Paisano Pisani!

Rally in Raleigh!:

Lose and it would be all over. One slip-up and this incredible playoff run that began in Detroit could have ended Wednesday night in Raleigh.

And it would have ended were it not for the Edmonton Oilers' dogged determination, for the outstanding play of goaltender Jussi Markkanen, the dazzle of Ales Hemsky and, most of all, for the hands and head of Fernando Pisani.

Seconds after Steve Staios was ushered to the penalty box in overtime for tripping up Mark Recchi, Pisani broke in on Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward and fired in the goal at 3:31 that gave the Oilers a 4-3 win and kept their Stanley Cup dream alive.

It was the first short-handed overtime goal scored in a Stanley Cup final, and the first to stave off elimination for a team in any playoff round.

Last night's game featured some great hockey only slightly marred by the fact that the refs seemed to revert to their early season "call everything and anything" form. There were at least five silly penalty calls that disrupted the flow of the game and had the players shaking their heads in disgust. I understand the desire to cut down on the clutching and grabbing to open up the game, but sometimes you just gotta let the boys play on. This ticky-tacky penalty calling also seems to encourage diving (yes, I'm looking at you Adams) and that's not something we need more of. This ain't soccer for chrissake!

After the Oilers lost Roloson, I was down on their chances, but the longer this series goes on the more the momentum is swinging their way. They've been physically beating the tar of the 'Canes the last few games and it's starting to show. Ward and Weight were both knocked out for stretches last night and I gotta think that all the Carolina defensemen are licking their wounds today. The Oilers definitely looked like the fresher team in overtime and I think they're holding up better overall.

If they can just get the power play cooking in Game Six (granted, a big "if"), they should be able to force a Game Seven back in Carolina and then it's anybody's Cup for the taking.