Ward continues improbable run

By Tony Care

It's hard to imagine which unlikely scenario would develop for goaltender Cam Ward when the Stanley Cup playoffs began almost two months ago — the opportunity to start in the final for the Carolina Hurricanes or face the team he grew up admiring.

As the Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers set to square off in the Stanley Cup final, Ward will play a key role in determining whether Carolina wins its first championship or whether he witnesses a huge parade close to his old neighbourhood.

The fact that Ward has a chance to help oust his hometown team seemed improbable this year as the 22-year-old rookie played in only 11 regular season games.

Ward was bornjust outside ofEdmontonin Sherwood Park, Alta., and with many young kids in that area, saw the Oilers play every chance he got.

"They definitely were a team that I had the privilege of going to watch and cheer for and enjoy doing so,"Ward said.

And the Hurricanes' coaching staff envisioned Ward doing just that —cheering on hisCarolina teammates from the bench during this post-season.

Surprise starter

Fresh off his amazing shutout performance at the Torino Winter Olympics against Canada, Switzerland's Martin Gerber was entrenched as the No. 1 goalie at the time Carolina prepared to play the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

But regardless of the Hurricanes’ original plan, it's been Ward — winner of 11 playoff games — showing the hockey world a different facet to his abilities with each passing series.

The seventh-seeded Canadiens shocked the Hurricanes in the opening round by winning the first two games in Carolina. After bombarding Gerber with nine goals on 34 shots, Carolina coach Peter Laviolette made a goalie change in Game 2, a move that saved the team's season.

Riding the momentum of Ward's stellar performance in the following four contests, the Hurricanes advanced in six games. More importantly, Ward showed his teammates he can carry a hockey team on his back at a moment's notice.

"He's a great goaltender," Hurricanes centre Eric Staal told Hockey Night In Canada. "He has so much composure out there and that's a good feeling for the guys in front of him."

Beat the Devils

Many thought Carolina's good fortune would come to an abrupt end in the next round against the red-hot New Jersey Devils and Ward's childhood hero, goaltender Martin Brodeur. The Devils were one of the best teams at the end of the regular season and easily disposed of the New York Rangers in the first round with a four-game sweep.

Some hockey pundits agreed that Ward, a first-round pick of the Hurricanes in 2002, would falter under the pressure of facing Brodeur, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and future Hall of Famer.

Those predictions would prove to be erroneous.

The Hurricanes not only eliminated the Devils in five games, but Ward clearly outplayed his idol in the process.

"He was tremendous," Brodeur said of Ward. "He's calm. He doesn't challenge much. He stays back and never really gets out of position. It's impressive."

Shows resilience

However, the post-season hasn't been all fun for Ward.

During the Eastern Conference final against the Buffalo Sabres, Ward struggled and was pulled in Game 3 in favour of Gerber as the Hurricanes fell behind 2-1 in the series. The Swiss goaltender played brilliantly in shutting out the Sabres 4-0 the following game and it appeared Ward's run would suddenly end.

But fate smiled on the resilient Ward in Game 5 when Laviolette made another change after Gerber allowed three goals. With Carolina facing a 3-1 deficit in the second period, Ward blanked the Sabres the rest of the game, led the Hurricanes to a win in overtime and ultimately, a trip to the Stanley Cup final.

"I think fundamentally he's pretty sound," Laviolette said.

"He seems to be always in control of his net and in his crease. He's not one of those guys that uses a lot of energy or [finds] himself out of position a lot of times. He's there to make a first save, second save if he has to."

As he moves forward, Ward finds himself one final series away from joining legends Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy as rookie goaltenders who led their respective teams to Stanley Cup glory.

Faces hometown heroes

To accomplish this rare feat, Ward will have to earn it by beating the team he rooted for many years ago.

"It's going to be exciting, going to be unbelievable," said Ward. "I've got a good understanding of what it's going to be like down there.

"I'll probably have a lot of friends who are going to be a little bit torn. It's going to be a lot of fun."

A thought that doesn’t seem absurd anymore.