‘Canes take the Cup

Paul Newberry/AP National Writer
The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. Fri, May 16 2008

— This time, the Stanley Cup gets to stay on Tobacco Road.
A couple of low-scoring Carolina defensemen put Edmonton’s comeback on ice and Cam Ward stopped nearly everything that came his way, giving the Hurricanes their first NHL championship with a 3-1 victory over the Oilers on Monday night.
Aaron Ward and Frantisek Kaberle found the net for the Hurricanes — a couple of unlikely players to carry the offense, considering they were each six-goal scorers during the regular season and had combined for only four in the playoffs.
Then there’s the guy who made sure two goals was just enough. Ward, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player in the playoffs, wasn’t even Carolina’s No. 1 goalie at the beginning of the postseason, but the 22-year-old rookie got the call when Martin Gerber struggled in an opening round against Montreal.
Ward wound up winning more games in the playoffs (15) than he did backing up Gerber during the regular season (14).

For full story, please see the June 20, 2006 edtion of The Union-Recorder.