It's been ten years since that playoff run. Even though our beloved Canes fell short in the Finals, it was still a hell of a run.
Weekes save on Madden
Miracle at Molson
Jeff O'Neill's black eye
Martin Gelinas OT winner in the conference finals
The "Who the **** are these guys and where the **** is Carolina" attitudes the Canadian/Northern states media had regarding the team
Ron Francis OT winner in game 1 of the Finals
The triple OT game (err, ok maybe we should forget that one)
The no quit attitude of that team
The tailgating
The overall atmosphere of the Triangle during that time
And so on..........
Last edited by HisIceness: 04-14-2012 at 09:06 PM.
Ronnie's GWG in OT of that game 1 at Detroit, when the Wings had already been anointed the best in decades, was one of our top statement games that paved the way for the '06 Cup. Will never ever forget that night. The Wings went on to do what they were expected to do, but we battled them hard and it could have easily become a 7-gamer if a few pucks bounce differently (but ain't that always the case).
I loved that year. in the years following the Whale's departure, I only followed the canes through sportscenter and when they were in the playoffs. So watching the cup run was insane. Those years were what made me hate the devils
I'll never forget all the media up here saying how the Wings were just being polite and doing what you're supposed to do (ie not belittle a team you're obviously supperior to by saying it'll be a tough series etc) then Ron Francis scored and the entire country was like "Oh S****, this might actually be a series." Bad result, but good times none-the-less
PS - I still maintain that without Hull, we woul've won that series
I've always thought, and I feel like I've heard others say through the media as well, that if Carolina had won that triple-OT game, the series would have been dramatically different.
Game 5 of the Montreal series was the first playoff game I attended in person, the first game I saw in Raleigh instead of G'boro, and the first time I really identified with the Canes. My lasting memory is the loud, mocking "ole" chants on the escalators after the game, which is still one of the best atmosphere moments I've seen here.
The other good memory was watching the Finals on the big screen at Picassos Pizza in Charlotte (which they have since replaced, but was awesome). That was at a time when the NHL got no play in Charlotte bars, so it was a special treat.
I was only seven years old, but being at some of those games and watching them all is what really got me hooked and made me fall in love with the game. I'll never forget it.
Being the first to mock the "Ole" chant replacing it with "Irbe"
I remember doing the "Ole" chant during Game 5 of the 1999 series against Boston in Greensboro. I'm not sure how it got started that night, nor if it predated Montreal's use of it, but it was sure fun that night.
I was only seven years old, but being at some of those games and watching them all is what really got me hooked and made me fall in love with the game. I'll never forget it.
Amen. A year older but exact same feeling. First game I ever watched on TV was the 8-2 win over Montreal with Cole scoring a hat trick to get to the conference finals. I have called myself a Canes fan since that one game. Unbelievable to watch, especially for a first ever game (on TV, I'd been to several games live but didn't follow standings, the roster, etc).
I take a lot of heat for this, but I *still* say Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Final was the most exciting game in Canes history. Between being the first SCF game ever in NC, Bucci and Melrose doing the ESPN broadcast from the club ledge, the whole of Canadian media, to be the mega-underdog, and to have the entire NHL seeing the tailgating and how deeply the team and community were becoming ingrained, it was an atmosphere that can never be duplicated.
I know the night they won the Cup was more historic. But I just don't think it was as exciting -- from top to bottom -- as Game 3 of the 2002 Final.
I take a lot of heat for this, but I *still* say Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Final was the most exciting game in Canes history. Between being the first SCF game ever in NC, Bucci and Melrose doing the ESPN broadcast from the club ledge, the whole of Canadian media, to be the mega-underdog, and to have the entire NHL seeing the tailgating and how deeply the team and community were becoming ingrained, it was an atmosphere that can never be duplicated.
I know the night they won the Cup was more historic. But I just don't think it was as exciting -- from top to bottom -- as Game 3 of the 2002 Final.
I was at both.
Game 3 vs Detroit was special. We weren't supposed to be there. It was the first time the franchise had even BEEN there. The entire atmosphere surrounding the game is something that cannot and will not ever be replicated here for every reason you mentioned and more. As amazing as it was to see the Cup won in our own building, 2002 Game 3 remains my favorite game I've ever seen in person, even if we lost in heartbreaking fashion.
Game 5 of the Montreal series was the first playoff game I attended in person, the first game I saw in Raleigh instead of G'boro, and the first time I really identified with the Canes. My lasting memory is the loud, mocking "ole" chants on the escalators after the game, which is still one of the best atmosphere moments I've seen here.
The other good memory was watching the Finals on the big screen at Picassos Pizza in Charlotte (which they have since replaced, but was awesome). That was at a time when the NHL got no play in Charlotte bars, so it was a special treat.
That was the first and only Playoff game I have ever been to. I was pretty young at the time but I still remember quite a bit of it vividly. The game afterwards was also pretty special when we rained down eight goals on Theodore to close the series out
I really enjoyed this series, and though I had been following the Canes since 1997 I really developed a special bond with the team when they fought their way to the Finals in 02. It seemed like the entire Raleigh area was overtaken by Canes fever. That was the last time I got to see the Canes in the Playoffs while I lived in NC, unfortunately
