Canes Shock Wings In OT

2002 Playoffs

"We said all along we believe in ourselves and believe in each other, and believe in our ability to go out there and win hockey games. That's what we're trying to do," Francis said. "It's a boost for our confidence, but now it's behind us and we've got to get ready for Game 2."

Francis knocked a pass from Jeff O'Neill over Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek's pad stunning the sell-out crowd at Joe Louis Arena.

"Ronnie Francis was our MVP over the course of the season," coach Paul Maurice said. "The bigger the game, the better Ronnie Francis plays."

Sean Hill and O'Neill also scored for the Hurricanes, who erased any doubt they belong to the Stanley Cup finals.

Sergei Fedorov and Kirk Maltby scored for the Red Wings, who came into the game as the one of biggest favorites in NHL history.

"It was you guys, we never thought that," Detroit's Luc Robitaille said of the media. "We knew all along that they were a great team. We knew it wasn't going to be easy."

It was the second overtime win in as many games for Carolina, which beat Toronto 2-1 on May 28 to win the Eastern Conference finals. The Hurricanes are 7-1 in overtime this postseason, the second most overtime playoff wins in NHL history. Montreal had 10 in 1993.

"It's been a comfortable position for us through the whole playoffs," Carolina forward Erik Cole said. "We haven't changed a thing from period to period. We just take it 20 minutes at a time, refocus, and hopefully somebody will step up for us."