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Ron Francis
Carolina Hurricanes
1 goals, 1 assist, plus-2, 4 shots, 20:27 ice time, 24 shifts
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| Ten years to the week after scoring the game-winning goal in his last game in the Stanley Cup finals, veteran Ron Francis proved he still has a nose for the net. Francis found himself all alone in the slot and buried the game-winner to give the Hurricanes the 1-0 series lead.
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Arturs Irbe
Carolina Hurricanes
23 saves, 10-4 record this postseason
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| Arturs Irbe gets a lot of help from a defense-first system, but he continued to turn heads in Game 1 by making several big saves in key situations. Irbe keeps outplaying more hyped goalies in each series and has thrust himself into contention for the Conn Smythe Trophy. |
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Jeff O'Neill
Carolina Hurricanes
1 goals, 1 assist, plus-2, 6 shots, 19:28 ice time, 23 shifts
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| Jeff O'Neill sure looks the part of a postseason hero with his raspy playoff beard and the remnants of a shiner, and he didn't disappoint in Game 1. O'Neill split the defense with his speed and tucked the puck under a flailing Dominik Hasek late in the second to tie the score at 2-2. |
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Photo Credits: Francis (AP), Irbe (AP), O'Neill (Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI) |
