Clarence grad Kevyn Adams hoists Stanley Cup with 'Canes

Clarence graduate and Carolina Hurricane forward Kevyn Adams, shown playing the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference Finals, earned the right to have his name added to the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes' 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Monday's Game Seven of the Cup Finals. File photo With a couple of kisses to North American professional sports' oldest championship trophy, Clarence graduate Kevyn Adams avenged prior disappointment by claiming a piece of hockey lore as a member of the 2006 Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes, facing a potential collapse of epic proportions, came out energized in Monday night's Game Seven and took the game to the Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers. Playing with a physicality that had recessed in Game Six, Carolina proved its early-season detractors wrong by winning its biggest game of the season, 3-1.

Carolina, which had led Edmonton 3-1 after the series' first four games, sealed its spot in history on Justin Williams's empty-net goal with 1:01 to play in regulation.

The Hurricanes, which had not lost three games in a row since November, were in control most of the game after Aaron Ward put Carolina ahead just 1:26 into the game. Frantisek Kaberle padded Carolina's lead with a power-play goal that skipped off the back of Edmonton's Jason Smith and past Oilers goalie Jussi Markkanen for a 2-0 lead.

Fernando Pisani made the game interesting just 1:03 into the third period, shoveling in a second rebound off Carolina goalie Cam Ward to pull Edmonton within one, 2-1. Pisani and the rest of the Oilers ran dry the rest of the game, though, failing to capitalize on their chances with the man advantage - including a 5-on-3 opportunity near the end of the second period - as well as at even strength.

A big part of Edmonton's power-play drought was Carolina's penalty killing, where Adams played a crucial role. Adams threw his body in the line of fire time and time again, blocking shots to make life a little easier for Ward.

Adams was also effective in clearing the puck at critical times in Edmonton's power plays, and even drew a penalty near the end of the first period.

Monday's win was the first in franchise history for the Hurricanes, who used to be the Hartford Whalers before relocating to Raleigh in 1997. Carolina came up short in its only other Stanley Cup Final appearance, losing to Detroit in five games in 2002.

e-mail: jnadolinski@beenews.com