DETROIT – So you’re trying to recall an upset in the Stanley Cup Finals the magnitude of the Patriots beating the Rams in the Super Bowl, of the Dodgers shocking the A’s in the 1988 World Series. In other words, you are trying to recall an upset that would be tantamount to a hypothetical Carolina triumph over the Red Wings.
How about Devils over Detroit in 1995? Nope, not at all; the Devils had been second-overall and conference finalists the previous year. Maybe the Flyers over the Bruins in 1974? Good try, but sorry; Philadelphia had not only been to the conference finals a year earlier, but had Bernie Parent in nets. Well then how about . . . ?
Stop. You can’t find an upset of that magnitude, because there’s really never been one. With all due respect to a good Hurricanes team that most certainly does deserve to be on the ice when the puck is dropped here tonight for Game One, no team in modern times has come into the Finals with such a light portfolio and then emerged with the chalice.
It’s not about reputation or past performance, not really, not even while noting that current Red Wings have earned 26 NHL first-team all-star slots and five second-team berths while current Candy Canes have accumulated exactly none of the above. It’s neither about Mike Ilitch, the revered owner of the Red Wings, nor about long-time antagonist Peter Karmanos, the owner of the Hurricanes who took an early and likely insurmountable lead in the MIP race (Most Insufferable Person) by sniffing haughtily at a reporter who dared to address him by his first name at yesterday’s pre-series press gathering.
The Hurricanes can play; they compete for every loose puck, they have size, strength and some speed, they can keep the puck out of their net, they are 6-1 in OT, but they can’t score in regulation. Indeed, the Hurricanes were limited to two goals or fewer in 13 of 18 matches on their way through the Least. Now, they get to face Dominik Hasek, four wins away from quite literally crowning his career.
They get to face Hasek, they get to face Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Fedorov, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Chris Chelios . . . and Scotty Bowman, seeking a ninth Cup victory that would propel him past Toe Blake.
“I don’t like to be compared to Toe; he’s far and away the best coach ever,” Bowman said. “Toe coached 13 years and won eight; I’ve coached 30 years.”
The Red Wings, who were so overconfident coming in against the Devils in 1995 that goaltender Mike Vernon was actually conducting contract negotiations early in the series that New Jersey swept, have obviously learned well from that history. They also have learned from their consecutive sweeps of the Flyers and Caps in 1997 and 1998, respectively, about disregarding pre-series labels.
“We’re going in with some apprehension,” Steve Yzerman, playing with a knee so bad he hasn’t participated in a full practice throughout the tournament, said. “I remember in ’97 how the Flyers were listed as bigger, stronger, more physical; how we weren’t going to be able to keep up. That was all irrelevant.
“We have a real appreciation for the way Carolina plays. They have something magical and unique going on. We certainly don’t come into this thinking that we’re not playing a top team.”
The Red Wings finished first overall; Carolina, 16th. Suffice to say, no team in NHL history has ever emerged from the 16-hole to win a championship, which is why you can’t find anything like what a Hurricane victory over the Red Wings would be, that’s for sure.
But don’t fret. It’s not going to happen. The Hurricanes will compete, they will put up a fight, they will play reasonable hockey. But they won’t score many goals.
And, if you must know, they won’t win any games.
Sweep.
