Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
redguru
New member
Buffalo at Carolina 7:30 pm EDT Eastern Conference finals Series tied, 3-3
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) - It almost would not seem right if the Eastern Conference Finals did not go the distance.
In a series complete with overtime thrillers and numerous momentum swings, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres face off in Game Seven on Thursday for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The winner will host the Edmonton Oilers in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Edmonton needed only five games to oust Anaheim in the Western Conference finals.
However, this series has been significantly more competitive. Five of the six games have been decided by one goal and the last two contests have gone into overtime.
The second-seeded Hurricanes took a three-games-to-two series lead Sunday with a 4-3 triumph, but the fourth-seeded Sabres pushed the series to the brink Tuesday with a 2-1 victory.
The hero for Buffalo in Game Six was co-captain Daniel Briere, who netted the game-winner 4:22 into the extra session. J.P. Dumont scored a first-period goal and rookie Ryan Miller made 25 saves for the fourth-seeded Sabres, who are one win away from advancing to their third Stanley Cup Finals and first since 1999.
"Before the game, that's all we were looking for. We wanted a chance at a Game Seven," Briere said. "We have won over there, we know we can win in Carolina. ... We're excited about going back for Game Seven."
Rookie Cam Ward turned aside 29 shots and defenseman Bret Hedican scored the lone goal for Carolina, which has made the championship round once - in 2002.
The Hurricanes franchise is 0-3 all-time in Game Sevens, while the Sabres are 1-4 in decisive contests. This will be the first Game Seven of the 2006 postseason for both teams.
"Everybody knows what's at stake - it's a trip to the Finals," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "Now our back is up against the wall. It's in our building, which is where we want it to be. We're going to be able to use the energy from our building and our fans - we need them there.
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) - It almost would not seem right if the Eastern Conference Finals did not go the distance.
In a series complete with overtime thrillers and numerous momentum swings, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres face off in Game Seven on Thursday for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The winner will host the Edmonton Oilers in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Edmonton needed only five games to oust Anaheim in the Western Conference finals.
However, this series has been significantly more competitive. Five of the six games have been decided by one goal and the last two contests have gone into overtime.
The second-seeded Hurricanes took a three-games-to-two series lead Sunday with a 4-3 triumph, but the fourth-seeded Sabres pushed the series to the brink Tuesday with a 2-1 victory.
The hero for Buffalo in Game Six was co-captain Daniel Briere, who netted the game-winner 4:22 into the extra session. J.P. Dumont scored a first-period goal and rookie Ryan Miller made 25 saves for the fourth-seeded Sabres, who are one win away from advancing to their third Stanley Cup Finals and first since 1999.
"Before the game, that's all we were looking for. We wanted a chance at a Game Seven," Briere said. "We have won over there, we know we can win in Carolina. ... We're excited about going back for Game Seven."
Rookie Cam Ward turned aside 29 shots and defenseman Bret Hedican scored the lone goal for Carolina, which has made the championship round once - in 2002.
The Hurricanes franchise is 0-3 all-time in Game Sevens, while the Sabres are 1-4 in decisive contests. This will be the first Game Seven of the 2006 postseason for both teams.
"Everybody knows what's at stake - it's a trip to the Finals," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said. "Now our back is up against the wall. It's in our building, which is where we want it to be. We're going to be able to use the energy from our building and our fans - we need them there.
