Eric Staal was unstoppable in this series for the ’05-’06 Hurricanes as he posted 15 points in the five games. (Photo via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
A hat trick from Justin Williams led the top-seeded ’05-’06 Hurricanes to a 5-3 win in Game 1 as they outshot the 5th-seeded ’00-’01 Hurricanes 54-34. The ’05-’06 Hurricanes got on the board first in Game 2 courtesy of a PP goal from Eric Staal. However, the ’00-’01 Hurricanes rallied off three straight goals and would eventually win 4-2. Goalie Arturs Irbe stopped 45 of 47 shots agains to lead them to the win. The ’05-’06 Hurricanes got back on track with a 3-1 win in Game 3 as Staal accounted for two of their three goals, and included a PP marker. Then, the ’05-’06 Hurricanes exploded for 10 goals in Game 4 in a 10-4 win. Staal, once again, led the way as he posted a stellar seven points (3G, 4A) while Rod Brind’Amour also registered a hat trick. Meanwhile, Sami Kapanen also registered a hat trick for the ’00-’01 Hurricanes. In Game 5, Staal posted his second consecutive hat trick as he led the ’05-’06 Hurricanes to a 4-2 win and clinch a spot in the Qualifier Final.
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’00-’01 Hurricanes | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
| ’05-’06 Hurricanes | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’05-’06 CAR – 5 ’00-’01 CAR – 3 (1-0 ’05-’06 CAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Justin Williams (’05-’06 CAR) – 4 G 0 A 4 P +1 12 S
2nd Star: LW – Sami Kapanen (’00-’01 CAR) – 2 G 1 A 3 P Even 7 S 2 PIM
3rd Star: C – Rod Brind’Amour (’05-’06 CAR) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +2 12 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’00-’01 Hurricanes | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 4 |
| ’05-’06 Hurricanes | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 2 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’05-’06 CAR – 4 ’00-’01 CAR – 2 (1-1)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Arturs Irbe (’00-’01 CAR) – W 2.00 GAA .957 SV% (45 SV’s)
2nd Star: RW – Jeff O’Neill (’00-’01 CAR) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 6 S 4 PIM
3rd Star: LW – Martin Gelinas (’00-’01 CAR) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 2 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’05-’06 Hurricanes | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 |
| ’00-’01 Hurricanes | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’05-’06 CAR – 3 ’00-’01 CAR – 1 (2-1 ’05-’06 CAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Cam Ward (’05-’06 CAR) – W 1.00 GAA .976 SV% (41 SV’s)
2nd Star: C – Eric Staal (’05-’06 CAR) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 5 S
3rd Star: G – Arturs Irbe (’00-’01 CAR) – L 3.00 GAA .933 SV% (42 SV’s)
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’05-’06 Hurricanes | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 10 |
| ’00-’01 Hurricanes | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’05-’06 CAR – 10 ’00-’01 CAR – 4 (3-1 ’05-’06 CAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Eric Staal (’05-’06 CAR) – 3 G 4 A 7 P +3 12 S
2nd Star: C – Rod Brind’Amour (’05-’06 CAR) – 3 G 0 A 3 P +1 14 S
3rd Star: RW – Justin Williams (’05-’06 CAR) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +3 7 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’00-’01 Hurricanes | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 |
| ’05-’06 Hurricanes | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’05-’06 CAR – 4 ’00-’01 CAR – 2 (4-1 ’05-’06 CAR)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Eric Staal (’05-’06 CAR) – 3 G 1 A 4 P +4 9 S
2nd Star: LW – Erik Cole (’05-’06 CAR) – 0 G 4 A 4 P +4 2 S
3rd Star: RW – Justin Williams (’05-’06 CAR) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +3 7 S
Up next in the other Semifinal will be the 6th-seeded ’10-’11 Hurricanes and the 7th-seeded ’99-’00 Hurricanes!
