Carolina Hurricanes: Anatomy of a Moment- Ron Francis Stuns Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.

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Philippe Patenaude
September 16, 2024 (12:29)

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Facing the Detroit Red Wings as underdogs, the Carolina Hurricanes, guided by their captain, made it clear in Game 1 that they were not merely "happy to be there."

**The Background**

Heading into the 2002 Stanley Cup Final, many viewed the Carolina Hurricanes as underdogs. With just 91 points, they won the league's weakest division by six points but were only the seventh-best team in the Eastern Conference. They had fewer points than the Edmonton Oilers, who missed the playoffs in the West.

The 2001-02 Carolina Hurricanes were among the most successful teams in franchise history, finishing just two points shy of the 1986-87 Adams Division-winning Whalers. A significant portion of their points came from a league-leading 16 ties. The division title marked their third consecutive playoff appearance after previous conference quarterfinal exits.

In contrast, their finals opponents, the Detroit Red Wings, were a hockey powerhouse. With a veteran core and the NHL's winningest coach, the Red Wings had dominated the league for years. They had reached at least the conference finals in four of the previous six seasons and won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998. Detroit's 51 regular-season wins and 116 points earned them the President's Trophy, and they excelled in both offense and defense, bolstered by Dominik Hasek.

**Their Paths to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final**

Despite their lower point total, the Hurricanes secured home-ice advantage in the quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils and advanced in six games. They overcame the Canadiens in the conference semifinals after a dramatic turnaround, thanks to the "Molson Miracle." In the Eastern Conference Finals, they edged the Toronto Maple Leafs in a tightly contested six-game series, featuring several one-goal games and overtime victories.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, defeated Vancouver and St. Louis before facing a fierce battle with the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. They dominated the Avalanche in Game 7 with a 7-0 victory to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

**The Story of Fedorov and the Hurricanes**

Sergei Fedorov made an impact early in the series, scoring the first goal after a scramble in front of the net. Fedorov, who had a brief holdout in 1997-98, was involved in a contract dispute with the Hurricanes that ultimately ended with him returning to the Red Wings, where he won another Stanley Cup that season.

**Making it a Game**

The Hurricanes tied the game in the second period with a Sean Hill power-play goal but fell behind again after Kirk Maltby scored for Detroit. Jeff O'Neill, known for delivering in clutch moments, eventually scored to level the game in the final minute, sending it to overtime.

**Ronnie Franchise Leaves Them Stunned**

In overtime of Game 1, Ron Francis, the Hurricanes' veteran captain, secured a stunning victory. With less than a minute played, Francis capitalized on a rebound to beat Dominik Hasek, stunning the crowd and proving the Hurricanes were not just here to participate but to compete.

**The Aftermath**

Though Game 1 was a memorable moment for the Hurricanes, it was their last highlight of the series. The Red Wings won the next four games, including a triple-overtime victory in Game 3, to clinch the Cup. The series featured 11 future Hall of Famers, ten from Detroit, including legends like Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan. Ron Francis, Carolina's lone Hall of Famer, was second in team scoring for the series and later had his number retired by the Hurricanes. After a stint as team GM, Francis was honored for his contributions to the franchise, leaving a lasting legacy.

Source: cardiaccane.com
Carolina Hurricanes Anatomy of a Moment: Ron Francis Silences the Motor City in the Stanley Cup Final