This Day in Canes History: April 21

On this day in Canes history …

April 21, 2009

Jussi Jokinen scores with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, evening the series at two games apiece.

New Jersey was a regular playoff opponent for the Canes in the 2000s, as the two teams met in the first round in three of the Canes' four postseason appearances from 2001-2009. It took an epic seven-game series for the Canes to move past the Devils in 2009, with one of the team's most memorable playoff victories coming in Game 4 at home.

Eric Staal and Ryan Bayda scored 63 seconds apart in the first period, and Chad LaRose notched a goal in the second to put the Canes ahead 3-0. Brian Gionta got the Devils on the board with just 28 seconds left in the second period, a springboard for their comeback. Brendan Shanahan and David Clarkson each scored in the first nine minutes of the third period to tie the game at three.

Then, with 30 seconds left in regulation, the Canes broke the puck out of their own zone. Joni Pitkanen skated the puck into the zone, where the Canes then rolled around with it on the perimeter. Jokinen attempted a wrap-around on his backhand, but Martin Brodeur put the paddle down. Hounded by Jokinen, all Paul Martin could do was softly chip a backhander off the glass.

3 …

Pitkanen settled the puck at the point and walked it across the blue line to Dennis Seidenberg.

2 …

The crowd bellowed "shoot!" and Seidenberg teed up a one-timer.

1 …

Parked in front of the net, Jokinen got a piece of the shot with his left skate, deflecting the puck past Brodeur with 0.2 seconds remaining on the clock.

Pandemonium at the then RBC Center.

John Forslund on the call: "They score! They score! Carolina has won it! At the horn! A miracle finish, and this series is dead even!"