NHL: first Stanley Cup for Carolina Hurricanes

NHL: first Stanley Cup for Carolina Hurricanes

Low-scoring defensemen Aaron Ward and Frantisek Kaberle carried the offense for the Hurricanes - they were each six-goal scorers during the NHL regular season and had combined for only four in the playoffs, the AP reports.

Ward, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player in the playoffs, made sure two goals were just enough in Game 7. He wasn't even Carolina's No. 1 goalie at the beginning of the postseason, but the 22-year-old rookie got the call when Martin Gerber struggled in the opening round against Montreal.

Ward wound up winning more games in the playoffs (15) than he did backing up Gerber during the regular season (14), according to the AP.