Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the most exciting game of the series. The Edmonton Oilers took only 16 seconds into the game to score the first goal.
Edmonton's Raffi Torres passed the puck to an open Chris Pronger on the point who shot it back at the net. Fernando Pisani, who was standing in front, redirected the shot past Carolina's Cam Ward.
The first period was slowed tremendously by a total of eight penalties, which of course gave numerous chances that should have been goals.
On the Hurricanes' second power play, Eric Staal tied the game up at 1-1. A wide-open Staal had plenty of time to take a shot, get his own rebound and put in the net. Oilers goalie Jussi Markannen was down and out after making the first save.
On Carolina's third power play, Ray Whitney scored, taking advantage of Doug Weight screening Jussi Markannen.
Carolina had three power plays before the 10-minute mark of the first period.
Edmonton's first power play came with 8:20 left of the first period, and they made it count. Ales Hemsky got a nice pass form Dick Tarnstrom and tied the game at 2-2.
With 46 seconds left in the first period, Carolina took their third penalty of the game. Mike Commadore received a goalie interference penalty.
Edmonton took advantage of the extra ice space while on 4 on 4, and Michael Peca scored on with 17.4 left in the first period, giving the Oilers the lead ending the first period.
Midway through the 2nd period, Carolina's Eric Staal got his second goal of the game on the power play. With the puck appearing to be under Edmonton's Jussi Markanne's left leg, Staal kept digging for it and the puck finally popped through going into the net. Markannen upset, went straight to the referee, but to no avail.
There was no scoring during the 3rd period and only two penalties. With far less penalties, there was a more wide open, faster paced game.
Within the first minute and a half, Hurricane's goalie Ward made 4 great saves. Carolina began to look tired, while Edmonton still looked fresh.
Edmonton's Steve Staios took a tripping penalty 3 minutes into overtime, but Carolina couldn't get things going out of their own end.
Stillman made a bad pass trying to leave the Carolina zone, and Fernando Pisani got his stick in the way and picked the pass going in all alone on Cam Ward.
Pisani made no mistake and put the puck up in the net over Wards left shoulder. Scoring the shorthanded goal gave new life to the Edmonton Oilers, sending the series back to Edmonton and forcing a game six when Edmonton had faced elimination.
Game 6 will be played in Edmonton on June 17th at 8pm on NBC.
Game notes:
Carolina Hurricane Aaron Ward didn't return after the first period, but did return midway through the third period. He was noted to have an upper body injury.
Carolina Hurricane Doug Weight left the ice and went straight to the dressing room, playing only a few seconds in the third period after getting hit by Edmonton's Chris Pronger and Raffi Torres at the same time. He did return to the Carolina bench with 3 minutes left in the game, but not play.
Carolina Hurricane Cam Ward is looking to be the first rookie goaltender to win the Stanley Cup since Patrick Roy lead the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in 1986. The only other rookie goaltender to win the Stanley Cup was Ken Dryden in 1971.
