Shades of Steve Smith
Steve Smith was an outstanding defenseman for the Oilers for several years, but it's hard for folks in Edmonton to shake the memory of his "own goal" in a Game 7 against rival Calgary in 1986. The Flames went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Perhaps Jason Smith's entanglement with backup goalie Ty Conklin behind the net, leading to Rod Brind'Amour's game-winning goal with 31 seconds left Monday night, will propel the Hurricanes to their first Cup. Starting goalie Dwayne Roloson is lost for the series, according to Oilers coach Craig Mactavish, and given how little his backups have played in the postseason, this series very well could be over -- even after just one game.
The Canes had already rallied from a 3-0 deficit, having even taken the lead on Justin Williams' short-handed goal in the third period. The finish -- and loss of Roloson -- will be near-impossible to overcome against the offensively talented Canes. No, sir, these aren't your '02 Canes, who lost to Detroit in five.