Karl Deblaker / AP

After receiving the Stanley Cup from Carolina captain Rod Brind'Amour, right, veteran defenseman Glen Wesley finally raises it for the first time in his career after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. ‘Best feeling I've ever had, 18 years in the game," Wesley said.

While Carolina had walked away with the Southeast Division — a much-maligned grouping that has now won back-to-back Cups — Edmonton had endured a mighty struggle just to make the playoffs. The 'Canes had been this far as recently as 2002. Edmonton, not since that 1990 Cup that capped a dynasty that claimed five titles in a span of seven seasons.

But heading into Game 7 all the momentum was with Edmonton. Carolina had lost Game 5 in overtime, and been blown out in Game 6. Doug Weight, the former Oilers captain in search of his first championship at age 35, had taken the morning skate, but was nowhere to be found in the pregame warmup.

His injured shoulder wouldn't allow him to play — he could barely lift the Cup over his head after the game — just one more piece of momentum seemingly in Edmonton's favor in the buildup to this game.

"Just couldn't score," said Oilers winger Todd Harvey — himself a veteran of nearly 800 games. "On one penalty kill we had two breakaways — didn't score. Couple of rebounds don't go ... That's the difference tonight. We were confident between periods. We said, if we could get one, we could get two. Give Ward credit."

Brind'Amour embodied the group of Hurricanes veterans who darned near let this Cup slip away. After 60 minutes of Game 5, they were one goal away from a championship. Then Fernando Pisani scored in overtime, shorthanded no less, and their dreams were backing up, now a whole game away once again.

As in any seven-game series, there are plenty of those guys over in the other dressing room as well.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

"But, you know, it was a pretty good effort overall. We didn't do ourselves a disservice in this game."

There's always next year, right?

There's a bunch of Hurricanes who are happy they won't be saying that for a while.

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Devils get it done in Game 5

NJ blows three-goal lead, but Ryan Carter's late goal helps No. 6 seed beat NY Rangers 5-3, move within one win of Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Devils defeat Rangers in Game 5

  In New York, New Jersey took Game 5 with a 5-3 win and lead the series 3-2. The Rangers fought back from an early 3 goal deficit in the first period to tie the game early in the third period, only to see the Devils score two unanswered goals to win the game.

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