Sabres Classics: Hurricanes got breaks they needed in Game 5 of 2006 ECF

With the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals tied 2-2, Game 5 in Raleigh, North Carolina proved how one bounce could make all the difference.

Thanks to goals from Chris Drury, Derek Roy and Toni Lydman, the Buffalo Sabres held a 3-1 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes and looked to be in control.

But as former Sabres goaltender Martin Biron recalls, it's never that easy in the Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Game 5 was pivotal. We went up 3-1 early in the second period, Martin Gerber was pulled for Cam Ward and we seemed to be in the driver's seat. Unfortunately, this is when Ward would become the player who won the Conn Smythe Trophy. With some luck to his side, Ward made a breakaway save on Maxim Afinogenov.

Max was flying and had a quick shot going five hole on Ward. The goalie barely moved as he was for sure beaten, but the paddle of his stick stopped the puck from going through his legs.

That save gave the Hurricanes the big break they needed.

Well, they obviously got more breaks as you probably know how this story ends. But it was the start of a chain reaction.

He also looked back on the moment with Daniel Briere, J-P Dumont and Jay McKee in "Beyond Blue and Gold: Scary Good."

Carolina went on to score twice in the third to tie the game and then Cory Stillman potted the game-winning goal 8:46 into overtime.

The game will re-air Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on MSG as part of "Sabres Classics" as we look back at the dramatic series.

The loss in Game 5 put Buffalo on the brink of elimination, which made what happened in Game 6 all the sweeter. We'll have more on that game Thursday when it airs on "Sabres Classics."