2006 NHL Playoffs

Who'll be drinking from Lord Stanley when it's over?

Posted: Saturday June 3, 2006 9:55PM; Updated: Tuesday June 6, 2006 12:23AM

Scott Wraight, SI.com

Here's a breakdown of the Stanley Cup finals matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers.

STANLEY CUP FINALS

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (8) Edmonton Oilers

HOW THEY GOT HERE: After battling back from an 0-2 hole in the first round against the Canadiens, the Hurricanes breezed by the Devils in five games. Thanks to Rod Brind'Amour's heroics, Carolina knocked off Buffalo in seven games in an intense Eastern final.

THE SKINNY: While both Carolina and Edmonton play an up-tempo game, have an effective forecheck and rely on three lines for production, the Hurricanes get decided edges when it comes to puck control and goaltending. Moving the puck will be key for the 'Canes, who will need to open shooting lanes against the Oilers' defensive schemes. As for the men between the pipes, Carolina has a Plan B in Martin Gerber if rookie Cam Ward is overwhelmed by the pressure of the Stanley Cup finals. After Dwayne Roloson, the Oilers have, um, let's see here, Ty Conklin. With a dump-and-chase game plan, the veteran-laden 'Canes will use a potent power play to try and grab an early lead. After all, Carolina is just 2-4 when it trails after 20 minutes. Another category the 'Canes get the edge in is depth, where they feature eight forwards with 10 points or more (Edmonton has five).

THE X FACTOR: Justin Williams. The fifth-year winger, who has 14 points in 18 games this postseason, is one of the fastest skaters in the league and isn't afraid to mix it up in front of the net. Equally impressive is the fact the 24-year-old is smart enough not to take penalties at inopportune times, which has to bring a big smile to coach Peter Laviolette. Averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time, Williams will present matchup problems for the Oilers if he gets on the ice with some of Edmonton's slower backliners.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: The Oilers, who barely made the playoffs, pulled off a first-round stunner by topping the top-seeded Wings. Edmonton kept momentum rolling by knocking off the blazing Sharks in six, followed by an easy dispatching of the Ducks in the West final.

THE SKINNY: I'm not about to derail the magical run of the Oilers, who became the first No. 8 seed to win a conference final. The Hurricanes have more depth, firepower and a better goalie situation, but don't discount Edmonton's tenacity and ability for opportunistic scoring. One of the fastest teams top to bottom, the Oilers will need to continue being physical and blocking shots to make this series interesting. If you're looking for a reason Edmonton can win its sixth Stanley Cup and first since 1990, look no further than its stellar penalty kill, which leads the playoffs at 88.6 percent. That's bound to happen when a behemoth like Chris Pronger is patrolling the defensive zone. Not only did the 6-foot-6 blueliner shut down Pavel Datsyuk, Joe Thornton and Teemu Selanne, he also notched 17 points in 17 games. Another reason Canada's team can win the whole shebang is its unwavering confidence.

THE X FACTOR: Sergei Samsonov. One team's garbage is another's treasure. Samsonov, who was traded out of Boston back in March, has been fairly productive for the Oilers. Though his ice time throughout the playoffs has been sporatic, the veteran winger has been producing (14 points in 17 games). With his speed, touch and on-ice vision, don't be surprised if Sammy gets 20-plus minutes during the Cup finals. Like Williams, the 27-year-old Samsonov could present serious problems for slower blueliners. And don't be surprised if the little Russian (5-foot-8 in skates) nets a big goal at some point.

THE PICK: Oilers in seven.

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