Montreal had a 2-1 lead.
[edit] The Game
[edit] The First Two Periods
Montreal, at home and ahead by a game in the series, struck first. Andreas Dackell beat Carolina goaltender Kevin Weekes at 10:56. Less than one minute later, Yanic Perreault scored at 11:54 to put Montreal up 2-0. Already, the Canadiens were pulling away. Carolina head coach Paul Maurice decided to change goaltenders, switching out Weekes for Irbe prior to the start of the second period. Carolina had put just 6 shots on goal in the period.
The Hurricanes performed much better in the second period, outshooting the Canadiens by a 17-6 margin. However, it was Montreal that scored the lone goal of the period, a Sergei Berezin power play goal at 10:55. The Canadiens looked like they could simply lock down defensively in the third and hold the 'Canes off, taking a 3-1 lead in the series and pushing Carolina to the brink of being eliminated.
[edit] The Third Period and Overtime
The third period started badly for Montreal. Stephane Quintal took a penalty for cross-checking, and when Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien argued the call, referee Kerry Fraser called a penalty on the team for abuse of officials, giving Carolina a 2:00 5-on-3 power play at 2:40 of the period. They took advantage of the opportunity, when defenseman Sean Hill cracked a slapshot on goal past Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore at 3:57. The Hurricanes continued to play very aggressive hockey, attacking the Canadiens' net, and at 12:43, Bates Battaglia hammered a shot that found the goal. The score put Carolina within one, 3-2. The Hurricanes had a chance to tie the game, but a continued effort could not beat Theodore at even-strength. With less than two minutes to go, Carolina pulled Irbe in favor of an extra attacker. Now the Hurricanes could truly pressure Theodore. A slapshot from the far boards was stopped, but the rebound bounced to rookie Erik Cole, who fought it past Theodore and into the Montreal net with a mere :41 left in the period. The goal shocked the Canadiens crowd and the team as well. Overtime was assured.
The Habs and the 'Canes headed into the OT, both needing only one goal to win. Montreal managed just one shot on goal in the short period. Then came a draw in the Montreal defensive zone. Jeff O'Neill won the faceoff back to defensman Niclas Wallin. He took a slapshot that found a path through the pile of players and past Theodore into the net. The Hurricanes players all flew off the bench in joy, while the Canadiens players and fans left in shocked disbelief. Niclas Wallin was a hero, and from this earned the nickname "Secret Weapon"-a fitting title for a player whose only 3 career postseason goals have all been in overtime. As a team, the Hurricanes had completed a miracle comeback, and tied the series at 2-2. As Coach Paul Maurice said after the game, "You go through the year, every time our backs have been against the wall, we've always found a way to win. If you asked our room, they truly believed they could do it."
[edit] After The Miracle
The Hurricanes took the stunning victory to heart, and handily won the next two games. Back on home ice in Raleigh for game 5, Martin Gelinas and Bates Batagglia each turned in one goal, one assist performances as the Hurricanes won 5-1, with Karl Dykhuis scoring Montreal's only goal at 14:32 of the third period.
Game 6 was another blowout, as the Hurricanes returned to Montreal and hammered the Canadiens, 8-2. Erik Cole notched the first two goals of the game at 0:25 and 3:33, and added an assist in a 5 goal first period that sent Theodore to the bench. Backup goalie Stephane Fiset came in and surrendered three more goals over the remainder of the game, and Theodore returned to action at 18:21 of the third.
The victory propelled the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they would win in six games-clinching on an overtime goal by Martin Gelinas in game 6 at Toronto-before falling to the Detroit Red Wings in five games in the Stanley Cup Finals.
