The WhatIfsports.com 2006 Stanley Cup Finals

Inspired by Xinoph's Baseball World Series of 2003, I thought I would use Whatifsports.com to find out who would win the 2006 Stanley Cup. I simmed each game only once, the thinking is that that would allow for unpredictability.

Game 1 – Edmonton Oilers @ Carolina Hurricanes

Dwayne Roloson in goal for Edmonton. Martin Gerber in goal for Carolina.

Edmonton 2 Carolina 8
In an awful game, the Hurricanes started brilliantly, and were 5-0 up after 9:13. Eric Staal had a hat-trick. At that, Roloson was taken out of the game. It made little difference as Carolina extended their lead to 7-0 by the end of the First. The Oilers pulled one back in the Second, but the fourth for Staal gave made it 8-1. Another consolation for Edmonton rounded off the scoring. Amazingly, Gerber gave up two goals on 49 shots.

GOALS
Carolina: Eric Staal (4), Erik Cole, Cory Stillman, Ray Whitney
Edmonton: Jason Smith, Raffi Torres

ASSISTS
Carolina: Frantisek Kaberle (2), Oleg Tverdovsky, Aaron Ward (2), Bret Hedican, Rod Brind'Amour, Erik Cole, Justin Williams (4)
Edmonton: Chris Pronger, Todd Harvey

STARS OF THE GAME
1. Eric Staal (Carolina)
2. Justin Williams (Carolina)
3. Martin Gerber (Carolina)

Carolina lead 1-0.

Game 2 – Edmonton Oilers @ Carolina Hurricanes

Dwayne Roloson in goal for Edmonton. Martin Gerber in goal for Carolina.

Edmonton 2 Carolina 4
Roloson kept his place for Game 2, but faltered again as Carolina doubled their advantage. The Oilers actually lead 2-0 after the First Period. But two goals in 28 seconds in the Second Period tied the game. It seemed that Carolina again had the advantage. Another goal for Staal in the third, plus a Cullen goal rounded off a 4-2 win for Carolina. Again, Gerber was a star for Carolina.

GOALS
Carolina: Eric Staal, Kevyn Adams, Matt Cullen (2)
Edmonton: Steve Staios, Todd Harvey

ASSISTS
Carolina: Bret Hedican, Aaron Ward, Erik Cole, Josef Vasicek, Jesse Boulerice, Ray Whitney
Edmonton: Fernando Pisani, Jani Rita, Shawn Horcoff

STARS OF THE GAME
1. Matt Cullen (Carolina)
2. Martin Gerber (Carolina)
3. Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton)

Carolina lead 2-0.

Game 3 – Carolina Hurricanes @ Edmonton Oilers

Dwayne Roloson in goal for Edmonton. Martin Gerber in goal for Carolina.

Carolina 3 Edmonton 1
The same goalies met up in Game 3. Carolina won again as Gerber continued his excellent form. Ryan Smith put Edmonton 1-0 after the First, but things went downhill from there. After tying the game, Whitney scored with seconds left in the Second Period. Edmonton lost their heads in the third, and went 3-0 down.

GOALS
Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour, Matt Cullen, Ray Whitney
Edmonton: Ryan Smyth

ASSISTS
Carolina: Aaron Ward, Cory Stillman, Matt Cullen, Ray Whitney
Edmonton: Ales Hemsky, Jarret Stoll

STARS OF THE GAME
1. Martin Gerber (Carolina)
2. Matt Cullen (Carolina)
3. Ray Whitney (Carolina)

Carolina lead 3-0.

Game 4 – Carolina Hurricanes @ Edmonton Oilers

Dwayne Roloson in goal for Edmonton. Martin Gerber in goal for Carolina.

Carolina 1 Edmonton 3
Edmonton were now down and out, and went into Game 4 with nothing to lose. After leading after the First again, they built on it in the Second, going from 1-0 to 3-0 up. Carolina threatened a comeback in the Third, but could only reduce arrears to 3-1.

GOALS
Carolina: Kevyn Adams
Edmonton: Chris Pronger, Radek Dvorak, Shawn Horcoff

ASSISTS
Carolina: Matt Cullen
Edmonton: Ales Hemsky, Chris Pronger, Jarret Stoll

STARS OF THE GAME
1. Chris Pronger (Edmonton)
2. Kevyn Adams (Carolina)
3. Radek Dvorak (Edmonton)

Carolina lead 3-1.

Game 5 – Edmonton Oilers @ Carolina Hurricanes

Dwayne Roloson in goal for Edmonton. Martin Gerber in goal for Carolina.

Edmonton 3 Carolina 4
Carolina were back at home for Game 5. Gerber has slipped in Game 4. This game was the most even of them all, as the game was tied 1-1 after the First, 2-2 after the Second, and 3-3 after the Third. As the game went on (and on) into a Second Overtime, Craig Adams scored the goal that won the Cup for Carolina.

GOALS
Carolina: Erik Cole, Craig Adams, Kevyn Adams, Matt Cullen
Edmonton: Steve Staios, Chris Pronger, Todd Harvey

ASSISTS
Carolina: Glen Wesley, Oleg Tverdovsky, Rod Brind'Amour, Justin Williams, Cory Stillman, Josef Vasicek
Edmonton: Chris Pronger, Fernando Pisani, Jarret Stoll, Shawn Horcoff

STARS OF THE GAME
1. Martin Gerber (Carolina)
2. Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton)
3. Chris Pronger (Edmonton)

However, Edmonton has Cross, who was traded to Detroit, but apart from that the teams are accurate.

I think this is fair. Carolina should win. But it doesn't mean to say that they will.