This Day in Canes History: April 28

On this day in Canes history ...

April 28, 2009

The Shock at the Rock

The 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series between the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils already had some drama with the Canes' last-second 4-3 win in Game 4. That evened the series at two games apiece. The Devils landed a 1-0 shutout win at home in Game 5, while the Canes were able to stave off elimination with a 4-0 shutout win in Raleigh in Game 6.

It was back to Prudential Center in New Jersey for a winner-take-all Game 7.

Tuomo Ruutu got the Canes on the board just 62 seconds into the game, but Jamie Langenbrunner and the Devils answered back not even 90 seconds later. Jay Pandolfo then put the Devils up 2-1 heading into the first intermission. The two teams traded goals in the second - Ray Whitney scoring for the Canes, and Brian Rolston striking back for the Devils on the power play - and the one-goal differential remained after 40 minutes.

The Devils maintained their 3-2 lead as time ticked down in regulation.

With less than two minutes to play, the Canes were rolling around in the offensive zone, even without an extra attacker on the ice.

Tim Gleason had a shot attempt blocked, and Rod Brind'Amour chipped the puck back up to the defenseman. Gleason dove to keep the puck in at the blue line and, from his knees, slid a pass over to Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen walked the puck in from the left point before threading the needle across the zone over to a wide-open Jussi Jokinen, who pumped a one-timer past Martin Brodeur.

The Canes had tied Game 7 at three with 80 seconds left in the third period.

As if that wasn't exciting enough …

After winning a defensive zone faceoff with 44 seconds left, the Devils chipped the puck out of the zone. Gleason settled it in his own end and worked it up to Chad LaRose at center ice. LaRose absorbed a body and laid the puck off for Eric Staal, who was flying through the neutral zone. Staal corralled the puck at the blue line, dusted it off and, from the right wing, wristed a shot that beat Brodeur to the far side.

John Forslund: "HE SCOOOORES! Hey, hey, whaddya say? Eric Staal and the Canes have a 4-3 lead in Game 7!"

The Canes held on for the final 31.7 seconds of regulation to win Game 7 on the road in dramatic fashion.

Carolina would go on to defeat the Boston Bruins in a thrilling seven-game second round series before being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2009 Eastern Conference Final.