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 Game number one of the Stanley Cup Finals was goingEdmonton’s way. The Oilers were leading 3-0 and absolutely dominating the Hurricanes. The stand out goaltender Dwayne Roloson was playing phenomenal. Heading into the final minutes of the third period Carolina tied the game up at 4. Just as the two teams were trying to clinch the leading goal, Edmonton’s star goaltender was injured on a play. At first the play seemed to just be a “freak�? accident, where Dwayne would come back stronger than ever. Dwayne said that he stood up thinking that it was his arm that was injured but when he tested his knee he knew that that was his problem. He could not get back up and therefore was forced to leave the game.Edmonton began the 2005 – 2006 regular season with two goaltenders. Both of these goalies are considered backups. All the fans believed that Edmonton had totrade for another goalie. Up until the trade deadline the Oilers rotated between Mike Morrison, Ty Coklin, and Jussi Markkanen. Between these three goalies they had enough points to continue to fight for a spot for the playoffs. On the 2006 NHL trade deadline the Oilers acquired goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who came from Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild have a very different type of system than the Oilers and consequently Dwayne somewhat struggled. Going into the last game of the season the Oilers had a playoff spot clinched and Roloson was getting the hang of the Oilers style of play. Since the Oilers were in the last position they were forced to play the Detroit Red Wings, who were in first place. Dwayne absolutely dominated that series and also the subsequent ones.Since Dwayne was injured Edmonton was going to have to put one of there backups in. Ty Conklin was dressed that game and so he went in. Ty was “booed�? all yearbecause of his off and on play. You could see that he was very nervous. It was the Stanley Cup Finals, he should be nervous. Conklin stopped a few shots and gained some confidence. The puck rang around the boards and Ty came behind the net to stop it to assist his players. With his confidence he handled the puck for about a second and left it for Jason Smith. Just as this was happening the Hurricane’s captain Rod Brind’amour skated by the goalie, took the put and shot it in the empty net. Edmonton was down 5-4 with about 5 minutes remaining in the game, the game had taken a 180 rotation. Edmonton lost the game 5-4 and it seemed that the Oiler’s chances of lifting the Stanley Cup was slim to none.The next question was who Edmonton was going to start in goal for game two. After muchdiscussion the final decision was made and Jussi Markkanen was selected to start in goal. Game two was an absolute blowout. The final score was 5-0 Carolina. The goals just kept going in, and it wasn’t necessarily Markkanen’s fault. The Oilers as a whole played very bad and the Hurricanes simply play very good.Game three was the Oiler’s most important game so far. If they lost the game the series would be 3-0 and if they won it would be 2-1. A simple Oiler win would change the series, giving Edmonton a legitimate chance. A Carolina win would spell lights out for the Oilers. Within the first 10 minutes of the 1^st period the Oilers were up 1-0. The game was very even. In the second period Carolina scored tying the game at 1. The game continued to be very even but in the 3^rd period Ryan Smyth scored a garbage goal to take the lead. That goal proved to the winner and the Oilers made the series 2-1. Just as everybody thought that the Oilers were down and out, they proved that they can compete without their star goalie. Tags: edmonton, oilers, hockey, playoffs, sanjose, sharks, ducks, anaheim, nhl, stanley, cup, carolina, hurricanes, rexall, place