Do you believe in miracles?

This Stanley Cup finals are already over, aren't they? "Red Wings in four!" cry the prognosticators. Heck, son, if Detroit can beat the Avalanche 7-0, they're likely to swamp the Hurricanes by two touchdowns or more. Well, I don't see quite the rout that some anticipate -- I expect a five- or six-game series -- but I do envision the Wings passing around the Cup at the end. That doesn't mean the Hurricanes aren't capable of an upset, however. They've been pulling one after another all spring. For all of you clinging to a little Carolina hope, here are four reasons why, and five reasons how, the Hurricanes have a shot.

Why Carolina has a chance

1) The Hurricanes are too green to think they can't win. After beating the Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference finals, several Carolina players said things like, "We still have one more series to win." The team seems blissfully undaunted by the Red Wings' might, which means the Hurricanes will play loose and with the added confidence of already having gone further than anyone expected.

2) Detroit is vulnerable to the little guys. Last year the Red Wings were toppled by the far lesser-talented and less-accomplished Kings in the playoffs' opening round. Back in the beginnings of this modern dynasty, in 1994, Detroit lost an opening round to the eighth-seeded Sharks (who, of course, had current 'Canes goalie Arturs Irbe in the nets). This year the Wings dropped their first two postseason games to the eighth-seeded Canucks. Look out Goliath, another David is approaching.

3) The Hurricanes play in Raleigh. After a two-season stay in Greensboro, N.C., the team has spent the past three seasons in Carolina's capital city. And thanks to a scheduling quirk during the 2000-01 season, the Red Wings have played in the Entertainment and Sports Arena just twice (and never during the postseason), which means Yoda-esque coach Scotty Bowman hasn't had the opportunity to figure out all the nooks and crannies of the rink or the local surroundings. Bowman sets himself apart from other coaches through his intense attention to detail, and he's still getting acquainted with Raleigh.

4) The Wings are due for a letdown. Even without their vulnerability to the upset that we mentioned above, the Red Wings would have to gear themselves against an anticlimax after the Avalanche series. ("This is just great hockey all around," Sergei Fedorov marveled during the games against Colorado.) After outlasting their archrivals in one of the great battles of recent years, Detroit will need to muster enthusiasm for the Hurricanes right from the start.

How Carolina can win

1) By getting a huge series from the top line of Ron Francis, Jeff O'Neill and Sami Kapanen. For all the star power on the Red Wings, Carolina's top line can play with anyone. They can outplay a Steve Yzerman line; they can outplay a Sergei Fedorov line. Francis will be the best passer on the ice in this series, and Kapanen the fastest forward. O'Neill isn't a sharpshooter on par with, say, Brett Hull, but he has emerged as one of the game's best goal producers. This line can, and has to, carry the Hurricanes' offense.

2) By taking Game 1 or 2 in Detroit. If the Red Wings roll in the first two games, this series could be over quickly. To keep their confidence and keep Detroit playing with at least a modicum of doubt, Carolina needs a win at Joe Louis Arena.

3) By clearing the crease. Part of the reason Detroit needed seven games to beat Colorado is that it didn't get much production from up front. Ultimately, in-tight goals from Brendan Shanahan and Luc Robitaille turned the series Detroit's way. Carolina needs to keep Lucky Luc away from the goalmouth and not let pests like Tomas Holmstrom get too close to Irbe. The way Irbe has been playing, if he can see the Red Wings' shots, and they're coming from the outside, he's going to stop them.

4) By left wing Erik Cole reemerging. The surprising rookie was scary good in the first two rounds against the Devils and Canadiens -- he practically carried Carolina over Montreal with key goals. Though he still played tough, Cole came back to earth some against Toronto. Carolina needs Cole to get back to complementing his physical game with some clutch scoring.

5) By getting some games to overtime. The Hurricanes are 6-1 during overtime during this postseason, including the 2-1 win over Toronto that put them in the Stanley Cup finals. (Meanwhile, two of Detroit's three losses to Colorado in the conference finals came in overtime.) Carolina has no fear in OT, getting game-winning goals from all over the roster (unheralded defenseman Niclas Wallin has two!). The Hurricanes, who went to an extra frame 27 times during the regular season, know that crazy things can happen in OT, which is just what they need.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Kostya Kennedy covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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