It’s the most famous goalie change in Carolina Hurricanes history. Maybe one of the most famous in NHL history. I’m talking about the switch from veteran starting goalie Martin Gerber to rookie Cam Ward in the first round of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens, of course.
The Canes, coming off the best regular season in franchise history with 52 wins and 112 points, good for the second seed in the Eastern Conference, were expected to run roughshod over the No. 7 Montreal Canadiens. The team hit its first taste of adversity; however, as Gerber, who it was later revealed was battling a stomach flu, turned into a sieve, allowing 11 total goals over the series’ first two games.