2002 Second Round vs Washington

Lore & Background

The franchise was formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers saw success immediately, winning the Eastern Division in the WHA's first three seasons and becoming the inaugural Avco World Trophy champions at the end of the 1972–73 season. The Whalers again competed for the World Trophy in 1978, this time falling short to the Winnipeg Jets in a rematch of the 1973 Avco Cup Final. The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL–WHA merger, renaming themselves the Hartford Whalers. The team relocated to North Carolina in 1997, rebranding themselves as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup Final twice in 2006 and in 2026. They are the only professional team from North Carolina to have won a major sports championship.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with a low, electric tension. Francis stood at the blue line, stick dragging a thin line of ice, eyes locked on the puck as it circled the zone. Tugnutt crouched low, glove hand up, reading the traffic like a chess board. A Washington forward wound up for a slap shot from the circle; the puck skidded toward the five-hole. Tugnutt dropped his pad, glove catching the leather with a soft thud. The sound of the net not rattling was louder than any goal. Francis turned, jaw set, and skated back up the ice to rejoin the rush. Behind the glass, a sea of blue and red jerseys pressed forward, breath fogging the plexiglass. The series was not over, but the Hurricanes had said everything they needed to say.

Reader's Guide

The Hurricanes play at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. The team's colors are black and red. The franchise entered the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers and relocated to Carolina in 1997. Arturs Irbe was the goaltender for the Hurricanes during the 2002 second round and the overall playoff run.

Did You Know?

• The franchise was originally the New England Whalers of the WHA.
• The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 and 2026.
• The team's goal horn from the Hartford Civic Center remains in use at Lenovo Center.
• The Hurricanes introduced the 'Storm Squad', the first cheerleaders for professional ice hockey in North America.