Top 20 Cup Final games since 2000: No. 16

As the NHL prepares for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL.com staff selected the best 20 Stanley Cup Final games since 2000. Our 15-writer panel nominated 44 games for consideration before each member voted for his or her favorite 20 from that list. Each favorite game was awarded 20 points, with the selections that followed receiving one fewer point each and so on, down to one point for each 20th-favorite game. Today, we look at Game 7 of the 2006 Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers, which was on 10 ballots and received 77 points.

2006 Game 7: Carolina Hurricanes 3, Edmonton Oilers 1

The Hurricanes were in their eighth season in Carolina but had already reached the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 2002.
But things went differently in 2006.
There were four one-goal games (Game 1, 5-4, Carolina; Game 3, 2-1 Edmonton; Game 4, 2-1 Carolina; Game 5, 4-3 Edmonton in overtime) in the series before Game 6, a 4-0 Oilers win. But the Hurricanes won their first championship on their third and final attempt after the Oilers won Game 5 and Game 6 to extend the best-of-7 series.
In Game 7 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward scored 1:26 into the first period, and defenseman Frantisek Kaberle followed with a power-play goal at 4:18 of the second to give Carolina a 2-0 lead. But the Oilers responded 1:03 into the third with a rebound goal by forward Fernando Pisani, bringing them within one.
Pisani nearly scored another rebound goal with three minutes remaining, but rookie goalie Cam Ward managed to make a save with his left pad, one of the biggest moments in the series.
It remained a one-goal game until forward Justin Williams scored into an empty net with 1:01 left.

They said it: "Honestly, it was gratitude. That's what I remember sitting in my stall, just being so grateful that I was able to accomplish that with the guys that I did and that my family was able to be a part of it. Our sport is really unique that way in that it's such a sacrifice for your family just to be able to get you to play as a kid. They're with you every step of the way. For me, winning it, especially at that stage, I think it just made it that much more special. I just remember being so grateful." -- Hurricanes forward Rod Brind'Amour on winning the Cup for the first time in his career
Historical significance: Ward became the first rookie goalie to win the Stanley Cup since Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. Ward was the first rookie since Ron Hextall with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987 to win the Conn Smythe voted as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; he had a 2.14 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 23 games. … Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley, who began his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers, won the Stanley Cup for the first time in his 18th season. … The Oilers were the first No. 8 seed to reach the Cup Final. … It was the second Cup Final in a row that a team from Alberta lost Game 7 (Calgary Flames, 2004 against the Tampa Bay Lightning).
Iconic moment: With three minutes remaining in the third period and the Hurricanes ahead by one goal, Oilers forward Raffi Torres sent a shot on net from the left side. Ward made the save, but he allowed a rebound right in front with Pisani driving the net. Ward also saved the rebound, kicking out his left pad, to preserve the lead.

Telling stat: Ward won 15 games in the playoffs, one more than he had during the regular season.