Sergei Samsonov News

The Carolina Hurricanes logo is a red, black and white swirl of a massive storm cell, with a black hole a puck perhaps? in the eye of the storm.

Scott Walker delivered another knockout punch, scoring first NHL playoff goal 18:46 into overtime Thursday night to send the Carolina Hurricanes into the Eastern Conference finals with a 3-2 Game 7 victory over the Boston Bruins.

PITTSBURGH Penguins fans are living large today after their team thrashed the Carolina Hurricanes.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury blocks the shot of Carolina Hurricanes' Sergei Samsonov , of Russia, with Penguins' Mark Eaton and Hurricanes' Erik Cole nearby during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 26, 2009.

The Carolina Hurricanes needed this game in order to extend their season, and center Eric Staal and goalie Cam Ward played like it.

There were many people, myself surprisingly included, who felt that Cam Ward would at least push the Penguins to a five, or possibly six-game series.

It's now elementary for the Carolina Hurricanes. Unless the Canes can beat the Pittsburgh Penguins four straight times, their pursuit of a Stanley Cup and their season will end.

Here's the online home of News & Observer sports columnist Luke DeCock. Check in for Luke's thoughts on the Carolina Hurricanes, the ACC, pro sports and whatever else catches his eye.

As the Carolina Hurricanes advance deeper in the playoffs, they get credit for creativity.

Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck up ice against Sergei Samsonov #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 18, 2009 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice was in a chipper mood Friday, the smile on his face easily offsetting the fatigue in his eyes.

If the Bruins had played just one or two subpar games during their series against the Carolina Hurricanes , it could have been written off as an aberration.

The three stars Dan Cleary, Detroit The score was tied and the clock was ticking away when the native of Carbonear, Nfld., scored the series-winning goal with exactly three minutes remaining, though its validity was a hot topic in the post-game shows.

BOSTON a ' Canes forward Sergei Samsonov, moving quickly up the slot, was there to receive Joni Pitkanena TMs pass across the crease and score to take a 2-1 lead on the Boston Bruins at 7:44 in the second period.

Claude Julien has a score to settle -- with himself. Five years ago, he coached the Montreal Canadiens to a Game 7 win after they'd trailed the Boston Bruins 3-1. Now he's on the verge of a similar comeback as coach of the Bruins.

Mark Recchi had a goal and an assist, and the Boston Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 Tuesday night to even the Eastern Conference NHL semifinals and force a decisive Game 7. Marc Savard scored before leaving in the third period with an apparent leg injury.

There would be no Jussi Jokinen magic on this night, no dancing in front of the net by Sergei Samsonov, no muscling through the slot by Eric Staal, no last-minute heroics.

Should the Raleigh area nursery schools be bracing themselves for an onslaught of little Jussis in a couple of years time? . It's possible.

There's a reason the Carolina Hurricanes call Jussi Jokinen's line the "Finnish line." Because of him, the Boston Bruins are nearly finished.

Jussi Jokinen was placed on waivers -- twice -- by the Tampa Bay Lightning this season.